The Rise of Huizhou Merchants and the Economic Development of Southeast Towns of China in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

This paper aims to explore the relationship between the rise of Huizhou Merchants(HM for short) and the economic development of the Southeast towns of China(SE for short).It is widely accepted that the prosperity of HM synchronized with the economic development of the SE towns.HM were formed during the reigns of Chenghua and Hongzhi in Ming Dynasty,when the SE towns saw its initial economic development;HM thrived during the reigns of Jiajing and Wanli,together with SE towns' economy into its prosperity;then,at the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty,with the serious destructions of SE towns,HM experienced slumps;finally,with the revitalization of SE towns' economy during the reigns of Kangxi and Qianlong in Qing dynasty,HM hit its peak.