What is the author’s point of view regarding merchants?
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Riches and honors are what men desire. If it cannot be obtained in a proper way, they should not be held… The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell… The superior man is aware of righteousness; the inferior (of a lower status) man is aware of advantage… The virtuous man is driven by responsibility; the non-virtuous man is driven by profit… Source: Confucius, The Analects, 500 B.C.E. Excerpted from chapters 2 and 4 Note: Chinese emperors governed with the teachings of Confucius in their minds. One of the beliefs that many emperors had was that merchants were the lowest class in Chinese society, below peasants. The result was centuries of isolationism and a need to develop and maintain a society that was self-functioning. China was very successful in doing this, and the result was a merchant class that had to work under ground in China, but nonetheless brought wealth to the empire. |
- What is the author’s point of view regarding merchants?
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