European Research Centre for Chinese Studies

A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Ming-Qing Hui Merchants and their Route Maps and Manuals (WANG Zhenzhong)

Abstract: The earliest merchant route books or manuals date from the Southern Song period (1127 – 1279), however they were only produced in large numbers after the 16^th century. Judging from the extant exemplars most of these route books were compiled by Hui or Shanxi merchants. During their annual travels and trading Hui merchants composed, revised and recopied many route manuals. These manuals record the distances between named stops along a route, the condition of roads and waterways, the security situation, local products and customs, scenic spots and historic sites, and the procedures for the payment of tolls and customs duties. This information is extremely useful for research on the history of trade, on social history, and on the geography of historical transport routes. This talk will bring together some ten merchant travel route books from both public and private collections to analyse the differences between the various printed editions and manuscripts as well as to discuss the formation and evolution of merchant route maps and route songs.

千里之行：明清徽商与商编路程图记 (王振忠)

摘要：路程书最早见于公元12－13世纪的南宋时代，但其大批出现却是在16世纪以后，从现存的历史文献来看，以徽商和晋商所编的路程书为数最多。在常年的旅行和贸易实践中，徽商创作、改编或抄录了大批的路程书。这些商编路程，记录了各处沿途地名点之间的交通里距、水陆状况、治安优劣、物产风俗、名胜古迹以及投关纳税程序等方面的内容，对于商业史、社会史和历史交通地理的研究颇多助益。演讲将结合公私收藏的数十种商编路程，分析各类刊本与抄本的异同，以及商编路程图、路程歌之形成及其嬗变，等等。