Talk

Wealth Structure of Qing Dynasty Elite Families: An In-Depth Analysis of the Li Xu Family Estate in Suzhou, an Original Inspiration for 'Dream of the Red Chamber'

Speaker: Dr. Lin Zhan, Associate Professor at the Institute of Qing History, Renmin University of China, and Visiting Associate Professor at the Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong. A distinguished scholar, Dr. Lin is an associate editor of the Qing History Journal and a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Quantitative History Research. He holds the role of Co-Principal Investigator for the RGC’s Area of Excellence project on the Quantitative History of China and serves on the committee for the Quantitative History Summer School and International Symposium. Dr. Lin's accolades include the 2018 Sun YeFang Economics Papers Award, and he is recognized for his groundbreaking work The Logic of Usury: Market Mechanisms in Private Lending during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, which garnered the Golden Sheep Award for Financial Books. His contributions to the field also include co-authoring The Gentleman's Purse: A Study on the Asset Structure of the Elite Family in the Qing Dynasty and co-editing the twelfth volume of the special issue on Quantitative History of New History.

This lecture delves into the wealth structure of Qing dynasty elite families by examining the case of Suzhou Weaving Li Xu, a real-life figure who inspired the classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber. Beyond Li Xu, the discussion will also consider the estates of prominent individuals such as Sheng Xuanhuai, Nian Gengyao, Li Shiyao, and He Shen, with a particular focus on their strategies for asset allocation and integration once achieving specific financial milestones. The configuration of family assets reflects the financial development and modernization of society. Decisions in asset allocation not only govern resource distribution but can also profoundly alter the socio-economic framework. By analyzing the management and integration of private wealth, this lecture offers insights into the evolving economic traits and the distinct historical contexts of these periods.