ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the major themes and issues in Western literature on Chinese business history since the late Ming period. The study of Chinese business history can be traced back to its humble origin in 1949, when a brief survey of the modern Chinese business class was published. Historians, sociologists, and economists have recently examined a number of important aspects of the Chinese firm. Scholars have shown great interest in China's important groups of businessmen. Entrepreneurship is an important theme in Chinese business history. Recent scholarship examined some of the distinguishing features of the family business organization: fluid business hierarchy, highly concentrated decision-making, and centrifugal force. Some noticeable themes and issues emerge in China's business relations with the West—foreign trade and foreign investment. As the debate over Sino-foreign business relations developed, it was often conducted broadly in terms of two vigorously debated issues—imperialist exploitation and economic nationalism.
