At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the politics were clear and the society was stable, which provided a favorable environment for social and economic recovery, development, and prosperity.
In this era, the merchant class gradually showed unique psychological traits and ethical concepts in the gradual growth. The prosperity and growth of merchants in the Tang Dynasty promoted the prosperity of commerce and the vigorous development of the commodity economy, which became a key factor in the social and economic prosperity of the time.
The formation and expansion of the merchant class in the Tang Dynasty was one of the most striking aspects of the development of the commodity economy in the Tang Dynasty.
The rise of this huge merchant class not only led to the prosperity of commerce, but also promoted the development of the entire commodity economy.
It can be said that the rise of the merchant class in the Tang Dynasty was a prerequisite for the prosperity and development of the commodity economy at that time.
In the Tang Dynasty, the formation and development of the merchant class showed unique psychological characteristics.
Although in the social concept at that time, businessmen were not highly recognized, and were often denounced as "dark businessmen" and "wealthy businessmen".
However, in the process of pursuing wealth, Tang Dynasty merchants showed a unique professional ethics, which was manifested in the characteristics of diligence and enterprising, and endurance of humiliation.
In the Tang Dynasty society, merchants accumulated huge economic wealth through their own efforts, and after becoming rich, they did not stop there.
On the contrary, through the process of distributing wealth and income, they actively seek to improve their social status and seek the recognition of the world.
The social ethics of the merchants of the Tang Dynasty were embodied in the enduring humiliation and burden, being diligent and enterprising, they accumulated wealth through personal efforts, and then became rich and sought to be noble, trying to make a breakthrough in society, investing wealth in social behavior, and gradually integrating the merchant class into the society of the Tang Dynasty.
The dissatisfaction of merchants in Tang society stemmed mainly from the disparagement of commercial activities, which were regarded as a lowly profession.
Due to the emphasis of successive rulers on the concept of "working in agriculture" of the common people, merchants have always been in a low position in society. Although the status of merchants was elevated in the middle and late Tang Dynasty, the mainstream ideology was still "emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce".
As a result, the Tang Dynasty's prejudice against merchants was deeply entrenched.
Tang Dynasty merchants had to deal not only with the pressure of social ideas, but also with the debasement of some immoral behaviors in business activities. Under such circumstances, businessmen were still able to endure humiliation, be diligent and dedicated, and use their abilities to win wealth.
In the contradictory concepts of Tang Dynasty society, merchants broke through the shackles of ideas and insisted on using their own efforts to gain social recognition.