A new phenomenon came upon the stage, that is, tile intellectuals began to eulogize commerce and merchants, contrary to the Chinese tradition of commerce repressing.

• 海商在地方社会中的影响日渐增长，东南地区的社会生活中出现了一种十分明显的士商亲融现象，士人一反传统的抑商老调，开始对商人与商业大唱赞歌。