Although merchants were not socially valued during the Hund dynasty, what made them rich during this time?
DAOISN
The Silk Road
The Mandate of Heaven
FILIAL, pity
During the Hund dynasty, the merchants were able to become rich primarily due to their involvement in trade along the Silk Road. This extensive network of trade routes allowed them to establish connections with foreign markets and engage in profitable business transactions. The Silk Road facilitated the exchange of various goods, such as silk, spices, precious metals, and other luxury items, which merchants could acquire and sell at lucrative prices. By capitalizing on these trade opportunities, merchants were able to accumulate wealth despite not being socially valued during this period.
It is important to note that Daoism, the belief system centered on living in harmony with the Dao (the way of nature), does not directly play a significant role in the enrichment of merchants during the Hund dynasty. Similarly, the concept of the Mandate of Heaven, which was a philosophical and political idea about the legitimacy of rulers, does not directly contribute to the wealth of merchants either. On the other hand, filial piety, the Confucian virtue of respecting and caring for one's parents and ancestors, may have influenced some merchants' behavior and ethics but would not directly contribute to their financial prosperity.