The cotton textile industry changed the social life of Songjiang Prefecture in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

In the late Southern Song Dynasty, cotton was introduced into the Shanghai area today. In the Yuan Dynasty, Huang Daopo reformed textile tools and textile technology. The cotton textile industry, centered on Wunijing, Songjiang Prefecture, quickly spread to the surrounding area and became an emerging pillar industry in the region. In the Ming Dynasty, Songjiang Mansion became the center of the national cotton textile industry.　　The boom of the cotton textile industry has made the towns in Songjiang Prefecture increasingly prosperous. The changes in Songjiang Fucheng were the most significant. The city continued to expand along the city river to the east and west. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, Songjiang Street had stretched for more than ten miles, becoming a 'large southeast metropolis' with 'many teeth and dense residents'. The prosperity of the cotton textile industry has added vitality to the development of market towns. For example, Zhujing has become a prosperous town with 'ten thousand lights resembling a capital... I think it is full of visitor traffic, and today it is called Xiaolinqing.' In Zhujiajiao Town, “merchants gathered together, traded in floral fabrics, and Beijing’s bidders kept coming and going. It is now a giant town.” At the same time, the number of towns increased rapidly. Taking Shanghai County as an example, there were only Wunijing, Qibao and Wu in the Yuan Dynasty. There were three market towns. From the Ming and Qing Dynasties, more than forty market towns, including Longhua and Sanlin, emerged one after another. The reason for their formation almost all depended on the cloth industry. A large number of rural people have flowed into cities and towns, engaged in textile tool making, dyeing, kicking, transportation and other industries related to the cotton textile industry, adding vitality to the development of cities and towns.　　 In order to meet the needs of the rapid development of the cotton textile industry, and because of the profitability of cotton planting, many rice farmers switched to planting cotton, Songjiang Fudongxiang 'mostly planted cotton'Every family weaves and relies on this to make a living, finishes national classes, and provides care for the young.' Spinning and weaving have become the main source of income for many families. The traditional production method of men's farming and women's weaving has been broken. 'Tian women also help in farming. , The men in towns and cities are also known for women's red.' During the slack, men spinning and weaving became a common phenomenon. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, the fifteenth filial son Chen Shouzhen of Huating County was poor. He was 'a mother, hand weaving, and the cloth weaving is unique and clean.' It was famous far and wide, and merchants competed for purchases. When farming is busy, “women can work with men at the same rate as women’s money and car irrigated. Therefore, although other counties work harder, both men and women can stand on their own.” The new production method has not only broken the rural monopoly of rice-based production. The means of earning a living have also made women the main force supporting the family economy.　　With the increasing status of the cotton textile industry in economic activities, women, as the main force in the cotton textile industry, their status in the family has increased significantly. Some farm men who have no land and little land have no livelihood, and it appears that 'the folk men are more leisurely, but do not make a career. Their women are more diligent and weaving, and the bon lights are burning until the end of the day. 'Yu Zhizuo' phenomenon. The commitment and dedication of women has earned themselves a family status and social status comparable to that of men. Many people take their wives as their main reason for major events inside and outside. The folk proverb 'the mother's hand asks for needlework' is a commentary on women's financial management at home.　　 The social status of women is particularly evident in marriage customs. In feudal society, the marriage of women has always been based solely on the words of matchmakers and the orders of their parents. Before marriage, men and women did not know each other, let alone communicate with each other. Since the Qing Dynasty, this old custom in cotton areas has been gradually broken, and rural girls have a certain right to choose their spouse. After marriage, men and women can walk around and communicate with each other, commonly known as 'walking through the feet'. If a woman feels that the other person has a personality problem or disagrees with her personality, she can divorce as long as there are good reasons. This behavior has also been recognized by the society. The most distinctive marriage custom is the 'Pudong Big LadyThe main reason for the formation of this marriage custom is the role of women in the cotton textile industry. It is of course a good thing for the younger son to ask a eldest wife to come in and add a skilled spinning and weaving hand to the home as soon as possible. And daughters are usually the main labor of textiles in their natal homes. They want their daughters to work at home for a few more years. Of course, they don’t want their daughters to go out to get married early. Girls with superb textile skills have doubled their worth, and matchmakers are in full force. Thick marriages are popular. Most women learn to spin from the age of seven or eight, and to weave at the age of eleven or twelve. Parents prepare a generous dowry to compensate for their daughter's contributions to the family for many years. One of the main indicators of the thickness of the dowry is the number of home-made cloths and quilts. Quilts and other dowries must be cross-tied with home-made cloths. After getting married, the new wife enjoys better courtesy compared with other regions.　　The prosperity of the cotton textile industry has changed the consumption habits of farmers. From spinning and weaving to selling cloth at the cloth shop, the production cycle is only a few days and is not subject to seasonal restrictions. This has changed the habit of farmers who usually have to store production and living materials for a year. Compared with the production of food crops, the cotton spinning industry has a better income, which provides the possibility to increase the level of consumption. As a result, the phenomenon of 'family has no bucket reserves and clothing must be extremely gorgeousIn line with the changes in people's consumption habits and the rise of market towns, commerce and catering services have prospered simultaneously in large and small cities and towns, and a number of new cultural and entertainment industries have been born.　　 During the development of the cotton textile industry, many customs and industry regulations involving cotton planting, cotton textile production, cotton and cotton cloth trading, etc. have emerged. Many of these customs and habits have been affecting today's social life. Article Keywords: 　Cotton Spinning Songjiang Prefecture History