Tianjixiang Museum

Tianjixiang Museum

Tianjixiang Museum. It is the only merchant museum in Pingyao Ancient City. It was founded by Mr. Cui Changming, the chairman of the county’s collectors’ association.

In the past, a merchant house was a place for conducting business and trade. What you have come to today is the former site of Changshengwei, the most famous foreign goods trading firm in Pingyao over a hundred years ago. Changshengwei was established in the 22nd year of the Guangxu reign (1896) and ceased operations in 1917 (during the October Revolution), lasting for 21 years. It underwent two name changes, with its predecessors being Changshengyu and Changshengqing Foreign Goods Firm. It mainly dealt in imports and exports of silk, tea, furs, woolen fabrics, and foreign goods. At that time, businesses were either sole proprietorships or joint ventures, and this one was the latter — a joint-stock company co-founded with 120,000 taels of silver by two major financiers in Pingyao, Ren Baoling and Xue Zhaorui. The advantage of a joint venture is shared risk, but sometimes drawbacks arise, such as differing opinions in management and decision-making. As the saying goes, those who invest do not manage, and those who manage do not invest. Therefore, the financiers decided to hire the most outstanding employee based on trust and merit to serve as the general manager. From its inception to its peak, the firm hired Wang Chaoxiang, the Shop Manager Wang, who came from a family of merchants. At that time, Shop Manager Wang had full operational authority within the firm, while the financiers held ownership. The separation of these two rights was very thorough and clear. (This system of separating operational and ownership rights is called the dual-rights separation system.)

A Generation Titan: This section introduces Shop Manager Wang. Wang Chaoxiang was born in the 6th year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1856) in Liangpodixiang Village, Pingyao County, and passed away in the 5th year of the Republic of China (1916) at the age of 60. Born into a family of merchants, he joined the firm as an apprentice at the age of 18, when Changshengqing was still a foreign goods store. At 25, he became a shareholder with a 3% stake (i.e., he received a personal share). To motivate employees, the financiers innovatively used a “dual-share system,” where the financiers held silver shares (capital shares), and employees held personal shares (labor shares, where one's own labor served as equity, and during profit-sharing, the owners received monthly dividends). Holding a 3% stake meant he could receive 0.3 shares in profit every four years. At that time, 0.3 shares amounted to 18,000 taels, equivalent to about 1.5 million RMB. Historical records describe Wang Chaoxiang as “exceptionally talented and extraordinary in demeanor,” “wise with ingenious strategies, benevolent to colleagues, and trustworthy in friendships,” and “possessing a photographic memory.” At 32, when Changshengqing changed its name to Changshengyu, he became the Deputy General Manager. At 41, when Changshengyu became Changshengwei, Wang Chaoxiang officially became the General Manager, taking charge of the entire firm and “revitalizing its operations significantly.” He was well-versed in market trends, was the first to set up a branch in Russia, and engaged in cross-border trade of foreign goods. He was hailed by veteran merchants as a titan of his generation and praised as a business prodigy.

Counter Room: As the name suggests, this is the room connected to the front counter. Its function is similar to today’s security office. The underground vault was used by the firm to store silver, capable of holding 40,000 to 50,000 taels at a time, equivalent to about 4 to 5 million RMB. This was just the firm’s working capital. Normally, most of the silver was stored in money shops, meaning there was a close credit relationship between the merchant house and the money shops. The reason for placing the vault here was to take advantage of reverse psychology — the most dangerous place is often the safest.

Business Room: This was where trade market information was gathered and business clients were entertained. Its function is similar to today’s sales department. The outer area was where the business clerks worked. These clerks, also called “street runners,” were responsible for providing top-tier business intelligence to the head manager and keeping up with key trade market trends (usually 3 to 4 such clerks were stationed in the business room). Thus, the business room was also a cradle for talent. The firm had branches outside, and the managers of these branches were all outstanding clerks trained in the business room. This was also the most grassroots-level job in the firm. Apprentices had to start here and become thoroughly familiar with every aspect of the business. Only after gaining expertise could they be gradually promoted, eventually even becoming the head manager. To qualify as a shop manager, one had to undergo 20 years of hands-on training — Pingyao followed a 20-year apprenticeship system.

Inner Room of the Business Room: This was where the business supervisor worked and lived. The business supervisor is equivalent to today’s sales manager. The bed in the inner room is a rosewood canopy bed preserved from the late Ming Dynasty. Rosewood is a premium material, and furniture made from it does not require painting, as its natural color and grain are used. This canopy bed has been designated as a “Grade III Cultural Relic” by national heritage authorities. You can see that its craftsmanship is unique, employing carving techniques that reached the highest level in ancient history — openwork carving. The carved patterns are intertwined grapevines, symbolizing fertility and prosperity. The mattress is woven from palm and rattan, akin to today’s Simmons mattresses, but much more breathable.

Prosperous Governance: As the saying goes, “Every country has its laws, and every family its rules.” As an international trading firm, it had its own management principles. The eight principles listed above were established by Shop Manager Wang after he took over Changshengwei. Using these eight principles to run the business, within just five years, he not only expanded the firm’s branches across the country, reaching as far as Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia and Moscow in Russia, but also increased the trade volume more than tenfold. At the time he took over, the annual trade volume was 1.5 million taels, equivalent to about 160 million RMB. At its peak, it reached over 18 million taels, around 2 billion RMB. You can see the enlarged accounting figures displayed at the entrance. Of course, these are only partial records from the ledgers of Changshengwei branches, but overall, they clearly demonstrate the massive scale of the head office’s trade.

This small room was the bedroom for junior clerks. They slept on the floor. Feudal society emphasized strict hierarchy. Look at the decor — the auspicious object on the table is called “Three Rams Bring Prosperity,” which Shop Manager Wang brought back from Tibet. In Tibet, it was used for worship, but here it serves to ward off evil. Behind it is a piece of wood carving, carved from a single block of wood, featuring characters from the Three Kingdoms period. It was mainly used as decoration under the eaves of wealthy homes, but during the ten years of the Cultural Revolution, it was damaged. Only this piece remains, and it was preserved because clever locals painted it with yellow mud and wrote “Long Live Chairman Mao” on it. On this side, there is a mirror in the center and incense vases on both sides, symbolizing a peaceful life. If there were a bell placed in front, it would signify peace for life.

You can see the three golden-plated Chinese characters “Shuang Heng Yong” hanging in the covered hall. These were the spiritual aspirations of the two financiers, Ren and Xue, for their business — they hoped that Changshengwei would endure forever. The tallest building in the museum complex is the Manager’s Office, which is equivalent to today’s general manager’s role. The manager had supreme authority in the firm, deciding on personnel, business strategies, and branch setups, without interference from the financiers. The financiers understood that to allow the manager to fully utilize his talents, they must grant him maximum autonomy. This is the guest reception room, mainly used to entertain important clients. The smoking room inside was where opium was smoked in the past, but here, neither the manager nor the clerks smoked it — it was reserved for entertaining clients. Also, take a look at these two flat cabinets. The firm used them to store miscellaneous or fragmented silver, also called filing cabinets. They have a unique feature — large doors and small openings. At the time, merchants believed the smaller the door, the more wealth it attracted.

Manager’s Office: The museum houses three treasured artifacts. The first is the Rhinoceros Looking at the Moon Mirror, made from high-quality rosewood. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, it is 400 years old. The circular mirror represents the moon, symbolizing reunion. The rhinoceros below shares a homophone with the Chinese character for “joy,” implying happiness and togetherness. Originally placed in the courtyard, it functioned like a surveillance camera. The inner room is the manager’s bedroom. The two wax figures are of Shop Manager Wang and his wife. It is said that during Wang’s illness, his wife, Wang Zhangshi, cared for him. This wax figure is based on that scene and modeled after the late manager’s portrait. Next to it is a bed also carved from huanghuali, a type of rosewood. It uses the same openwork carving technique as the previous rosewood bed. The door panel features a magpie on plum blossoms, symbolizing the arrival of happy events. Beside it are plum and bamboo motifs, representing childhood sweethearts, while lotus with seeds symbolizes the wish for children soon. There is a shelf behind the bed, used for storing quilts during the day and for work at night.

The upper floor was once the warehouse for Changshengwei. Now it displays ancient calligraphy and paintings. Feel free to admire them if interested.

General Affairs Office: Similar in function to today’s logistics department, it managed meals, client dining, clothing distribution, vehicle maintenance, and more. Smaller firms did not have this, but larger firms established a dedicated General Affairs Office.

Buddhist Shrine: This was the place dedicated to Buddhist worship. In the past, merchants in Pingyao were quite devout. They not only worshipped in temples but also set up shrines at home for daily prayers. Here, Shop Manager Wang worshipped Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, revered as the World-Honored One. The statue was specially brought from Mount Wutai and had been consecrated, making it highly efficacious. Clerks embarking on distant travels would pray here for safe journeys and successful endeavors.

The wall displays leaders and celebrities who have visited the museum since its opening.

The National Grade III Cultural Relic wooden carving of the Nine Dragons Screen is the museum’s second treasure. As you may know, the Nine Dragons Screens seen in Beijing or Datong are made of colored glaze or white marble. This one is a wood carving, which is extremely rare. Made from premium boxwood — dense yet soft and easy to carve — it uses a single-sided deep relief technique. The overall composition is elegant, with a unique style. The nine dragons are vividly rendered, each with distinct expressions, lively and lifelike, making it a rare artistic masterpiece. This piece dates back to the Qianlong era, over 250 years ago.

Let’s look up — this is the Boudoir Tower, also known as the ladies’ chamber. It is a respectful term for a woman’s living quarters. Such towers were common in official and merchant mansions, but setting one up in a merchant firm was unprecedented. Shop Manager Wang passed away in 1915, and in the same year, the financiers hired another person to serve as the General Manager of Changshengwei. This individual hired a female entertainer named Shilixiang, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, primarily to entertain clients — similar to today’s PR ladies. However, the boudoir tower was shut down within half a year of opening. The clerks opposed it, calling it “keeping a beauty in a golden house, harming public morals,” and tensions escalated into serious incidents. Under social pressure and opposition from the staff, the boudoir was closed, and Shilixiang left to lead an upright life. Now it has been reopened to revisit history, allowing visitors to judge for themselves.

The two round mirrors hanging in the center of the wall represent two eyes, constantly watching every corner of the courtyard to prevent evil from entering and wealth from leaving.

This is the maid’s bedroom. The maid slept on an earthen bed, with a heated kang used for warmth in winter.

China Jade Museum: “Time flows like seasons, ancient and modern tastes differ; the world is our home, our thoughts as one beneath heaven and earth.” This couplet ushers you into the ancient era of jade. This leisure exhibition hall is based on the collection of Chinese jades amassed by collector Cui Changming, centered around the culture of jade in China.

Jade culture is an important and splendid part of Chinese heritage, representing a glorious achievement in the history of human art. From the Neolithic Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures to the Ming and Qing periods, it fully demonstrates the long-standing and profound nature of Chinese jade culture.

China is one of the regions richest in jade resources in the world. From North China to Xinjiang, from the northwest to the south, it has long been known as the “Country of Jade.”

China is also one of the earliest and longest-standing users of jade in the world. The love, appreciation, and collection of jade have greatly enriched people’s spirits. Below are displayed some of the finest jade artifacts for leisurely appreciation.

Jade Knife: Produced in the Western Zhou Dynasty, about 3,000 years ago, an early human tool.

Jade Coin: An early financial currency from the Han Dynasty.

Three-Treasure Ruyi Hook: A symbol of wealth and prosperity in the home.

To be continued.

Visitor Center: Staffed with dedicated personnel, always ready to welcome you. Here you can enjoy fragrant tea, watch TV programs showcasing the full panorama of Pingyao Ancient City, learn about its local customs, cultural essence, and traditional specialties. You can also sing karaoke, admire modern celebrity calligraphy and paintings, and purchase fine cultural relics.

Museum of Bronze Ware Through the Dynasties: Like the Jade Museum, this exhibition hall seeks to reflect the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization through vividly crafted bronze artifacts.

In the early days of bronze ware, the products were dazzling and resplendent in color. The variety of vessels was extensive, ranging from daily utensils to weapons of war, from gifts for nobility to burial objects—each shining brilliantly. Below is a brief introduction to major bronze artifacts from the Xia Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Qin and Han dynasties, the Three Kingdoms and Jin periods, and the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties, as well as the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. (Abbreviated)

Museum of Porcelain Through the Dynasties: Ceramics are another great invention of China, aside from the Four Great Inventions. It emerged during the Xia and Shang dynasties, with celadon appearing in the Han Dynasty. The Wei and Jin periods saw the formation of four major kiln systems: Yue, Ou, Wu, and Deqing. The Tang Dynasty’s tri-colored pottery stood out uniquely. The Song Dynasty marked a leap forward, with the five famous kilns—Ru, Guan, Ge, Jun, and Ding—producing exquisite works in abundance. The Ming and Qing dynasties were the golden age, characterized by opulence and brilliant splendor. Below is an introduction to porcelain from various dynasties. (Abbreviated)

Take a look at the horse-drawn carriage—it was the most luxurious vehicle used by the head manager, Wang Da Zhanggui, when he went out. Notice its wooden wheels, which are quite unique, made up of 18 small wooden sticks representing the Eighteen Arhats. Wang Da Zhanggui hoped that the Eighteen Arhats would protect him during his travels.

This room here and the one opposite are symmetrical, and they were also used to house the young apprentices at the time.

Wan Li An Ban (Ten Thousand Li on Duty): This section introduces how the head manager, Wang Chaoxiang, during his tenure as general manager of Changshengwei, led by example and personally traveled with colleagues to Moscow, Russia, to establish a branch. It is said that upon arriving in Moscow, despite exhaustion from the journey, he immediately visited the local Chinese community to understand trade conditions, exchanging tea and silk for wool and furs. After returning to China, he personally organized the sale of foreign goods, enabling Changshengwei to rise rapidly in the business world. Wang Chaoxiang, with his extraordinary business acumen, impressed countless business elites in Pingyao, becoming a standout figure in commerce. It shows that he was an innovative and unconventional individual. In his management, instead of choosing the same products as his competitors, he had the foresight to boldly introduce foreign goods, pioneering a new field in Pingyao’s business world. He earned substantial profits for Changshengwei from foreigners.

The three northern rooms served as the accounting office, also known as the main accounting office—today’s equivalent of the accounting department. The inner room was where the chief accountant worked and lived, while the outer room was for general accounting tasks. The small western room functioned as the main accounting office, specifically calculating financial transactions between the head office and its branches. It handled the accounting of total funds, cash flow, and the records of trade goods—dispatch, storage, and sales—ensuring daily clearance, monthly settlement, and annual summaries. At year-end, detailed reports were compiled for review by the owners. During major accounting periods, dividends were calculated and distributed according to shares, as decided by the owners. It already bore the characteristics of a modern enterprise. It is understood that during Changshengwei’s peak, dividends per share reached over 11,000 taels of silver, offering very generous returns to owners and employees. Wang Chaoxiang, as the head manager holding a share of human capital, quickly became a renowned wealthy merchant in the southeastern part of Pingyao within a decade. The Wang Chaoxiang family’s residence still stands in Liangpodi Village, showcasing their once grand and luxurious lifestyle.

So how did this business decline? Look here—the entire firm’s downfall was due to the death of Wang Chaoxiang in the fifth year of the Republic of China. In the same year, the owners hired another manager to take over as general manager of Changshengwei. Historical records say his surname was [illegible], and he was ambitious and stubborn, discarding the teachings of the former manager. He treated cross-border trade as a trivial matter and strongly advocated for using silver dollars to speculate on rubles at the Moscow branch. Initially making small profits, he then borrowed heavily from within China to speculate on rubles. However, lacking talent and experience, and coinciding with the outbreak of the Russian October Revolution, the rubles became worthless, leading to the complete collapse of the industry and the firm’s decline. The failure of [illegible] had two reasons: first, he failed to assess the situation correctly. As businessmen often say, success depends on timing, location, and harmony among people. Mencius said, “Timing is not as important as location, and location is not as important as harmony.” Broadly speaking, business is closely tied to a nation’s political, military, economic conditions, and policies. When these change and present opportunities for business growth, whether merchants can seize them depends on their ability to recognize the situation. Without this awareness, development becomes difficult, and failure may even occur. Second, he made a blind shift—from a familiar trade business to the money trade, a field where he had no expertise or experience, and without understanding social trends, failure was inevitable.

The third treasure of this museum is the calligraphy and paintings on this wall. The central painting is a fine steed artwork by the renowned master Xu Beihong, created in the 23rd year of the Republic of China (1944). The accompanying couplet, “Rain moistens zither and books; wind brings the fragrance of ink,” is the work of Huang Shen, one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou. It means: after rain, the zither and books become moist, and a breeze carries the faint scent of ink. Inside are works by Liu Yong, also known as Liu Luoguo, who was the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty. The upper line reads, “Bamboo-wrapped pavilion towers, jade-like beauty abounds,” and the lower line, “By plum blossoms, windows small, pearls round and small.” It depicts a bamboo grove encircling a charming pavilion, and through the window, plum blossoms appear round and lustrous like pearls.

This table was used for playing mahjong. Its edges are raised to prevent mahjong tiles from falling off, and the nearby drawer was for storing broken silver. You can also compare the two chairs on either side—the one on the left is from the Ming Dynasty, known for its simplicity and comfort, either round or square. This particular chair has no armrests and was used by junior women, whose hands had to rest in front without moving freely. The one on the right is from the Qing Dynasty, more ornate and used by elderly women. It is wider because elderly women sat cross-legged, and their bound feet (referred to as “three-inch golden lotuses”) had to be placed in the small baskets on either side.

The inner area was also where the accountants worked. On the wall is a birthday celebration painting. The accompanying couplet, “May your fortune be as boundless as the East Sea’s flowing waters, and your life as enduring as the South Mountain’s evergreen pines,” was gifted to the accountant by friends and family on his 60th birthday. The embroidery technique in the middle is called “dielenghua embroidery,” which involves wrapping cotton inside the fabric and then embroidering from the back. The table holds what was once a thermos flask—cotton was wrapped around a water container to keep it warm, as thermoses didn’t exist at the time.

Harming Even Pond Fish: During Wang Chaoxiang’s tenure as general manager of Changshengwei, he maintained close credit relationships with Pingyao’s top ten banks, including Rishengchang and Tianshengxiang. After [illegible] took over, relations with these banks, especially Tianshengxiang and Weishengchang, remained strong. The substantial funds used for speculating on rubles came from these two banks. After the speculation failed, and unable to repay the loans, Tianshengxiang suffered the greatest loss, experiencing financial difficulties for several consecutive years before closing in 1921. As the saying goes, “A fire in the city wall harms the fish in the moat.” Not only did they collapse, but they also dragged down two banks.

This accounting office was responsible for cash handling. The wall features lantern paintings—eight panels come together to form an imperial lantern, symbolizing the eight trigrams. The elderly gentleman is the accountant, akin to today’s finance department head. The other is a well-known contemporary businessman, and the two are discussing inter-business loans. Observe the abacus he uses—it has an extra base plate underneath, indicating the manager’s expectation that every transaction be calculated meticulously, leaving nothing to chance, ensuring full awareness—essentially keeping a clear ledger.

Inside the pavilion is a wine jar preserved from the Ming Dynasty, decorated with a design of two dragons playing with a pearl. It was specifically used to present tribute wine to the imperial palace. Pingyao’s yellow wine was quite famous, and the firm annually contributed it to the palace.

Below is a yuanbao stone, believed to attract wealth and prosperity.

The “History of Blood and Tears” is a summary drawn from the brief rise and fall of Changshengwei. For instance, the second point states that the rise and fall of a business follows certain rules. The third point notes that business fortunes are interrelated as cause and effect—both are objective laws. But the most crucial point is the first: the fate of a business hinges on one person. Different leaders will yield different outcomes. The comparison mainly lies between Wang and [illegible]. Wang Chaoxiang was upright, skilled in management, and capable, ensuring Changshengwei’s lasting success. In contrast, [illegible] was of poor character, arrogant, and brought Changshengwei to ruin. History has fully proven that the quality of a business leader determines the company’s destiny. Consider how the Chinese character for “enterprise” (企) is written—with “person” on top and “stop” below. Remove the person, and you’re left with “stop.” A business without people ceases; likewise, without good talent, it halts. As we often say today: “People are a company’s greatest resource—people-oriented.”

Now look here—the distribution map of the firm’s branches established in the late Qing Dynasty. The head office was in Pingyao, with branches across the country, such as Chongqing, Xuchang, Jinan, Tianjin, Guihua (now Hohhot), Kulun (now Ulaanbaatar, capital of Inner Mongolia), extending as far as Moscow, Russia, forming a vast international network. Transportation at the time relied mainly on camels along the Silk Road, with round trips taking over a year.

Address: No. 20, East Side of North Entrance, South Street, Ancient City of Pingyao, Jinzhong City

Type: Museum

Recommended Visit Duration: 1 hour

Phone: 0354-5687919

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Pingyao Ancient City Pass: Peak season 120 RMB, off-season 90 RMB, valid for three days.