
Rong Xitai
Name | Rong Xitai |
Title | Qing dynasty person CBDB = 84445 |
Gender | Male |
Birthday | +1849-01-01T00:00:00Z |
nationality | Qing dynasty |
Source | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45628978 |
pptrace | Link |
LastUpdate | 2025-01-09T01:56:44.073Z |
Rong Xitai (1849-1896), a native of Rongxiang, Wuxi, was one of the pioneers of modern Chinese national capitalism. During the Taiping Rebellion, nearly his entire family perished, leaving only the 11-year-old Rong Xitai to survive. Due to an accident, he took a boat to Shanghai, where he was later sent to a metal workshop as an apprentice, broadening his horizons in a large city. In 1884, Rong Xitai served as the accountant for the Li Jin Bureau in Sanshui County, Guangdong, gaining exposure to Western economics and deeply understanding the importance of capital for development. Over the course of 12 years in this position, he accumulated wealth. In 1895, due to illness, he returned to his hometown. The following year, Rong Xitai co-founded Guangsheng Qianzhuang (a bank), applying the principle of “spreading wealth for benefit.” Unfortunately, he passed away that same year at the age of only 48. Although Rong Xitai did not live to see his ambitions fulfilled, his sons Rong Zongjing and Rong Desheng continued the family business, establishing 14 flour mills and 9 textile factories, making significant contributions to the development of China's national industry. The Rong family became the only Chinese family that could truly be called a conglomerate.