Abstract: During Ming and Qing dynasties, with the development of commercial economy and merchant community, the internal blood relationship was still the most trusted relationship among Chinese merchants, especially in overseas trade. Some merchant families adopted sons of other families just for the purpose of overseas business, designating them as their business agents. The reason why the business relationship had to take the blood relationship as the center is the tremendous power of traditional ethical culture deeply rooted in the kinship. In the operations of family business, the normalizing power of the ethical culture has manifested itself in emphasizing the ethical relationship and focusing on interdependence and the regulated economic behaviors. So much emphasis is laid on the importance of family kinship ethics; the primary purpose is of course to strengthen family cohesion and the control power for collective actions.

Key words: Ming and Qing dynasties; merchant community; business relationship; blood relationship