History of Bosses (1) The history of bosses in China’s commerce and industry began to develop during the Shang Dynasty. Due to the development of productivity at that time, apart from agriculture and animal husbandry, workshops for activities like brewing, metallurgy, shipbuilding, construction, textiles, and pottery gradually emerged, forming various industries. After the Zhou dynasty overthrew the Shang dynasty, some remnants of the Shang lost their former power and status, and thus their economic support. Having not engaged in labor for a long time, they lacked both land and skills to make a living. Consequently, some began bartering goods, relying on inter-regional trade to sustain themselves. Meanwhile, the nobles of the Zhou dynasty also needed people to gather goods for a lavish lifestyle, so they did not restrict this activity. As a result, more people joined this profession. Over time, those who made a living by transporting goods were called “merchants,” and their occupation was termed “commerce,” which is one explanation for the origin of the term “merchant.”
With the development of commerce, the speed and volume of goods circulation increased, further promoting the growth of handicraft industries. The number of workshops increased, and their scale expanded. Wealthier merchants and workshop owners, feeling overwhelmed by the hustle, thought: “Since we’re making good money, why not hire some help?” Thus, two groups emerged: the bosses and the employees.
Naturally, bosses and employees originated simultaneously. On a certain day, specialized workers who lived off wage labor were born, and from that moment, bosses were born too. The exact time of origin is hard to pinpoint, but as industry and commerce developed, these groups gradually formed, and bosses and employees became distinct identities. However, if we trace back to the relationship between leaders and followers, figures like Fuxi, Shennong, and the Yellow Emperor could be considered “bosses,” with their ministers as the earliest “employees.”
