Abstract: Under the double attack of the traditional view of righteousness and profit and the awareness of importance of farming, businessmen are more of a negative image of those “stopping at nothing for a profit.” Moreover, they have to bear ethical criticism because of the common notion “business up farming down” when brought in contrast with the plight of rural farmers. After the Mid-Tang Dynasty roughly at the turn of the 9th century, urban commodity economy boomed. As commercial contribution to the imperial treasury and national economy increased, the business ideas of the literati and the officials gradually changed. The industrious and pioneering images of businessmen, which had been previously oblivious under ethic criticism, were portrayed and even praised in literary works. Partially they have won a positive position in literature.

Key words: literati of the Tang and Song Dynasties, business concept, image of businessman, diversification