With the development of economy and times, consumption patterns often change accordingly, which is true at all times and in all countries. In other words, the change of consumption pattern is also one of the concrete manifestations of the development and changes of economy and times. In his book Stages of Economic Growth, American scholar Rostow even regards consumption pattern as a basic symbol of dividing the times. In different societies and times, the change of consumption patterns presents many different characteristics. For example, in modern China, compared with the past, the change of consumption pattern showed the remarkable characteristics of wide coverage, great changes and deep influence, which was an unprecedented revolution in the field of consumption.

the major changes in consumption patterns in modern times are undoubtedly due to the promotion of the emergence and development of new economy, that is, capitalism, especially the invasion of western capitalism and the emergence and rapid development of new businesses in China, which have had a huge impact on traditional consumption patterns and directly led to the emergence of the consumption revolution.

After the Opium War, a large number of foreign goods flooded into China, which gradually influenced the traditional consumption patterns in China. For example, during the Daoguang period after the Opium War, it became fashionable to enjoy foreign goods in the upper class. A certain tendency to worship foreign countries has begun to appear in social atmosphere. "Everything is extremely valuable, which is called ocean, with heavy buildings and foreign buildings, colorful sedan chairs, clothes with foreign crepes, hats with foreign cylinders, hanging lanterns and foreign lanterns, and hot pot called ocean pot. As for the fine soy sauce, it is also known as foreign soy sauce, and the bright pigments are also called magenta and green. In the north and south of the great river, everything depends on foreign countries "(Noe: Chen Zuolin: Talking in a Candle, quoted from Chen Dengyuan's Cultural History of China, vol. 2, p. 3. ）。 However, the initial changes were mainly limited to a few areas such as trading ports and wealthy bureaucrats, and their influence on ordinary people was not widespread. By the end of 19th century, the number of trading ports that China was forced to open to the outside world had increased to more than 7, and there were more than 2 ports opened by the Qing government. As a result, the dumping of foreign goods in China is more unimpeded, and it has penetrated into the vast number of small and medium-sized towns, and it is not difficult to see foreign goods even in some villages. For example, in Yutian, Zhili, people have consumed "countless foreign goods", and "those who eat daily foreign goods are almost as good as five out of ten" (Noe: Yao Gao, ed. "Information on China's Modern Foreign Trade History", Zhonghua Book Company, 1962, p. 116. ）； Even in the shops in the secluded area of Zhaotong, Yunnan, you can see many foreign goods, including all kinds of hartweed, serge, feather yarn, flannel, watches and clocks, glass, etc., and their prices are "not surprisingly expensive" (Note: Yao Gao, ed. Information on the Modern Foreign Trade History of China, Zhonghua Book Company, 1962, pp. 116-117. ), so it can be accepted by ordinary people.

In addition to the increasing import of foreign goods, after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, western countries seized the right to directly invest and set up factories in China by forcing the Qing government to sign the treaty of shimonoseki, thus making use of China's cheap raw materials and labor to produce and sell various commodities locally. Prior to this, although foreign businessmen had set up factories in some trading ports in China, they were few in number and did not obtain legal rights; After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the number of factories increased dramatically. As a result, all kinds of foreign goods made in China are flooding the market. Because its price is lower than that of imported foreign goods, it is also easier to penetrate into the families of ordinary people in China, so that "people buy their homes, abandon the old ones and renovate them, and consume my wealth. How can they do it all?" (Note: Peng Zeyi, ed. "Historical Materials of Modern Handicraft Industry in China", Volume 2, Sanlian Bookstore, 1957, p. 239. ）。 The increasing popularity of foreign goods has further promoted the change of China people's consumption patterns.

Not only that, foreign businessmen also introduced the western way of life and consumption directly to China. Including building Western-style mansions and roads in the concession, participating in horse racing, boat racing, tennis, football, amateur drama clubs, parks or indoor concerts, etc. At the same time, foreign businessmen have created many public utilities in China that are directly related to new life and new consumption patterns. For example, in the Shanghai Concession, the first western-style road, Jing 'an Temple Road, appeared in 1862. In 1865, gas street lamps were installed for the first time, and the first land telegraph line was established; In 1874, French businessman Milla introduced the first rickshaws from Japan. In 1882, Shanghai Electro-Optical Company founded by British businessmen began to set up street lamps. The following year, a tap water pipe was set up to discharge water for the first time; Trams were opened to traffic in 198 and trolleybuses were also opened in 1914. All these things, though they were mainly foreign nationals serving the concession at first, all affected the change of China people's lifestyle and consumption pattern. Soon after, lights, telephones, cars and running water appeared in the Chinese community in Shanghai, and many roads were rebuilt and built in imitation of the concession. For example, in Xujiahui area, the market is booming, and the tram is driving, and the postal service is set up. Electric lights, street lamps, telephone calls and tap water are installed every second. ..... with each passing day, like a foreign scenery ".

The emergence and development of China's national capitalist industry and commerce has further led to changes in the consumption patterns of ordinary people. With the continuous development of industry and commerce, the traditional production mode of male farming and female weaving in China feudal society and the corresponding consumption mode have to change. After the destruction of the self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy, many people were forced to leave their land and go to cities to work as apprentices, and even women entered yarn mills or silk mills to make a living. In this way, the traditional consumption mode will naturally be reformed. In the past, most families made their own clothes, shoes and hats with homespun, but now they buy all kinds of new consumer goods including clothes, shoes and hats with the income from work. Even in rural areas, more and more farmers, due to the development of industry and commerce and the expansion of domestic and foreign markets, have begun to engage in commercial agricultural production, and have a certain amount of money in their hands, thus being able to buy a certain number of new consumer goods. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, many farmers planted tea and hemp in Pu Yin County, Hubei Province. "The price of tea and hemp rose each other in the Republic of China and two years, and the financial resources were abundant, so the residents were extravagant and arrogant." Many "farmers also competed for foreign cloth", and the middle-class families even thought it was extravagant to imitate silk when they went out, and "the average young people were like lambs and furs" (Note: Song Yanzhai: " ）。

In the past, extravagant high consumption was confined to the homes of bureaucrats and landlords, so the capital where bureaucrats gathered was often the capital of consumption. In modern times, some changes have taken place in its situation, and the capital of consumption began to shift to the most developed areas of industry and commerce. Moreover, the more developed the industry and commerce, the more obvious and rapid the change of consumption patterns, which further shows that the change of consumption patterns is closely related to the development of industry and commerce. For example, Shanghai is the most developed industrial and commercial area in modern China, and the change of consumption pattern is very prominent in Shanghai.

After the opening of Shanghai, the rapid development of import and export trade and the degree of commercial prosperity are among the best in the country, which is also the benefit of dajia, a wealthy businessman, who can indulge himself and linger. Comparatively speaking, Shanghai can be said to be the first metropolis to imitate and accept the western lifestyle and have a modern consumption revolution. Even Suzhou and Hangzhou, which are known as paradise on earth, have many shortcomings compared with Shanghai, where the lifestyle is dazzling. In the early 187s, Shen Bao once published the following words: "Anyone who has never seen or heard of China's views is the first district of Pidgin, which is meticulous and flawless." In fact, it is indeed true. Judging from the rapid changes in consumption concepts, consumption patterns and other aspects, Shanghai in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China is a leader. In the late Qing Dynasty, many western entertainment consumption patterns were introduced to Shanghai, which made Shanghai, a tiny place, able to "give China 2 Yu Sheng, and people from more than 2 foreign countries clothed and ate in Sri Lanka, bustling and bustling, with more people than ants. There are wine and food to chase each other, fireworks to swim quickly, chariots and horses to walk instead, theatres and tea shops to send money to prosper, and restaurants, bookstores, billiard rooms and photo shops to descend, all of which are fascinating. "(Note:" Shen Bao "December 1, 189. ）。 There are countless words and expressions used by literati to describe the prosperity of business and entertainment in modern Shanghai, such as "the sea and the sky are rich and the scenery is forgiving" and "the lonely burial in the suburbs has become a prosperous place; High-rise buildings, open the field of singing and dancing "; "The gorgeous houses are connected with gardens, leaving the mansion into the clouds, the lights are shining, and the city can't open at night", etc., all of which show that Shanghai, with its magnificent scenery, is a good place to make people feel happy. Most merchants in ancient China advocated thrift, and their profits were mainly used to buy fields, but in modern times, their consumption concepts began to change obviously. In Shanghai, there are many businessmen who make a fortune among all kinds of people who spend lavishly in various entertainment places. Some big businessmen's trading negotiations have also been held in entertainment venues. It can be seen that the modern life in Shanghai is also quite attractive to businessmen. At the same time, the diversification of entertainment methods has provided businessmen with more opportunities to make money.

Some scholars who study the history of Shanghai think that it may not be too much to call the abnormally developed modern Shanghai the erotic consumption capital of China at that time. This is also a manifestation of the proliferation of pornographic consumption in the process of modern China's consumption pattern reform. At that time, on the Shanghai beach, there were many brothels and famous flowers, which were called "ten miles of foreign exchange, three thousand cosmetics" and "as many prostitutes as there are in the world". According to the estimation of the magistrate of a county in Shanghai in the 192s, there are more than 1,5 brothels in Shanghai, but there are not many brothels such as Huayanguan, Xianshuimei, Danshuimei, etc. (Note: Shanghai News Agency, Shanghai Bookstore, 1984, p. 554). ）。 The number of prostitutes in Shanghai is also staggering. According to the report of Shanghai Ministry of Industry and Public Security Bureau at the beginning of this century, the proportion of prostitutes among Chinese women in the concession is as high as 12.5%. In modern Shanghai, the prostitute-making tour has become public, and its ways are calling the bureau, eating sanhua, playing tea, taking a ride, listening to books, and hanging your arms. The variety is quite overwhelming, which is rare in many other big cities. Someone once pointed out bitterly that "both men and women are shameless when they enter Shanghai" and that "Shanghai men and women are shameless and are ashamed to speak at home and abroad". But more Shanghainese, especially the upper class, are not ashamed of this. Among the so-called "seven shames" circulating in Shanghai at that time, one shame was "shame". The reason why "Yao Er" is ashamed is because "Yao Er" is a low-ranking prostitute. And being able to hang out with those high-ranking "senior three" prostitutes is not only not ashamed, but proud. The activity of choosing flower list with great fanfare also reflects the prosperity of Shanghai's romantic field. The flower selection list is a beauty contest among prostitutes, which was held in Shanghai in 1882. Many newspapers and magazines publicize this, and many scholars and clients support their favorite prostitutes, sometimes because of pen and ink lawsuits. Once a prostitute is on the list, she is worth a hundred times immediately, and her photos are published in various newspapers and become well-known figures. In line with the social custom of whoring, Shanghai's porn industry is also more developed and prosperous than other cities. Businessmen can not only bow to the racket, but also make profits and increase their wealth through the developed porn industry, so they are eager for it.

From this point of view, modern Shanghai seems to be another big black vat that hides evil people and practices evil things, and there is also a bad tendency in the reform of consumption patterns. The 14th episode of the novel "A Brief History of Civilization" also reflects some people's hatred of Shanghai in this respect: a young man insisted on going to Shanghai to study and broaden his eyes, but his old lady expressed strong opposition, and said, "When young disciples arrive in Shanghai, there are no students who don't fail to learn, and there are so many fucking women there that they will be fooled even if they spend money. ..... One day, I can't be fooled by you. " (Note: See Le Zheng's Social Mentality of Modern Shanghainese (186-191), Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1991, p. 12. Indeed, in the eyes of many China people at that time, modern Shanghai seemed to be a world of flowers and flowers, in which everyone would have unexpected changes. "The most stupid people can become smart soon after they arrive in Shanghai; The most honest people can become cunning soon after they arrive in Shanghai; The weirdest person can become beautiful soon after he arrives in Shanghai; A little girl with a runny nose can soon become a curly-haired beauty; A lady with a dizzy voice and a flat nose can become a generous wife in a few days. " (Noe: Chen Xulu: On Shanghai Style, edited by History Department of Fudan University: Re-estimation of China Traditional Culture, Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1987, p. 368. )

In short, modern Shanghai is a magical economic center and a magic capital of consumption. This magic is not only reflected in the rapid development of Shanghai's economy, which has made a small county town that was not very ordinary in the past become a big Shanghai with a huge port in the Far East. At the same time, it is a kaleidoscope that is full of wonders and quirks, which not only surprises people, but also attracts people's criticism and attacks. Nevertheless, with its powerful magic power, Shanghai still attracts groups of new immigrants from all over the country and even from western countries.

It should be pointed out that in the process of the transformation of consumption patterns in modern China, there are the following noteworthy trends:

First, it is fashionable. This is actually an obvious feature of modern China commercial culture. This tendency in the change of consumption pattern is obviously influenced by business culture. For example, in Shanghai, where business is developed, businessmen from all walks of life try their best to guide people to join the new consumption trend in a variety of unconventional and fashionable ways in order to get rich profits from it. The social atmosphere at that time also praised all kinds of fashionable moves. At the end of the 19th century, Shen Bao published an article criticizing this trend of blindly following the new trend and following the fashion: "People in this state are tied to fashion, but they only follow the times. One can't be a man unless it's time, and it's not enough to win unless it's time. Therefore, prostitutes are fashionable, pear orchards are fashionable, boudoir is fashionable, and even the literati in charge have changed their faces, and they talk about current affairs to deceive the world. " (Note: Shen Bao was published on July 14th, 1897. Influenced by it, catching up with fashionable consumption patterns and customs has become increasingly prominent. The atmosphere in modern Shanghai changed instantly, so that "for more than three years, it was often like a generation apart." In particular, "those who have traveled here by Hakka people are different from those in the market two or three years ago. They seek novelty in Shanghai, and their atmosphere is earlier than that in other places, and their transactions are more convenient than those in other places. I don't know what the indigenous people think of it, but those who are different don't wait for two or three years, and those who have changed at the age of one will change in a few months. "(Note:" Shen Bao "on July 14, 1897. ）。 Similar phenomena not only occur in Shanghai, but also in many other cities, but the degree and speed of change are not as good as that of Shanghai, because the development of commercial trade in other regions is far less than that of Shanghai.

Second, consumption is increasingly linked with social activities or transactions. In traditional society, besides making friends and enhancing emotional ties, consumption is generally a simple leisure and enjoyment activity, and its way is relatively simple. In modern times, the purpose of consumption has become increasingly diversified, some of which are for general social activities, but entertainment has also become one of the very important purposes. Especially for businessmen, the so-called socialization is actually to establish a network of interpersonal relationships, understand the local market and solicit business extensively. Because of this, consumption has become more luxurious and varied. Including turning on cigarette lights in cigarette shops, playing tea in tea houses, hosting banquets in restaurants, eating sanhua in brothels, playing cards in casinos, and going to the theater to watch plays and play.