Abstract:

YE shi, a very famous exponent of Yongjia School in the Southern Song Dynasty, set forth his utilitarian economic thought based on his criticisms at the traditional Confucian viewpoint of righteousness and profitability and the orthodox feudalistic economic idea.The center of his economic thought was his claim of enriching people. YE Shi set the concept of wealth right, and positively affirmed rich people' s social status and role. His thought of enriching people still has realistic significance in present-day China.

Key words: YE Shi, enrich people, lay stress on commerce, utilitarianism