Zhou Hui

    The term "360 professions" refers to all trades and occupations in society. As the saying goes, "Everyone has their own line of work, whether it's beating a gong or selling candy." The concept of professions has been recorded since the Tang Dynasty, with 36 professions documented. In the Song Dynasty, Zhou Hui's "Qingbo Zazhi" lists various professions such as butchers, seafood sellers, condiment makers, fruit and flower vendors, fresh fish sellers, cosmetic sellers, tailors, herbal medicine shops, basket weavers, coffin makers, antique dealers, potters, forensic experts, musicians, acrobats, leather workers, etc.      How did the number evolve from 36 to 360? According to Xu Ke's "Qing Pai Leicao - Agriculture and Commerce Section," "36 professions refer to various vocations. When you roughly estimate based on their division of labor, it is said to be 36 professions; doubled, it becomes 72; multiplied by ten, it becomes 360." It is evident that "360 professions" is just an approximate number, and since ancient times, the number of occupational categories far exceeded 360, even 3,600 would not cover them. However, "360 professions" is merely a general figure. Over time, people have gotten used to this collective term for all professions, as it is convenient to…