Abstract：The transformation of systems of Trade Association by that of business guild have experienced for more than 90 years in modern China. After the Opium War (1840-1842), with the new changes in the economic and political field of China, the guild systems were assaulted and challenged constantly.The growth of the capitalist relation and development of the new developing industry and commerce have put forward requests for the trade organization in the field of systems. The traditional guild has begun inherent changes, its function has changed gradually, which formed a kind of unofficial system that benefit the trade's development. But the inherent changes demonstrate great differences and uneven qualities in terms of different trades and areas. In addition, to make the unofficial system arrangement possess authorities, government's legal support must be obtained so as make a formal one. A series of decrees and supplementary measures from Late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China government, offered conditions for system changes of Trade Association. Meanwhile, both the help of chamber of commerce and the demonstration effects of western trade councils, promoted the final transformation of the guild. The system changes of guild in modern China were the results of internal forces combined with external forces, at the same time, were also the results of mandatory changes and inherent changes interweaved with each other from top to bottom.
