Did businessmen have a high status in the Song Dynasty?

No, because the Song Dynasty, like other feudal dynasties, implemented the policy of attaching importance to agriculture and neglecting commerce, and businessmen were the last among intellectuals, peasants and businessmen. Although society is cheap and businessmen are rich, their status is still not high. Although businessmen can marry officials to improve their status, their status will not be too high under the self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy.