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Canton-networks and Overseas Chinese Merchant Tongsuntae in Korea

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2007, (88), pp.775-820
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Kang Jin A 1

1경북대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This essay investigates trade networks of Tongsuntae(同順泰, Tongshuntai in Chinese), one of most representative Chinese companies in Korea during the modern transition period. For that purpose, besides Tongsuntae documents in kyujang-gak奎章閣 collection, this study analyses Tongsuntae-wangbok-munseo同順泰往復文書 and Tongsuntae-bohogi同順泰寶號記 newly discovered from Ancient Documents Archives in SNU. The internal organization and East-Asian trades of Tongsuntae were rooted in family and lineage networks and extending through regional ties. Tongsuntae was one of nodes in Canton-networks. Tongsuntae made inroads into Korea and developed, with Qing dynasty's increasing political presence in Korea. Liang Lunqing梁綸卿, the owner of Tongtaeho同泰號, who was most important business partner and could be major stock-holder, gudong股東, of Tongsuntae, provides a decisive clue for understanding the background of Tongsuntae's success in Korea. He was a leading figure in Cantonese societies of Shanghai and had close relationship with Cantonese compradores(maiban, 買辦) and self-strengthening officials(Yangwupai, 洋務派). They were performers of Qing policies to Korea and held the great influences in Korean affairs. Qing empire provided official encouragement and support for Chinese commercial ventures in Korea and Tongsuntae can exploit the Cantonese capitals. In this view point, Canton-networks in Korea might be not just overseas Cantonese merchant networks but Cantonese political networks.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.