Page 20 - THE SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL
P. 20
COVERY
The Thirteen Hongs
and U.S. Merchants
By Eric Chan their corresponding countries. National flags were
hoisted in front of the firms. By 1838, there existed
In China’s trade history, the Thirteen Hongs fifty-six trading firms in Guangzhou, nine were
was not only a region of trade, but also a group affiliated to the United States.
of merchants, as well as a system of commerce.
During the Qing Dynasty, the Thirteen Hongs was A Qing Painting of Foreign Firms
the region outside Guangzhou’s west gate that
encapsulated all foreign trading firms and was Samuel Shaw, the first U.S. consul in China,
approximately one radius in diameter. established the first American trading firm in the
Thirteen Hongs presumably in 1786. As consul,
In 1685, the Qing established four customs along Shaw had no fixed office in Guangzhou and located
the southeast coast of China: the Canton Customs the consulate within the firm. Other records stated
in Guangzhou, Fujian Customs in Zhangzhou, that the first U.S. firm was constructed around
Zhejiang Customs in Ningbo, and Jiangsu Customs 1800. No authoritative statements were made, nor
in Lianyungang. However, the Qing Government any consensus was reached concerning precise time
did not possess an imperial department to manage of the establishment. It was, however, destroyed
foreign trade: Chinese officials were often perplexed in a fire in 1822. A new firm was built after the
at foreign merchants’ arrival. In 1686, the Canton fire on the east side on New China Street. Several
Customs began hiring merchants, decreeing American merchants introduced the construction
them with the authority to coordinate trade with of the new firm in their letters or works. In his
foreign merchants and to collect tariffs on behalf The Fan Kwae at Canton before the Treaty Days,
of customs. The Thirteen Hongs was then formed: William Hunter wrote that at the first floor of the
it also became the only legally authorized area to firm included an accounting office, storage rooms,
conduct foreign trade during the Canton system, comprador office, and residences for servants;
beginning in 1757. the second floor encompassed a dining hall and
cafeteria; bedrooms were on the third floor. As
The Thirteen Hongs housed both Chinese and Hunter stated, “the house had spacious corridors,
foreign trading firms. Chinese firms were more the construction was embellished with detailed
scattered within the area, whereas foreign trading designs, though not overly decorated, and was
firms were relatively concentrated. Foreign trading comfortable for residence.”
firms were constructed facing south toward the Pearl
River. They were the first western architectures America had surpassed many European countries
on Chinese soil. The western world and China in trading with China since the Empress’ arrival
integrated in the Thirteen Hongs: sailors and locals in Guangzhou in 1784. From 1786 to 1833, 1,004
would spend their pastime in taverns and acquire
daily accessories and exotic goods from Hong shops.
When trading ships arrived, foreign merchants from
various countries with their different outfits would
gather together to bargain. The mere sight was so
astonishing that George Macartney came to write
the following about Guangzhou in his memoir: “I
can barely tell which nation this land belonged to.”
In 1698, France became the first foreign nation
to establish a trading firm in Guangzhou. Great
Britain, Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden
followed in 1714, 1729, 1731, and 1732 respectively.
These foreign trading firms acted as agencies for
17 AMCHAM SOUTH CHINA
The Thirteen Hongs
and U.S. Merchants
By Eric Chan their corresponding countries. National flags were
hoisted in front of the firms. By 1838, there existed
In China’s trade history, the Thirteen Hongs fifty-six trading firms in Guangzhou, nine were
was not only a region of trade, but also a group affiliated to the United States.
of merchants, as well as a system of commerce.
During the Qing Dynasty, the Thirteen Hongs was A Qing Painting of Foreign Firms
the region outside Guangzhou’s west gate that
encapsulated all foreign trading firms and was Samuel Shaw, the first U.S. consul in China,
approximately one radius in diameter. established the first American trading firm in the
Thirteen Hongs presumably in 1786. As consul,
In 1685, the Qing established four customs along Shaw had no fixed office in Guangzhou and located
the southeast coast of China: the Canton Customs the consulate within the firm. Other records stated
in Guangzhou, Fujian Customs in Zhangzhou, that the first U.S. firm was constructed around
Zhejiang Customs in Ningbo, and Jiangsu Customs 1800. No authoritative statements were made, nor
in Lianyungang. However, the Qing Government any consensus was reached concerning precise time
did not possess an imperial department to manage of the establishment. It was, however, destroyed
foreign trade: Chinese officials were often perplexed in a fire in 1822. A new firm was built after the
at foreign merchants’ arrival. In 1686, the Canton fire on the east side on New China Street. Several
Customs began hiring merchants, decreeing American merchants introduced the construction
them with the authority to coordinate trade with of the new firm in their letters or works. In his
foreign merchants and to collect tariffs on behalf The Fan Kwae at Canton before the Treaty Days,
of customs. The Thirteen Hongs was then formed: William Hunter wrote that at the first floor of the
it also became the only legally authorized area to firm included an accounting office, storage rooms,
conduct foreign trade during the Canton system, comprador office, and residences for servants;
beginning in 1757. the second floor encompassed a dining hall and
cafeteria; bedrooms were on the third floor. As
The Thirteen Hongs housed both Chinese and Hunter stated, “the house had spacious corridors,
foreign trading firms. Chinese firms were more the construction was embellished with detailed
scattered within the area, whereas foreign trading designs, though not overly decorated, and was
firms were relatively concentrated. Foreign trading comfortable for residence.”
firms were constructed facing south toward the Pearl
River. They were the first western architectures America had surpassed many European countries
on Chinese soil. The western world and China in trading with China since the Empress’ arrival
integrated in the Thirteen Hongs: sailors and locals in Guangzhou in 1784. From 1786 to 1833, 1,004
would spend their pastime in taverns and acquire
daily accessories and exotic goods from Hong shops.
When trading ships arrived, foreign merchants from
various countries with their different outfits would
gather together to bargain. The mere sight was so
astonishing that George Macartney came to write
the following about Guangzhou in his memoir: “I
can barely tell which nation this land belonged to.”
In 1698, France became the first foreign nation
to establish a trading firm in Guangzhou. Great
Britain, Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden
followed in 1714, 1729, 1731, and 1732 respectively.
These foreign trading firms acted as agencies for
17 AMCHAM SOUTH CHINA
