Page 21 - THE SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL
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rican ships arrived in China—averaging Repository, a newspaper press run by American
twenty-two ships per year. Some products missionaries, as the editorial office and printing
exported by U.S. merchants included ginseng, fur, factory. He also financed their publication for
cotton, sandalwood, spices, and sea cucumber— twenty years. Moreover, Olyphant assisted in the
constituting around one third of the total amount establishment of The Society for the Diffusion of
of goods exported to China. Chinese goods Useful Knowledge in China, which printed and
acquired in return were generally tea leaves, silk, published books in Chinese with practical western
and porcelain. From 1804 to 1829, the United knowledge, seeking to invoke the learning spirits
States purchased 2.41 million crates of tea leaves of Chinese citizens. As a devout believer of the
from Guangzhou, averaging ninety-seven thousand Christian faith, Olyphant also held gatherings in
crates per year; 3.8 million bolts of silk, averaging his residence (inside his firm), later referred to as
152 thousand crates per year. These major Chinese “Zion’s Corner.”
products also helped relate China with tea, silk, and
porcelain. After the First Opium War, four port cities—
Foochow, Ningpo, Shanghai, Xiamen—were
conceded to Great Britain. As a result, Guangzhou
no longer held its monopoly in foreign trade in
China, and the Thirteen Hongs lost its predominant
status. In 1856, during the Second Opium War,
a conflagration lasting three days befell upon the
Thirteen Hongs, destroying the trading firms with
171 years of history. Thus, history ended for the
Thirteen Hongs.
The American Garden, inside the Thirteen Hongs References:
Many U.S. merchants made their fortune by Adams, Jacques. The Golden Ghetto: The American Commercial
trading within the Thirteen Hongs, among which Community at Canton and the Shaping of American China
included many of the first U.S. millionaires. John policy, 1784-1844. 广东人民出版社
Jacob Astor, one of the richest men in the past
millennium, profited vastly from trading with Dolin, Eric Jay. When America First Met China: An Exotic
China. In 1800, Astor shipped American ginseng History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail. 社会科学
to Guangzhou, earning fifty-six thousand dollars’ 文献出版社
worth of profits per trade. In 1812, Astor established
a firm specializing in fur trade and initiated a fleet Dolin, Eric Jay. Fur, Fortune, and Empire. 社会科学文献出版社.
of six ships for trading with China. His primary
trade was between New York and profiting up to Guorong, Li. Qingchao Yangshang Midang. 九州出版社.
between fifty and one hundred percent worth of
his investment. In 1847, Astor’s wealth amassed to Haddad, John. America’s First Adventure in China: Trade,
over twenty million dollars. Treaties, Opium, and Salvation. 花城出版社
Another similar U.S. merchant was David Olyphant, Huafei,Qiu. Zaoqi Zhongmei Guanxi Yanjiu, 1784-1844. 人民出
known for his sponsorship for U.S. missionaries 版社
in China. Olyphant arrived in Guangzhou in 1820
and established his firm, Olyphant & Co., in 1828. Jian, Lin. ZhongMei Maoyi ErBaiNian 1784-1999. 厦门大学出
His firm soon became one of the three major U.S. 版社
trading firms in China during the early trading
period. He was also the first U.S. merchant who Van Dyke, Paul A. The Canton Trade: Life and Enterprise on
offered U.S. missionaries free passage to Guangzhou the China Coast, 1700-1845. 社会科学文献出版社
and funded their living. In his twenty-five years
of trade in Guangzhou, Olyphant volunteered in Xiaojing, Fan. Shisanhang Gushi: 1757-1842 Nian de Zhongguo
shipping letters and packages between the U.S. Yu Xifang. 花城出版社
and China. Elijah Bridgman, Samuel Williams,
Peter Parker, and other pioneering missionaries Yin, Bo. Sailing, Wealth, Empire. 群言出版社.
came to Guangzhou under Olyphant’s assistance.
In 1832, Olyphant offered a building to the Chinese
SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL 18
twenty-two ships per year. Some products missionaries, as the editorial office and printing
exported by U.S. merchants included ginseng, fur, factory. He also financed their publication for
cotton, sandalwood, spices, and sea cucumber— twenty years. Moreover, Olyphant assisted in the
constituting around one third of the total amount establishment of The Society for the Diffusion of
of goods exported to China. Chinese goods Useful Knowledge in China, which printed and
acquired in return were generally tea leaves, silk, published books in Chinese with practical western
and porcelain. From 1804 to 1829, the United knowledge, seeking to invoke the learning spirits
States purchased 2.41 million crates of tea leaves of Chinese citizens. As a devout believer of the
from Guangzhou, averaging ninety-seven thousand Christian faith, Olyphant also held gatherings in
crates per year; 3.8 million bolts of silk, averaging his residence (inside his firm), later referred to as
152 thousand crates per year. These major Chinese “Zion’s Corner.”
products also helped relate China with tea, silk, and
porcelain. After the First Opium War, four port cities—
Foochow, Ningpo, Shanghai, Xiamen—were
conceded to Great Britain. As a result, Guangzhou
no longer held its monopoly in foreign trade in
China, and the Thirteen Hongs lost its predominant
status. In 1856, during the Second Opium War,
a conflagration lasting three days befell upon the
Thirteen Hongs, destroying the trading firms with
171 years of history. Thus, history ended for the
Thirteen Hongs.
The American Garden, inside the Thirteen Hongs References:
Many U.S. merchants made their fortune by Adams, Jacques. The Golden Ghetto: The American Commercial
trading within the Thirteen Hongs, among which Community at Canton and the Shaping of American China
included many of the first U.S. millionaires. John policy, 1784-1844. 广东人民出版社
Jacob Astor, one of the richest men in the past
millennium, profited vastly from trading with Dolin, Eric Jay. When America First Met China: An Exotic
China. In 1800, Astor shipped American ginseng History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail. 社会科学
to Guangzhou, earning fifty-six thousand dollars’ 文献出版社
worth of profits per trade. In 1812, Astor established
a firm specializing in fur trade and initiated a fleet Dolin, Eric Jay. Fur, Fortune, and Empire. 社会科学文献出版社.
of six ships for trading with China. His primary
trade was between New York and profiting up to Guorong, Li. Qingchao Yangshang Midang. 九州出版社.
between fifty and one hundred percent worth of
his investment. In 1847, Astor’s wealth amassed to Haddad, John. America’s First Adventure in China: Trade,
over twenty million dollars. Treaties, Opium, and Salvation. 花城出版社
Another similar U.S. merchant was David Olyphant, Huafei,Qiu. Zaoqi Zhongmei Guanxi Yanjiu, 1784-1844. 人民出
known for his sponsorship for U.S. missionaries 版社
in China. Olyphant arrived in Guangzhou in 1820
and established his firm, Olyphant & Co., in 1828. Jian, Lin. ZhongMei Maoyi ErBaiNian 1784-1999. 厦门大学出
His firm soon became one of the three major U.S. 版社
trading firms in China during the early trading
period. He was also the first U.S. merchant who Van Dyke, Paul A. The Canton Trade: Life and Enterprise on
offered U.S. missionaries free passage to Guangzhou the China Coast, 1700-1845. 社会科学文献出版社
and funded their living. In his twenty-five years
of trade in Guangzhou, Olyphant volunteered in Xiaojing, Fan. Shisanhang Gushi: 1757-1842 Nian de Zhongguo
shipping letters and packages between the U.S. Yu Xifang. 花城出版社
and China. Elijah Bridgman, Samuel Williams,
Peter Parker, and other pioneering missionaries Yin, Bo. Sailing, Wealth, Empire. 群言出版社.
came to Guangzhou under Olyphant’s assistance.
In 1832, Olyphant offered a building to the Chinese
SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL 18
