The story of Chinese people in Singapore is almost incredible from the beginning.I don't want to talk about this long, because there are many research on this topic.For example, the history of the Singaporean Chinese -by -editor -in -chief of Kimu Lin is very comprehensive; the same is true of the English version compiled by Professor Ke Zongyuan, but the focus is slightly different.
As the two editors said, they did not cover all aspects of the subject, but they have tried their best to reveal the important issues that Chinese have settled in Singapore.However, whether reading Chinese or English version of Singapore Chinese history, you will find that Singapore is a really interesting theme.
What is Singapore?
Singapore has extraordinary stories.
It is strange that Singapore was once so important that it could become the center of a small kingdom in the region, but in other times, it was impressive.People will bypass it, or use it to do something insignificant, but it does not take it seriously until recently.At all these stages, the Chinese participate in some ways.
As the above two books have been pointed out, the earliest mention of Chinese historical materials that really mentioned Singapore first, especially Wang Diyuan's Shima Zhiluo talked about Temasek for the first time.At that time, this place had a certain importance, and then suddenly disappeared, leaving no trace.In order to fill the blank, historians and archaeologists have done a lot of work, let us know what happened after that.
Singapore's names are scattered in various historical materials.The Sejarah Melayu mentioned Singapore; the Portuguese and the subsequent Dutch also mentioned it, but for centuries, it has never been considered an important position.It can only play some micro -shadow in some aspects, but it is not enough to truly become the center of any transaction.
However, within decades, this is almost unknown and almost no record, and suddenly it becomes important.For a long time, people have been trying to explain the reasons, but for me, this is related to China and the Chinese, and this fact has not received enough attention.
routes from the Netherlands to China
First of all, Singapore was not important for the Dutch who were very active in the region at the time because they had taken Malacca from the Portuguese.After getting Malacca, controlling Banten, and after Jakarta has its own base, the Dutch has the most important thing for them.
The reason is simple.Whether it is for spices or for Chinese makeup products, it is bypassing from Europe to this area from Europe to this area.The easiest way to get here is through the Sunda Strait.
From there, you can go to Java, or use South Sumatra as the base, pass through the Sunda Strait, and then enter the South China Sea and go to China and Japan.Therefore, during the time when the Dutch was in the right way, this was the main route.
routes from Portugal to China
Before the Dutch arrived, why did the Portuguese occupy Malacca?Their approach is different from the Dutch.The Portuguese went directly to India through the Indian Ocean.They are mainly doing business with Muslim merchants along the Persian Gulf, India and the Red Sea.This is their main interests.
The Portuguese eventually came to Cachin and Calicut in southern India, and finally established a base in Guoa.This is more important for them.Because their base is there, the Malacca Strait becomes very important.
The Portuguese people know that the Malacca dynasty is established there. There must be good reasons. This is why they refer to Malacca.Of course, they are interested in spices and try to get spices from other places in the world. The most important thing second only to spices is to China.
Soon the Portuguese came to China.Within a few years after winning Malaysia from the Malaysians, they began to explore the coastal areas of China and make trouble for Chinese officials in Guangdong and Fujian.In the end, the Chinese learned to accept them and found that they could help them. They allowed them to use Macau ports as the base for business activities, and even let the Portuguese handle all trade in this area.In this way, they will not bother China anymore.All other European countries must deal with China through Macau through Macau.This phenomenon is really special.
This situation appears, which is related to their bypassing the corner of the hope, and it has been related to the Gulf of Persia north and the West Coast of India.
When the Dutch discovered that the Portuguese occupied the dominant position in the area, they went straight to the spice islands (compiled: that is, the Maluko Islands).They crossed the Indian Ocean to the Sunda Strait and reached the Moluccas east from Wan Dan and Jakarta to Moluccas.
Therefore, the Portuguese have Malacca routes from the Indian Ocean to the north, while the Dutch uses the southern route.They each take what they need, each.But the British who really changed the fate of Singapore.
route from Britain to China
The British are the latecomers.When they came, the Portuguese had identified a set of routes, and the Dutch locked another set of routes.But the British are more interested in the two trading centers: on the one hand, they are interested in Indian products, because India was a very rich country at the time, and it was absolutely not much to give up compared with China at that time; on the other hand, they found that they found outTea huge market.
Different from the Dutch and Portuguese who attach great importance to spices, the British set their sights on tea trade.To this end, they are looking for routes to China, and there are two routes to China.They can combine wealth in India and find tea resources in China.Using this route, they marched to the Indian Ocean, marked north, and repeated what Portugal did.
The other is the Variety Indian Ocean and arrives in China via the Sunda Strait.The British can directly wear the Vietnamese China Sea to Macau from the Sunda Strait without Malacca, as well as businessmen in contact with Guangzhou, and establish regular tea trade.This is how they do business with Fujian and Cantonese.
Therefore, you can find that the Europeans' activities are closely related to the response of the Chinese.The Chinese mobile route reflects the trade interests of these European empires at the time.This is an important clue to how Chinese activate their own network in this area and how to build their own base.Based on this background, let's take a look at the situation in Europe.
A private trade flow in Asia
I think we must understand the situation of Europe, because compared with the Asian trade model, Europe follows a different set of principles, and the latter is very small.Their business activities do not involve large -scale invasion, maritime confrontation and fighting, but focus on various trading products and networks; in any case, for the Chinese, these are pure private business activities.There are no forms of national support activities.
Whether Islamic merchants or Christian merchants, they are always supported by ruling elite members.As far as the Spanish and Portuguese are concerned, they are supported by the king and the royal family.As for East India in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, they are formed by private companies in London and Amsterdam, but they are also supported by the nobles of those countries investing in East India.There are always official support, so the navy of these countries can provide assistance when necessary.
However, the traditional trade in this area is almost completely private, especially for Indians and Chinese.For the Chinese, the situation is the opposite: the court actually does not encourage private trade.
As we all know, China has developed tribute to trade, which ensures that foreign merchants who have developed trade with China must pass bureaucratic agencies.As for the scope of business, they must offer tribute to trade.The gifts and tributes of the two sides are the basis for establishing this trade.
Of course, the country can never control everything.Private entrepreneurs have turned a blind eye to some rules, and some private trade is still ongoing.However, the rules of private trade must be formulated by the government, and then managed by Macau and Portuguese.Therefore, when "Yang Yi" came to China along the coast, this was a deterrent to private traders and hindered economic development.This bureaucracy did not relax until the end of the 16th century.
Therefore, during the period of European expansion, the Chinese did not receive any support from the government at all. Some private entrepreneurs in Fujian continued to do business and were very active in the Philippines closest to Fujian.
Since the Spanish people are also interested in trade with China, the Chinese have avoided Macau and turned to the Philippines.Different from business activities with other places, they do business directly with Manila and established a good trade line that span the Pacific Ocean, far to Mexico and Europe, and develops very complicated relationships.
European politics affects the region
In this context, Singapore can rise from it, which is surprising.Why does the British need Singapore?
When I said that it was "merit", I laughed at Napoleon.Napoleon began to establish an empire in Europe and threatened the Netherlands. This has nothing to do with European history.
The situation of the Dutch East India was very bad at the time and was almost bankrupt, so the news of the capture of Napoleon's capture of the Netherlands shocked the British.It prompts the British East India Company to occupy the territory of the Dutch East India company to prevent them from falling into the French people under the rule of Napoleon.
The British took over Java and sent Raffles as Governor.It is in this case that they have a new understanding of Britain's interests in China and believe that they can be handled in different ways.The British realized that they may not have to answer from Kolkata. They can do business with China through the Malacca Strait, and other routes can be considered.To do this, it depends on how the European war is over.
Fortunately, Napoleon was defeated in Europe.The British as a victory realized that they still needed the Netherlands as an allies in Europe.This has nothing to do with this area.It is the incident that happened in Europe to determine everything that happened here.The fact is that the British hope that the Dutch stands on them to ensure that the French will not control the area.As a result, the famous British Dutch treaty came into being in 1824, and the results were immediate.
The British have ruled Java for several years, and they know the essence of Nusantara or the Malay Islands world, which allows them to understand what they need to do.In order to stabilize the routes to China, the British do not have to challenge the Dutch or control their territories. They only need to reach an agreement with the Dutch to allow them to safely pass the Dutch islands that are regarded as the scope of interest, including Singapore.
The Dutch controls Malacca, and in the area between Malacca and Jakarta, Singapore is just one of the islands.In these places, the Dutch solved the problems of the MINANGKABAU, Wuggi and other Malay groups, and dominated their affairs.
The main interest of the Dutch is to control the Malaysian Islands, and the British are only to find a safe route to China, because this will affect their monopoly tea business and opium trade related to them.
Why is Singapore?
This is the historical background of "why is Singapore".For me, Singapore's passing, and why it has always been a connection point to China, is a surprise and interesting story.
At least in the first 20 years of Singapore's history, it has played a vital role with China Unicom.In my opinion, this is the foundation for British policies to attract Malacca, Penang, Borneo, as well as the Malaysian world in Java and Sumatra, to Singapore, and laid the foundation for the open port.This is in sharp contrast to the high tax and monopoly regulations of the Dutch port.
The establishment of Liberty Port attracts the Chinese to Singapore, and this is a thoughtful policy.By using the Malacca Strait as the border between the Netherlands and Britain, the British Dutch treaty provided a comprehensive guarantee for this.
I remember when I was still studying, I asked why Bencoolen was so important?Why does Raffles stay in Mingu Lian?Why not choose Singapore from the beginning?The reason is simple, because the Sunda Strait is still an important port to China.
But with the British Treaty, the British East India company answered by Kolkata can completely control the entire area.The routes from the Malacca Strait to China to China have been determined.When the Netherlands cut Malacca to the British East India Company, Singapore's status became completely different.In my opinion, this is the key to the first connection between Singapore and China.
In the first 20 years, for a long time, Singapore became less important because the British defeated the Chinese, occupied Hong Kong, and opened commercial ports such as Xiamen, Fuzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai.British merchants can go directly to their colonies in Hong Kong.Therefore, Hong Kong replaced Singapore and became the British base in China.But as long as this chain is long, Singapore is still a key node on the chain.
Therefore, Hong Kong as a portal to China, and Singapore also participated in it.Hong Kong is a very secure place, and the British can expand from other parts of China from here.As a part of the British Empire's commercial port chain, Singapore has always been important.In many aspects, this is still the secret of Singapore's later achievements in regional and world affairs.China has a key impact on the development of East Asia.It is this relationship with China that determines how Singapore play its role that is still playing today.
What is incredible to pull the historical lens to modern times?That is the empires of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and other countries. They collapsed after World War II.I want to emphasize this: Anything that happened in Singapore was deeply influenced by European incidents.In this regard, it was an empire established by the European nation -state, destroying themselves in two world wars.
Their colonies have become national countries.The nation -state is a brand -new concept, which was produced when France established the first great national country at the end of the 18th century.In the late 19th century, almost all European countries became various national countries.
(The author is a famous local historian)
This article is a lecture on lectures he delivered by the Chinese Cultural Center in Singapore on March 19 with a lecture on the joint lectures organized by Yale -Singapore University University.
Original Lianhe Morning Post's English electronic magazine "ThinkChina" (ThinkChina) Gold Shun translation
