THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年
This article reconstructs the history of the Yan family, a prominent merchant house in Canton, during the mid-eighteenth century (1734–1780s). Historically, research on the Yans was hindered by the difficulty of correlating romanized names found in European records with Chinese genealogical sources,...
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| Published in: | Review of Culture |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Instituto Cultural de Macau
January 2004
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| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40009/3867 |
| _version_ | 1877196271343632384 |
|---|---|
| author | Paul A. Van Dyke |
| author_autocomplete | Paul A. Van Dyke |
| author_browse | Paul A. Van Dyke |
| author_facet | Paul A. Van Dyke Paul A. Van Dyke |
| author_sort | Paul A. Van Dyke |
| container_title | Review of Culture |
| container_title_str | Review of Culture |
| container_volume | 9 |
| container_volume_str | 9 |
| description | This article reconstructs the history of the Yan family, a prominent merchant house in Canton, during the mid-eighteenth century (1734–1780s). Historically, research on the Yans was hindered by the difficulty of correlating romanized names found in European records with Chinese genealogical sources, leading most scholars to focus narrowly on the figure of Yan Yingshe (Ingsia). Drawing on newly identified data from Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Belgian archives, alongside the Yan family genealogy, this study identifies three generations of Yan merchants, beginning with the patriarch Texia (Yan Deshe) in 1734 and continuing through his sons Swetia (Yan Ruishe), Ingsia, and Limsia (Yan Linshe).
The findings demonstrate that the Yan family played a pivotal role in the Canton trade, managing complex operations that included the silver-for-tea export business with European East India Companies and an extensive junk trade network in Southeast Asia. By establishing forward and backward linkages—from personal quality control in the Chinese interior to maritime logistics across the Pearl River Delta—the Yans exemplified the sophisticated business practices that propelled early modern global commerce. This reconstruction provides a more comprehensive understanding of the merchant dynasties that shaped the maritime economy and the evolution of the Canton System before the 1780s. |
| first_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:52Z |
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| issn | 1682-1106 |
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| latest_content_date | 2026-09-11T02:56:52Z |
| publishDate | January 2004 |
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| publishPlace | Macau |
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| spelling | THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 This article reconstructs the history of the Yan family, a prominent merchant house in Canton, during the mid-eighteenth century (1734–1780s). Historically, research on the Yans was hindered by the difficulty of correlating romanized names found in European records with Chinese genealogical sources, leading most scholars to focus narrowly on the figure of Yan Yingshe (Ingsia). Drawing on newly identified data from Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Belgian archives, alongside the Yan family genealogy, this study identifies three generations of Yan merchants, beginning with the patriarch Texia (Yan Deshe) in 1734 and continuing through his sons Swetia (Yan Ruishe), Ingsia, and Limsia (Yan Linshe). The findings demonstrate that the Yan family played a pivotal role in the Canton trade, managing complex operations that included the silver-for-tea export business with European East India Companies and an extensive junk trade network in Southeast Asia. By establishing forward and backward linkages—from personal quality control in the Chinese interior to maritime logistics across the Pearl River Delta—the Yans exemplified the sophisticated business practices that propelled early modern global commerce. This reconstruction provides a more comprehensive understanding of the merchant dynasties that shaped the maritime economy and the evolution of the Canton System before the 1780s. Instituto Cultural de Macau Macau Review of Culture Articles January 2004 Paul A. Van Dyke |
| spellingShingle | THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 Paul A. Van Dyke |
| title | THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 |
| title_autocomplete | THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 |
| title_full | THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 |
| title_fullStr | THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 |
| title_full_unstemmed | THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 |
| title_short | THE YAN FAMILIY. MERCHANTS OF CANTON 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 |
| title_sort | the yan familiy. merchants of canton 1734-1780s顏氏家族：廣東商人 1734 - 1780年 |
| url | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40009/3867 |
| zotero_collection_key | 76L3BRGH |