生於 1769 年的伍秉鑑，是一位出色的行商，在西方商界以「浩官」（Houqua）之名廣為人知。在鴉片戰爭爆發前夕，他被視為當時全球最富有的人之一。

自18世紀末，伍秉鑑便在廣州從商。當時清廷規定，廣州是西方商人唯一合法的通商口岸，並規定外國商人只能透過官方認可的行商進行交易。到了19世紀初，他已財雄勢大，一躍成為十三行的龍頭行商。

在劍橋大學出版社出版的Global Trade in the Nineteenth Century: The House of Houqua and the Canton System一書中，王迪安教授（Professor John WONG）探討了伍秉鑑遍及全球的商業網絡，包括他與英國東印度公司的貿易、與美國商人的緊密合作關係，以及他開拓海外市場的方式。透過伍秉鑑的故事，王教授展現了更為豐富的廣州貿易世界、領袖商人群體的交流，並挑戰了過往將該時期的中國商人僅為西方重商主義與中國抑商傳統受害者之單一敍事。本書的中文版近期亦已面世。

王迪安是香港大學文學院副院長及香港人文社會研究所教授。

本集Bookcast HK訪談以廣東話進行。

Born in 1769, Wu Bingjian was a leading Hong merchant, known to his Western business partners as Houqua. By the eve of the Opium War, he was regarded as one of the wealthiest persons in the world.

Since the mid-18th Century, the Qing government had designated Canton as the only city where Western traders could land, reside, and conduct business. Foreign merchants were required to trade exclusively through licensed Hong merchants.

In Global Trade in the Nineteenth Century: The House of Houqua and the Canton System, published by Cambridge University Press, Professor John Wong examines Houqua’s global business network, including his trade with the British East India Company, his close partnerships with American traders, and his strategies for navigating uncharted overseas markets.

Through the story of Houqua, Professor Wong presents a richer picture of the Canton trade world and its leading merchants. His research challenges portrayals of Chinese merchants of the period as passive victims of rising Western mercantilism and oppressive Chinese traditions. The book’s Chinese-language edition has recently been published.

Professor John Wong is Associate Dean (Undergraduate) at the Faculty of Arts, HKU, and a Professor at the Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

This episode of BookcastHK was conducted in Cantonese.

Guest | Professor John WONG

Moderator | Dr Chloe LAI

Technician｜ CHU Wai Kit

Title | Global Trade in the Nineteenth Century: The House of Houqua and the Canton System

Publisher | Cambridge University Press

ISBN | 978-988-8900-87-9