How was Singapore born?

In history, the birth of Singapore, the lion city, was full of twists and turns. But through the turbulent fog of time and space, we can still see a main line of cultural integration between the East and the West. It can even be said that it is precisely because of the tacit cooperation between the Chinese and British people that this small island near the Cape Strait can become one of the world's transportation hubs.

Raffles puzzle 18 19, ambitious Stanford? When Stanford Raffles came to Singapore, he was ordered to build this small island at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula. The reason why the British authorities chose Raffles, 38, for this position is that he is obsessed with oriental culture and has learned a lot under the protection of the East India Company. I believe he can cope with all kinds of local difficulties. However, the reality is much more complicated than the British colonial authorities or Raffles himself.

Due to the arrival of the British, many people have heard that Singapore has entered an opportunity period of rapid development. To sum up, there are three reasons why Singapore can rise:

Stanford? Stamford Raffles

First, the geographical position is superior. Singapore is located at the crossroads of the Straits of Malacca, where East-West trade ships usually berth, supply and trade, and has the potential to become a big port.

Second, the business atmosphere is strong. Singapore Island is a port without hinterland, which can only expand to the sea and has natural advantages in maritime trade.

Third, abundant human resources. There are few aborigines in Singapore, and there is enough space to accommodate new residents, which attracts speculators, adventurers and intellectuals from all over the world.

However, apart from its unique advantages, Singapore also has its own hidden dangers. First of all, the sea lanes are bound to be occupied by pirates. Secondly, Singapore is an immigrant society. People from different countries, groups and backgrounds live in the same place, which will inevitably lead to various problems. Obstacles to communication, cultural prejudice and wealth will all become the fuse of contradictions within society. In Singapore at that time, foreign invasion such as pirates was not a concern, and the most serious crisis occurred at home.

Early Singapore map

After a long period of thinking, Raffles realized that in order to extricate Singapore from its predicament, it is necessary to establish new management rules and reshape the new business order. To solve these two problems, on the one hand, he should rely on the management experience he learned from the East India Company, on the other hand, he should rely on the Chinese with the strongest local business power.

New management rules Raffles thinks that new management rules must be presented in a visual way, such as architectural style and division of urban space, so he takes urban planning as the first project to be implemented.

18 19 In the ten years after the British arrived, both sides of the Singapore River were developed. According to Raffles' plan, the right bank has become a government residence and a large number of public buildings have been built, while the left bank has been used as a functional area to build shops and warehouses. What do the locals call it? Warehouse? (warehouse)

1822 urban planning in Singapore

/kloc-At the beginning of the 0/9th century, modern political concepts were not popularized, and concepts such as equality would not appear in the colonies. So, Raffles' management order actually wants to imitate British India? Pyramid? A-type political system, with Britain as the manager, other groups get different status and treatment according to their importance and role. For example, most people in China do business and have strong economic strength. Many Chinese have been affirmed and favored by the British colonial authorities, and they also have a lot of right to speak.

In order to strengthen the ruling structure, Raffles constantly changed the orientation of urban areas and frequently allocated space for different groups to show the authority of management order. In addition, Raffles and his followers set up straight roads and built stone buildings, trying to imitate British cities and psychologically adapt Singaporeans to British management rules.

After a long period of practice, Raffles achieved his goal. Is Singapore really born? Pyramid? Types of social stratification. Most groups live independently and live in harmony with each other, but there is not much communication. Simply put, they live their own lives and don't interfere with each other. Although the social atmosphere is somewhat indifferent, it is undeniable that for Singapore, such a social structure has its own role, people make the best use of it, and it is safe and stable.

Chinese Singaporeans and Malays

After Raffles brought the new management rules to the Singapore colony, he began to reshape the local business order, so a large number of Chinese people were paid attention to. Raffles knows that Singapore is not only an achievement of the British, but also an achievement of China people. The British sailing on the sea provided a foundation for the development of Singapore, but it was the comprador, businessman and broker in China who made Singapore prosperous, because they were familiar with the customs of Asia, could use English fluently, and could communicate with the British and other Asians without any obstacles.

Rebuilding Business Order Raffles' main force to rebuild Singapore's business order is Chinese, which is not a subjective choice, but fully considers Singapore's economic reality.

191920s, many British people went to Singapore with curiosity, and they found themselves in a parallel time and space. In this port island country, people of various cultural backgrounds live in harmony and live a fast-paced life tacitly. Even compared with Europe, the prosperity here is not inferior.

Early Chinese Singaporeans

There are local Malay boats, China sampans and European high-masted sailboats moored in the port, where goods from the East and the West are traded and exchanged. There is no doubt that government officials, garrison troops and business leaders are all British, but in the Singaporean society composed of Chinese, Parsis (Suo Luoya Stoics), Bangladeshis, Malays and Javanese, Chinese undoubtedly have the greatest energy.

First of all, Chinese are everywhere in Singapore's economic life.

Isabella,19th century traveler? Miss Isabella Bird once said: Where are the vast majority of Europeans? Dull and lifeless? In stark contrast to the bustling Chinese world. The Chinese world she refers to actually refers to Singapore, where Chinese are hardworking, self-disciplined and good at seizing business opportunities. For example, in China, shops are open for a long time, some shops are closed, and their shops are open as usual at night.

Besides, China people don't do anything? Pick and choose? They can not only support large enterprises, but also run small shops. They sell fruits, vegetables and fast food, or set up stalls in the street to shave guests' heads. Others act as craftsmen, such as carpenters and blacksmiths. It can be said that Singapore society is full of Chinese businessmen. Of course, the Chinese group Raffles had to rely on most was the comprador.

Second, energetic comprador.

In the context of contemporary China, the early Chinese comprador in Singapore was not an unscrupulous businessman without moral conduct, but an emissary who served as a communication center between the British colonial authorities and Singaporeans. For the British, the comprador in China has become a model businessman in the East in a unique way. He is very reliable and gentle at ordinary times, and he is very careful at all times. He becomes richer every year and becomes a force to be reckoned with. Any economic decision must take into account the comprador's suggestion of China.

Finally, China people run the banking business.

Banks are the foundation of economic activities. In Singapore at that time, British businessmen (mostly Scots) set up a company called correspondent bank to deal with trade matters. Later, based on this, British businessmen and foreign banks began to set up branches in Singapore. These ancient banking services are only aimed at Europeans and provide services to London, Singapore and European markets. But they ignored the needs of a large number of local people, so local Chinese also opened banks. China people have a very close relationship with their customers, without prejudice or discrimination, so they quickly established a localized financial industry. Banks in China and Britain have their own roles. The former acts as a medium between local producers and customers, while the latter provides opportunities to contact London and the world market.

The East India Company

To sum up, as Chinese are distributed in various fields of Singapore's economy, Raffles promoted Chinese to be comprador and clerical staff, and some even became justices of the peace. Raffles, with the help of the Chinese, handed over some decision-making power to the Chinese, and successfully rebuilt the commercial order. The cooperation between British businessmen and officials and China comprador laid the foundation of Singaporean business culture.

The tacit cooperation between China and Britain and the birth of the lion city Singapore can be said to have been built by the Chinese community brick by brick under the design of Raffles, an Englishman. The tacit cooperation between China people and British people links the tiny place where Britain and China live together with the whole world.

China dominates business, and the British dominate politics. They complement each other and do not compete with each other. Commercial success has enabled both parties to continue to make profits and achieve a win-win situation, and both parties are satisfied with the status quo.

Raffles Statue in Singapore

From a historical macro perspective, Singapore can be said to be very lucky. The earliest Portuguese and Dutch in Asia did not become the colonial sovereign state of this small island, and these two maritime empires eventually failed. And vice versa? Catch the late episode? In fact, the role of the British in colonial history is not glorious, and they are criticized far more than praised, but at least in Singapore, they have built an island into an international port.

Of course, the achievements of the British cannot be separated from the cooperation of the Chinese. British governance experience and China people's smart and industrious characteristics have jointly turned Singapore into a model city full of business enthusiasm. At this point, we can draw a conclusion that the birth of Singapore is the result of the cooperation between the Chinese and British people, and it can be called a typical case of cultural exchange and integration between the East and the West.

References:

The history of Constance in Singapore? Tenpur

Andaya, History of Malaysia

The latest world colonial history, Big Salt Turtle