1. The initial stage of "Ningbo Gang". Ningbo, located on the coast of the East China Sea, is located in the middle of the coastline of Chinese mainland, with bifurcated sea lanes. Ningbo has many excellent harbors, from which merchant ships can travel between the north and the south with the help of tides and winds. Ningbo was the origin port of ancient maritime "Silk Road" and "Ceramic Road" in China, and its commercial activities were quite active in Qin Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, Ningbo became the main port of China's foreign trade, and its foreign trade was quite prosperous. From the 4th year of Tang Dynasty to the 4th year of God Blessing (839-907), there were only 3 7 trade ships between China and Japan, among which 7 ships were released through Mingzhou (Ningbo), which is recorded accurately, from the 2nd year of Tang Huichang (8 4 2) to the 6th year of Xian Tong (8 6 5). Li Linde, Zhang Zhixin and Li Yanxiao, the maritime merchants, led their business delegations from Wanghai Town, Mingzhou (now Zhenhai, Ningbo) and went to Japan for business activities seven times, with about 5 0 people each time, which was quite large. On the Japanese Ambassadors' Day, foreign students and monks also entered the Tang Dynasty from Ningbo Port. In the sixth year of Chunhua in the Northern Song Dynasty (September 90), Ningbo established a shipping company, which was called "Three Companies" together with the shipping companies in Guangzhou and Hangzhou. In addition to continuing contacts with Japan, exchanges with North Korea have also increased significantly. The Korean Embassy set up the Hangji Pavilion and the Korea Pavilion along the way to receive envoys and businessmen from North Korea. In the Southern Song Dynasty, it also cooperated with the Truth House (now Cambodia), Zhancheng (now Vietnam), and? Trade between women (now Indonesia) and grain (now Arabia). Yuanshi
Qingyuan (now Ningbo) Shipping Lifting Department was established, and the shipping industry was very prosperous, with more than 1,000 shipping households 1 1,000. Before the 23rd year of Kangxi in Ming and Qing Dynasties (1 6 8 4), the sea ban was implemented for a long time, and Ningbo's legitimate overseas trade was once stagnant, but smuggling business activities were still very active. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Ningbo merchants developed in Beijing, along the Yangtze River and coastal towns. Ningbo businessmen in Beijing mainly deal in medicinal materials and clothing. During the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty, Ningbo's drug dealers established the "Yinxian Guild Hall" in Beijing. At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Ningbo businessmen set up the "Zheci Guild Hall" in Beijing. During the Qianlong and Jiaqing years, Ningbo merchants established the "Zhejiang-Nanjing Guild Hall" in Hankou. In the second year of Jiaqing in Qing Dynasty (1 7 9 7), businessmen from Ningbo in Shanghai, such as Qian Sui and Fei Yuangui, raised funds and set up a "Siming Office" based on gangs. In the 11th year of Daoguang (1 8 3 1), Fang Hengning and others initiated the reconstruction. During this period, Siming CCBA mainly dealt with the charity of fellow villagers. Xianfeng three years (1 8 5 3), Zhenhai businessman Jia Fang donated a huge sum of money to rebuild. As a gathering place for fellow villagers, Siming Office has gathered Ningbo people in Shanghai and formed a powerful force in Shanghai. All these indicate that Ningbo commercial gangs have begun to take shape.
2. The development and growth period of "Ningbo Gang". After the Opium War, capitalist forces invaded China, and Guangzhou, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai were turned into trading ports. Shanghai, with its advantages of being located at the end of the Yangtze River basin, deep hinterland and convenient transportation, has gradually become the center of domestic and foreign trade. Businessmen from all provinces gathered in Shanghai, and Ningbo businessmen flooded into Shanghai by virtue of the advantage of being separated from Shanghai by only a water. It is estimated that there were 400,000 Wanning Bo people in Shanghai in the late Qing Dynasty. Among them are landlords, businessmen, bankrupt farmers, craftsmen, urban residents and coolies. They are engaged in north-south inter-port trade in Shanghai, as well as pigments, clocks, grain and oil, seafood, coal, cotton cloth, medicinal materials, western medicine, cotton yarn, jewelry stores, hardware, machinery and other industries. And sell foreign goods and carry out foreign trade. Most of the foreign firms and banks that were first employed by foreign businessmen in Shanghai were from Ningbo. Some businessmen in Ningbo are both financial comprador and trade comprador. Ningbo business gangs rose sharply in the semi-colonial and semi-feudal social economy of China, and formed their own strength position. Become an important force in China's national capital. Based on the needs of development, Ningbo businessmen have formed various trading groups in Shanghai, including Tongshanhui (fishery), Chongdehui (seafood), Ji 'an (wine), Yongxing (southern goods), Dunrentang (pig), Yuyitang (medicine), Chengrentang (meat) and Yongjitang (foreign goods). Handicraft industry includes Changshou Society (stone tool operation), Anniversary Society (wood industry) and Synonymous Society (silversmith); Labor organizations include Siming feldspar society, sailors' peace society and so on. This small group has a dual structure of fellow villagers and peers. It aims to safeguard the interests of gangs and help each other, and is an important part of "Ningbo Gang". In the year of Xuantongyuan in Qing Dynasty (1 9 0 9), Ningbo businessmen in Shanghai set up Siming Club to travel to Shanghai, becoming the earliest regional association in Shanghai. 1 9 1 changed its name to "Ningbo Travel Association to Shanghai" in, as an autonomous association for mutual communication, mutual care, sharing weal and woe and seeking common interests among fellow villagers, and also as a liaison. During the period of 1 9 2 0- 1935, there were also county-based associations in Zhenhai, Dinghai, Fenghua and Xiangshan. From the decisive position of "Ningbo Gang" in Shanghai business circles to the composition of gathering the strength of fellow villagers, it marks the mature stage of "Ningbo Gang".
3. The heyday of "Ningbo Gang". During the Republic of China, the "Ningbo Gang" reached its peak. With the accumulation of financial resources, the expansion of business and the increase of personnel, "Ningbo Gang" is based in Shanghai and extends its activity area to Hankou, Tianjin, Suzhou and other big cities. With the opening of Hankou 1858, Ningbo businessmen expanded rapidly to Hankou. Hankou has become a relatively concentrated area of Ningbo businessmen outside Shanghai, mainly engaged in aquatic products, jewelry stores, shipping, matches, hydropower, miscellaneous grains, foreign oil, hardware, banking and other industries, almost all of which are occupied by Ningbo businessmen, and the Yangtze River plywood shipping industry is operated by Ningbo businessmen. Many Ningbo businessmen also act as comprador for foreign companies and banks in Hankou. Ningbo merchants in Tianjin operated the shipping industry as early as the closed-door era in the middle of Qing Dynasty, transporting grain from south to north and goods from north to south on behalf of Qing Dynasty. They take six ships as a small group and 10 as a large group, and travel in groups between Ningbo, Shanghai and Tianjin, with a maximum of sixty or seventy ships. The main business households are Qin and Wu of Yinxian, Dong Shi of Cixi and Li of Zhenhai Xiaogang. After the opening of Tianjin, Ningbo businessmen further developed to Tianjin. After 1840, Ningbo Gang's influence in Tianjin increased day by day, and a Shanghai branch was established in Tianjin. In addition to continuing to operate shipping business, we also operate import and export trade, bank insurance, satin and woolen goods industry and gold and silver glasses industry in Tianjin. During the Republic of China, there were many famous shops in the Quanyechang area of Tianjin Commercial Center, all of which were operated by Ningbo businessmen. A group of powerful Ningbo businessmen have set up banks, gold shops, silk shops, hardware shops, foreign firms, real estate companies and shipping companies. In Tianjin, he also acted as an agent for foreigners to engage in the import and export business of bristles, furs, mountain products and cotton, and became a comprador of foreigners in Tianjin.
Footprints all over the world.
Judging from the activity area of "Ningbo Gang", the pioneering spirit of Ningbo Gang businessmen is really amazing. According to the information recorded in Yinxian Tongzhi, in addition to the above, the main activities of Ningbo Business Group are Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Changshu, Wenzhou, Wuxi, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Wuhu, Nanchang, Shashi, Changsha, Chongqing, Xiamen, Shantou, Qingdao, Yantai, Zhengzhou, Dalian, Shenyang, Linhai and Lanxi. Wherever Ningbo people go, business activities will flourish. Ningbo people also run many famous shops and stores all over the country, such as Tong Ren Tang, Tong Hanchun, Cai Tongde and other famous pharmacies in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. Hendry and Hendry watch shops are all run by Ningbo people. Jin of Ningbo Wood Company sits in Fu Jianshe Village, with 30 or 40 ships coming from Ningbo South and 40 from Dabei respectively. Most of the hardware machinery importers and exporters in Shanghai are from Ningbo, and only Ye Chengzhong (Zhenhai) has opened five stores in Shanghai: Laoshunji, Nanshunji, Yichangshun, Xinshunji and Ruichangshun. Shipping companies such as Ningshao, Sanbei, Hongan, Changhe, Yongan and Zhoushan were established by (Zhenhai) and Zhu (Dinghai). With the strong support of Shanghai and other coastal ports and the Yangtze River port "Ningbo Gang", these shipping companies not only stand firm, but also grow and develop under the pressure of foreign shipping companies. Only the vessels of Sanbei Shipping Company once accounted for 1/7 of the national shipping tonnage. "Ningbo Gang" also founded the first machine ginning factory, the first oil mill, the first match factory, the first machine manufacturing factory and the first bank in China, which made indelible contributions to the modern economic development of China.
"Ningbo Gang" is famous not only in China, but also all over the world. Organizations such as "Siming Office" and "Ningbo Club" can be found in communities where Ningbo people live in concentrated communities all over the world. For example, members of the indigenous villagers' association in Ningbo, Singapore, meet once a month and have never stopped for more than 40 years. Their descendants have not changed their local accent so far. At present, there are 73,000 overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao living in Ningbo, covering more than 50 countries and regions such as Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Britain, Germany and Australia. A number of "Ningbo Gang" entrepreneurs who are good at doing business have emerged all over the world. Bao Yugang (Zhenhai) once worked in a bank in Shanghai and continued to operate banking and shipping after arriving in Hong Kong. 1955, he bought 8,200 tons of old oil tankers for $70,000 and started shipping business. After more than 20 years' efforts, by March of 1980, there were 202 ships with 20.53 million tons. Among Hong Kong 10 rich people, "Ningbo Gang" accounts for three.
Chamber of Commerce-Adventure-Nostalgia: The Eternal Secret
The reason why "Ningbo Gang" can last for a long time, dominate one side and become a giant of various business gangs in Shanghai mainly has the following three characteristics.
First, the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce is a group of businessmen who control Shanghai's financial trade and influence the national business. An important factor that "Ningbo Gang" can develop rapidly and dominate the business community is that since the establishment of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, "Ningbo Gang" has basically held the real power of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce. They also control and influence the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and Industry through banks and monetary associations. Shanghai Business Conference Office was established in 1902. The first prime minister was Yan Xinhou, a native of Cixi. 1904 changed its name to Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, and Yan succeeded as its president. During the 40-odd years from 1902 to 1946, a group of leading figures of Ningbo Gang all worked in Shanghai Chamber of Commerce: Zhu (Dinghai), Zhou Jinbiao (Cixi), (Zhenhai), Qin Runqing (Cixi), Song (Yuyao), Li Houyou (Zhenhai) and (Zhenhai). These characters in "Ningbo Gang" can control the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce for a long time, which reflects the status of "Ningbo Gang" in Shanghai business circles. On the other hand, "Ningbo Gang" works in the influential chamber of commerce in Shanghai, which protects the interests of Ningbo Gang and promotes its economic development in Shanghai.
Second, Ningbo Gang is famous all over the world, which is related to the pioneering spirit and adventurous spirit of Ningbo businessmen. For example, the "Ningbo Gang", Li of Zhenhai and Dong Gengxuan of Cixi, who once controlled the sand boat industry, all made their fortunes by the sand boat industry. After the Opium War, ships rose, and Ningbo businessmen still seized the shipping advantage to develop the shipping industry. Fang and Yuan founded Ningshao Shipping Company and Sanbei Ferry Port Company, and dared to compete with foreign ships. The total tonnage of Sanbei Company reached 90,000 tons, which was one of the three private shipping companies in China at that time. In Shanghai's banking industry, "Ningbo Gang" is the most powerful, and the nine major monetary capitalist family groups "Ning
The wave gang accounted for six. But later, I felt that the status of Qianzhuang as a vassal of foreign banks was inappropriate. 1 8 9 7, Yan Xinhou and Ye Chengzhong initiated the establishment of China Commercial Bank, the first bank in China. And Li founded Siming Bank. Later, the powerful China Bank, Bank of Communications, Zhejiang Industrial Bank, Zhejiang Industrial Bank and Kenye Bank were all controlled by "Ningbo Gang", which realized the transformation from backward private banking to advanced banking. Fang Yexian, a native of Zhenhai, doesn't want to inherit Fang's ancestral business and engage in chemical industry. His father objected and refused to give money. The money given by his mother and uncle was gone, and his determination to engage in chemical industry was not shaken, so China Chemical Industry Society was established. From the business point of view, "Ningbo Gang" runs many emerging industries, such as selling hardware, pigments, foreign oil, foreign cloth and western medicine. There are also many Ningbo businessmen engaged in import and export trade. All these reflect that Ningbo businessmen can assess the situation, open up new fields in time and make themselves invincible.
Third, Ningbo businessmen attach great importance to homesickness and friendship, and the concept of helping fellow villagers is particularly strong. They can stand the test of business risks. For example, Ningshao Shipping Company, a joint venture founded by Ningbo businessmen, competes with Swire Company, a British businessman, and Oriental Company, a Sino-French joint venture. At that time, the fare struggle was very fierce. When Ningshao sailed together, it listed "Yang Liyong 50" on the ship to show that it would never raise prices. At the same time, the freight rate was reduced, which made everyone rush to take the Ningshao ship, and the passengers on the Swire ship dropped sharply, sometimes even empty. Swire Company, with abundant capital, reduced the fare from 1 yuan to 30 cents in an attempt to crush Ningshao Wharf, and a large number of passengers flocked to Swire Wharf. The capital is meager, and it is difficult to make ends meet. At a critical juncture, Fang Qiaocen, Zhu and Qin Runqing of Ningbo Commercial Group organized a rare "aviation maintenance meeting" in the history of shipping, raising funds of 65,438+10,000 yuan. Give Ningshao Company a subsidy of 20 cents per ticket, and let Ningshao Company compete with Swire Company at a low price of 30 cents per ticket. At the same time, Yu Qiaqing also mobilized members of the Association to send the goods to Ningshao Company as much as possible, so that Ningshao Company won the competition with ocean shipping. People in Ningbo also have the characteristic of "loving hometown but not hometown". People in Ningbo have been going out to do business since ancient times. When the average boy is fourteen or fifteen years old, he will take care of his relatives at home and find someone to introduce his career, and become an apprentice in a shop or factory in other places. Otherwise, he will be regarded as not enterprising and criticized. Parents will not stop a person from loving his son when he leaves his hometown and goes to other places. Apprentices have suffered hardships for three years, so they have made many achievements in doing business and working outside. Many famous figures of "Ningbo Gang", such as Ye Chengzhong, Qin Runqing, Sheng Pihua, Jin and so on. Was introduced as an apprentice by relatives and fellow villagers and made a fortune.