清代泉台郊商的善举

The Charity of Businessmen of Quanzhou and Taiwan in Qing Dynasty

清统一台湾后,在泉州与台湾贸易中出现了一个经营郊行的商人——郊商,他们在商业上获得成功后,以其较雄厚的经济实力,积极参与泉台的公益慈善活动。从现存的一些碑刻和地方文献资料可见他们在修桥筑路、兴学助教、济贫助困、赈灾救荒等方面做了不少的善举。郊商的这种行为体现了其乐善好施的良好美德,得到地方政府的褒扬和民众的赞誉,也为郊商的进一步发展拓展了获利的空间。

After Taiwan was recaptured by Qing Dynasty, there appeared a new kind of businessmen across Taiwan strait who carried on trade between Quanzhou and Taiwan. After they achieved a great success in business, they took an active part in charitable activities for Quanzhou and Taiwan. According to the inscriptions and local material still existing today, these businessmen made a great contribution for building roads and bridges, encouraging education, helping those who were poor and relieving the natural disaster and famine. The virtuous behaviors of these businessmen were approved and appreciated by local government and people. What＇s more, they improved the opportunities for the communication of Quanzhou and Taiwan.