清代前期广州口岸海难救助

Shipwreck Rescues in Canton during the Early Era of Qing Dynasty

乾隆二十二年(1757)清朝建立"以官制商、以商制夷"的广州口岸制度,成为中西重要贸易体系及文化交流中心。中国丰饶物产和巨大市场吸引西方资本主义国家商船蜂拥而至,而在技术、设备、导航、通讯、气象等落后条件下的帆船时代,长途航行中的惊涛骇浪,加之战争海盗等人为因素,海难频繁,给生命财产造成巨大损失。清朝政府主要通过海防体系、粤海关、广州十三行与民间力量参与海难救助,外国船只也参与了海难救助,有助于中外贸易的顺利进行,成为近代海事救助体系完善的重要阶段。

A Canton port management policy of“Government controls commerce,and designated commercial bodies trade with foreign businessmen”was established by emperor Qian Long in 1757,China’s Qing dynasty.Since then Canton has become a trade and cultural exchange center between China and the western developed countries.Drawn by China’s abundant resources and huge market,businessmen from those countries sailed across sea to Canton.Shipwrecks occurred repeatedly due to disadvantages of technology,equipment,navigation skills,communication,climate,bad marine condition and pirates,causing great life and property losses.Chinese government not only put naval force and the Customs to use,but also got Shisanhang,local people and even crews of foreign business ships take part in the shipwreck rescues,which boosted sino-western trade at that time and marked an important phase in China’s marine search and rescue system in its modern history.