介绍南洋:民国侨刊中的社会调查述略(1910-1920)

Introduction of South Ocean: Social Investigations in Oversea Chinese Magazines in Republic of China (1910-1920)

在1910至1920年间,华侨刊物中多见对于南洋地区的社会调查。这批社会调查出现在华商在南洋地区实力较弱,社会调查被视为商战之重要武器的背景下。侨刊社会调查的内容涉及南洋地区的自然环境、物产、经济情况与社会文化等方面。据社会调查观之,1910至1920年间的南洋社会优渥,物产丰富,椰树、糖、橡胶为当地的重要经济作物。其时,南洋地区的经济为欧美殖民者、日本人与华人控制。20世纪初的南洋经济仍是初级产品经济为主,主要出产粮食与热带经济作物,而煤炭等燃料与工业品则全赖进口。南洋地区社会文化多元,原住民与欧美殖民者矛盾不断,华人在南洋地区的拓殖史十分悠久。南洋社会调查呈现出实用性强,为商战服务的特征,其书写者多为侨商或曾在南洋居留的知识菁英。

From 1910 to 1920,many social investigations on South Ocean area were showed in oversea Chinese magazines.The background of this was that the strengthen of Chinese business was so weak at that time,and social investigation was regarded as significant weapons in trade war.These investigations covered natural environment,resources,economic situation and social culture in South Ocean area.According to these investigations,South Ocean area was prosperous and had abundant resources from 1910 to 1920.Coconut trees,sugar and rubber were important economic products at local.At that time,the economy of South Ocean was controlled by European and American colonists,Japanese and Chinese.Primary products economy was the basic economic form in the beginning of the 20th century in South Ocean.Crops and tropical economic products were mainly products.Fuel like coal and manufactured goods depended on importation.In South Ocean,social culture was diverse.Conflicts between aborigines and colonists were lasting for long time.The history of reclamation by Chinese was long.The social investigations on South Ocean area were very practical and catered for trade war.Most writers of investigations were oversea Chinese businessmen or intellect elites living in South Ocean before.