驿馆实异:从广州怀远驿之废到十三行夷馆之兴

Similarities and Differences, from the Abolition of the Huaiyuan Posthouse in Canton to the Prosperity of The Thirteen Hongs

广州怀远驿存于明代至清初,位于广州西关蚬子步,为广东市舶司下属接待贡舶及外国使节之所,兼具开展贡舶贸易的职能。清康熙时设粤海关后,官府逐渐改令广州十三行承接对外贸易。外商经过多次努力才获准在怀远驿以南的十三行街一带租借行商房屋设立夷馆,并由行商加以管理,十三行夷馆由此形成,而怀远驿也在康熙中后期裁撤。二者分别是朝贡贸易与十三行贸易的产物,其中官办怀远驿留居外国人、承接对外贸易的职能转由商办的十三行夷馆取代,而清中期以后在广州的朝贡(外交)接待多由官府临时安排于其他馆驿进行。驿馆变异的实质是清代朝贡贸易衰落,而十三行贸易兴起。

The Huaiyuan Posthouse of Canton was located in Xianzibu,Sai-kwan from the Ming to the early Qing Dynasties,which was the place where the Kwangtung Shi-Po-Si(广东市舶司)received the tribute ships and foreign envoys onboard those ships.It also functioned as the site for China-foreign tributary trade.With establishment of the Hoppo during the Kangxi reign,the Thirteen Hongs(factories)were assigned with the task of undertaking foreign trade.After many efforts,foreign tradesmen were allowed to rent commercial houses and set up factories in the Thirteen-Factory Street to the south of the Huaiyuan Posthouse.The Hongs were was managed by merchants.The Huaiyuan Posthouse was abolished in the late Kangxi emperor.The Thirteen factories basically replaced the functions of the Huaiyuan Posthouse.The essence of this shift from the Huaiyuan Posthouse to the Thirteen Hongs is the declined of the tributary system in Qing Dynasty and the rise of the Canton trade through the Hongs.