华南与东南亚华人社会的互动关系--以潮人侨批网络为中心 (1911-1949) = Interactions between South China and the Chinese Communities in Southeast Asia : A study of the Teochew remittance networks, 1911-1949

Abstract

This dissertation explores the interactions between Chinese communities in Southeast Asia and their ancestral hometowns in South China by studying the Teochew (Chaozhou) remittance-mail (Qiaopi) network which comprised of the remittance-mail operating network and remittance-mail association network. Guided by the recent theoretical formulation of transnationalism and based upon a wide range of primary data as well as field research in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and South China, this dissertation argues that there exists a dynamic Chinese transnational community between Southeast Asia and South China in early 20th century, and that remittance-mail network is one of the inseparable mechanism in its construction. Firstly, the remittance-mail network contributes to the construction of the Chinese transnational family. Secondly, it provides the important network foundation for the interaction of commerce, finance, messages and culture between Southeast Asia and South China. Thirdly, it functions as a performance stage for the building of Chinese transnational communitya??s identity.