英屬馬來亞霹靂州怡保鎮華人社會的形成與發展（1888-1941）

Abstract

現今馬來西亞霹靂州（State of Perak）首府怡保（Ipoh），於19世紀末隨著錫礦開採業的興起而崛起，至20世紀上半葉已成為霹靂州近打縣（Kinta District），乃至英屬馬來亞（British Malaya）一個重要的市鎮。作為怡保鎮錫礦業的主要勞動力資源，華人群體在怡保鎮由崛起到邁入與維繫繁榮的發展歷程中極為重要，而怡保鎮華人社會之形成與發展，則有賴於當地依靠開採錫礦而起家之華商的帶動與引領。本研究以活躍於19世紀末至20世紀上半葉英屬馬來亞時期，霹靂州怡保鎮的四位華人富商——姚德勝（Yau Tet Shin）、梁碧如（Leong Fee）、胡子春（Foo Choo Choon）和梁燊南（Leong Sin Nam）為主要研究對象，藉以探究英國殖民時期怡保鎮華人社會形成與發展的歷程，及其在當地華商的引領下如何因應英國殖民政府對其施予的各類政策。英國殖民時期的怡保鎮華人社會在華商的居中協調下，與英國殖民政府保持正面的雙向互動關係，並且自主地保有本身的文化，使得一個擁有華人特色的社會群體得以成形於怡保鎮。Ipoh, now the capital of the State of Perak, Malaysia, flourished from the rise of the tin-mining industry at the end of the 19th century. By the first half of the 20th century, Ipoh had become an important town in Perak, as well as among states within British Malaya. As the main labour force in Ipoh Town, the Chinese community played an important role in the development history of Ipoh. Since the forming and development of the Chinese society during the British colonial period was largely dependent on the leadership and guidance of local Chinese merchants, this paper seeks to explore the history and formation of the Chinese society in Ipoh during the British colonial period, mainly focusing on four pioneers important to the development of this town as case studies. This research will analysis the lives and activities of Yau Tet Shin, Leong Fee, Foo Choo Choon and Leong Sin Nam, who were important Chinese merchants in tin-mining industry and key leaders in Ipoh Town during that period. Under their leadership and mediation, the Chinese society in Ipoh had maintained a positive two-way interaction with the British colonial government, while consciously preserving their Chinese roots and culture. This resulted in the formation of a Chinese society that is characteristic of its own.