Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of the history of Jews in modern China with a focus on their century-long contributions to Chinese society in general and to Shanghai and Harbin, two major cities that held Jews by the thousands, in particular. Jews arrived at the time when China was in the process of moving from its pre-modern history and long-time isolation to embracing the modernization that had started in the Western world hundreds of years earlier. Jews who came to China in the second half of the nineteenth century, like the Sassoons, Silas A. Hardoon, Benjamin David Benjamin, the Kadoories, and many others, had already integrated into the Western world because of the Haskalah. Therefore, they became familiar with modern ways of doing business and had privileges and connections. They made the best use of their business experiences and social status and played a significant role in the early modern development of China. The chapter pinpoints the achievements and contributions of Jews to China, particularly in the fields of economics, business, science, and culture.
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Notes
- 1.
Chen Yuan, “A Study of the Israelite Religion in Kaifeng” Kaifeng Yicileye Jiaokao (开封一赐乐业教考), in Chen Yuan Xueshu Lunwen Ji (陈垣学术论文集) Vol. 1 (Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju, 1980). The author is the first Chinese scholar to research and discuss in depth the question of Jews in old China. Though the essay with the title of “Kaifeng Yicileye Jiaokao” was written in the 1920s, it was officially published in 1980 as part of Volume One of Chen n Xueshu Lunwen Ji. It begins with a foreword reproducing texts of the inscriptions of three stellae, recording the history of the synagogue of the Kaifeng Jewish community and follows with 12 chapters analyzing them and commenting upon Jews in Kaifeng and other parts of China. Pan Guangdan, Zhonggue Jingnei Youtairen de Ruogan Lishi Wenti (《中国境内犹太人的若干历史问题》) (Beijing: Peking University Press, 1983). A book consists of six chapters, mainly dealing with the Jews of Kaifeng. But it also discusses Jews in other parts of China, and explores such issues as when they left their homeland, the routes they followed, and the dates of their arrival in China.
- 2.
Mostly we learned of the existence of these Jewish communities from cross references. For instance, the Official History of the Yuan for 1354 says that “the skilled archers of Ningsia and wealthy Muslims and Jews from various places were summoned to the capital to volunteer for military service.” Yuan Shi, Vol. 43 (Shanghai: Commercial Press, 1939), 10.
- 3.
Xu Xin, The Jews of Kaifeng, China: History, Culture, and Religion (Jersey City, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, 2003). Chapter Six of the book lists details of Chinese cities that once held Jewish communities.
- 4.
Sidney Shapiro, trans. and ed., Jews in Old China: Studies by Chinese Scholars (New York: Hippocrene Books, 1984), 113.
- 5.
Cf. William C. White, Chinese Jews (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1942).
- 6.
The war broke out between China and Great Britain in 1839 over the dispute over the opium trade.
- 7.
Maisie J. Meyer, “Identity: Baghdadi of Sephardi?” in From the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo, A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in Shanghai (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2003).
- 8.
Irene Eber, Passage Through China, the Jewish Communities of Harbin, Tientsin and Shanghai (Tel Aviv: Beth Hatefutsouth, 1986).
- 9.
David Kranzler. Japanese, Nazis & Jews: The Jewish Refugee Community of Shanghai, 1938–1945 (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, 1998).
- 10.
For more details, see Wang Yisha, Spring and Autumn of the Chinese Jews (Beijing: Ocean Publishing House, 1992).
- 11.
Maisie J. Meyer, From the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo, A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in Shanghai (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2003), 29–31.
- 12.
The Kau-Sassoon firm refers to the company of David Sassoon Sons and Co., which was established in India and operated in China at an earlier time. It is referred to as the Old Sassoon firm for convenience only.
- 13.
Maisie J. Meyer, 2003, “Commercial Pioneers,” in From the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo, A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in Shanghai (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2003).
- 14.
Stanley Jackson, The Sassoons (New York: Heinemann, 1968), 51–52.
- 15.
The full name is the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.
- 16.
Xu Xin, Aliens in a Strange Land: Jews and Modern China (Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2017), 203.
- 17.
Qu Wei and Li Shuxiao, eds., Youtairen zai Haerbin 《犹太人在哈尔滨》(Beijing: Shehui Kexue Wenxian Chubanshe, 2003), 28–29.
- 18.
Maisie J. Meyer, “Monuments to Jewish Enterprise” in From the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo, A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in Shanghai (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2003), 69–74.
- 19.
Shen Ji, Daban (Shanghai: Shanghai Literary and Art Publishing House, 1993), 307–312.
- 20.
Shen Ji, Daban, 543.
- 21.
For instance, a national conference was held in Shanghai in 1997. One of the topics discussed was how to increase the value of land to create a boom in real estate of Shanghai. Hardoon used to be criticized as a capitalist. Now many scholars believe that his strategies to develop the economy, especially the real estate industry, are meaningful and valuable in socialist China.
- 22.
Pan Guang, ed., Youtairen zai Shanghai (犹太人在上海), Revised edition (Shanghai: Shanghai Huabao Chubanshe, 上海画报出版社, 2005), 17.
- 23.
- 24.
Qu Wei and Li Shuxiao, eds., Youtairen zai Haerbin 《犹太人在哈尔滨》(Beijing: Shehui Kexue Wenxian Chubanshe, 2003).
- 25.
Xu Buzeng, Xunfang Youtairen: Youtai Wenhua Jingying zai Shanghai《寻访犹太人:犹太文化精英在上海》, Shanghai:Shanghai Shehuikexue Chubanshe, 2007).
- 26.
Qu Wei and Li Shuxiao, eds., Youtairen zai Haerbin, 66–93.
- 27.
Theodore Kauffman, The Jews of Harbin Live on in My Heart (Tel Aviv: Association of the Former Jewish Residents of China in Israel, 2006), 74–75.
- 28.
Jay Leyda, Dianying/Electric Shadows: An Account of Films and the Film Audience in China (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1972).
- 29.
Tang Yading, Cultural Life of the Shanghai Jewish Communities (1850–1950) (Shanghai: Shanghai Music College Press, 2007), 90.
- 30.
Pan Guang, ed., 2005, Youtairen zai Zhongguo (犹太人在中国)(Beijing: China Intercontinental Press, 2005), 117–118.
- 31.
Pan Guang, ed., Youtairen zai Zhongguo, 117.
- 32.
Daniel S. Levy, Two-Gun Cohen: A Biography (New York: St Martin’s Press, 1997).
- 33.
Pan Guang, ed., Youtairen zai Zhongguo, 170.
- 34.
Pan Guang, ed., Unforgettable Memory: Memoirs of Jewish Refugees in China, Chinese Edition (Beijing: Shishi Press, 2015), 164.
- 35.
Pan Guang, ed., Youtairen zai Zhongguo, 171.
- 36.
Song Anna, ed., Youtairen zai Tianjin (犹太人在天津), (Beijing: Wuzhou Chuanbuo Chubanshe, [China Intercontinental Press], 2004), 85–99.
- 37.
Pan Guang, ed., Youtairen zai Zhongguo, 182–183.
- 38.
The Israel-China Friendship Association has two publications: Bulletin and Israel-China Voice of Friendship, which carry news, stories, reports and articles on Jewish-related subjects about former Jewish residents of China.
- 39.
It publishes a newsletter, POINTS EAST, which has provided the latest information on Jewish—related issues since 1985.
- 40.
Liu Shuang, A History of the Jews of Harbin (Beijing: Fangzhi Chubanshe, 2007).
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Xin, X. (2022). Jews in China and Their Contributions. In: Ostoyich, K., Xia, Y. (eds) The History of the Shanghai Jews. Palgrave Series in Asian German Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13761-7_2
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