This project aims to create academic and public awareness of the cultural and heritage value of Singapore businesses since the late 19th century. These businesses had wide ranging networks and trade across Southeast Asia. Based on newly discovered records of Chinese businesses since the late 1800s, we found that their relationship networks went far beyond simple emotional bonds to generate complex organisational structures interweaving various aspects of society. This project builds on previous academic discussions on civilisational technology to study what we term “networking technologies” that developed within Singapore’s Chinese business community and society. As such, our project aims to answer several key questions to plug what is lacking in current literature: What networking technologies did Chinese businessmen use when constructing their business networks? How did these networking technologies and commercial networks subsequently shape Singapore’s society?

Based on the collaboration of researchers from different disciplines including history and economics, this project will focus on the collection, collation, and publication of the documents of local merchants from traditional businesses in Singapore that are on the verge of disappearing. We propose to conduct an analysis of business networking technology from four distinct perspectives: business organisations, bookkeeping systems, family relationships, and community operations. Besides presenting our findings in the form of papers and reports, we also plan to develop a comprehensive database that maps the interplay between shops and associations to illustrate the impact of such networks on Singapore’s society.

PI: Yu Kang
Funding Agency: National Heritage Board Heritage Research Grant
Project Duration: 31 January 2024 – 31 December 2025