The institution of the Komprador (Chinese maiban) played in 19. Century an important role in the trade of China with the west.

Since the Opiumkrieg some treaty ports for western dealers were opened, them could however for a long time neither into the interior nor into the complex Chinese commercial structures penetrate. Here the Komprador functioned as a mediator. It was the head of the Chinese personnel of a foreign enterprise (Chinese yang slope) and recruited, supervised and paid the Chinese workers. It won its company Chinese customers, led the business negotiations with them and judged their credit-worthiness. The Komprador was thus the China-specific answer to the Grundproblem of intercultural trade, the bypass of barriers like different language and writing as well as different business practices.

In 20. Century was replaced the Komprador increasingly by technical or commercially educated, Chinese employees. Many Kompradoren could use their activity however, in order to become even successful businessmen.

Literature

• Osterhammel, '' China and the world company. Of 18. Century into our time, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-406-34099-7
• Benecke, The Komprador. A contribution for the history of the development of the native commercial switching in China, in: World-economical archives 18, 1922, P. 377-413, 525-556.

Articles in category "Komprador"

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