Figure 1.-- Shanghai was know as the 'Paris of the East'. It had all of thexcesses of a major city, Perhaps more necause of its unique circumstances. Even so, the Europeans in the Shanghai Interntional Settlement (SIS) led pefectly normal, actually privlidged family lives with all the amenities of life at home. These British children are headed for Jessfield Park. Notice the toy sailboats which they will launch un the park. They atteeded schools like their schools at home. The children here are wearing their school uniforms, although we are not sure about the pith helment. While the residents of the International settlment were leading quiet normal lives, beginning with the Japsnese seizure of Manchuria (1931), powerful events began to swirl around Shanghai including Japanese bombing and firce fighting. When the Japanese invased China proper (1937), they left the SIS in tact until Pearl Harbor and the launch of the Pacific war (1941). By this time, many Europeans had left, but thousands remained in the city.

Shanghai expanded as it grew economically. What had been a village grew into a bustling city. The Europeans eventually joined by the Japanese carved up the city into autonomous concessions administered primarily by the British, but with the French, Americans, and others participating. This was all completly beyond Chinese law and administration. Each foreign presence impacted the culture, architecture, and society within the International Settlement (SIS). A major change occurred as the Japanese presence grew. The Japanese set up a largely separate enclave in Hongkew. This was theoretically within the SIS, but after the seizure of Manchuria and the rise of anti-Japanese feeling, responsibility for security in Hiongkew was assumed by Japanese naval troops. There was also the separate French area. In addition there was also the "Outside Roads" (越界筑路). This was Chinese territories were controlled and administrated by SIS authorities. The initial plans for the SIS was to exclude the Chinese. This did not prove practical because the foreigners wanted to hire Chinese as both family servants and workers. Thus large numbers of Chinese were granted residency in the SIS. And the SIS attracted the Chinese both because it was a refuge from the civil strife which was sweeping China and because there were not only well paying jobs, but business opportunities. Shanghai became known as 'The Paris of the East'. It was not only an economic powerhouse , but a cultural center as well, a city of both vice and indulgence. Admist all this the Communist Party of China held its first meeting (1921). Among boh Chinese and foreigners interested in China, Shanghai was seen as the place to be. It had wonderful art, impressive architecture, city parks, respected schools, and was becoming the most important commercial center in Asia. And along with that there were glitzy night club, numerous brothels, wonderful restaurants, international clubs, a popular racetrack, and much more. The more notorious spots were located outside the SIS. Shanghai in short had everything that money could buy, both positive and negative. Many Europeans and Chinese lived perfectly normal lives in accordnce with their on cultural values. There was also poverty with the Chinese providing cheap labor that that was part of Shanghai's economic success. Although the poor in Shanghai were normally much better off than the poor outside the city. More than 1 million Chinese lived in the SIS (1932). The Chinese thus were the great bulk of the SIS population. Shanghai actually had its own walled Chinese city. Even so, for both business and security reasons, many Chinese residents decided to live in the foreign settlements. The result was was a fascinating mixing of Eastern and Western cultures. There was an openess to Western influence beyond that any where in China, even other forign enclaves. This was in shazrp cintrast to what would folllow when the Communists seized power. Shanghai became the most important industrial and commercial center in China. It attracted businessmen from all over the world--some 60,000 by the 1930s. It also attracted Chinese migrants from the hinterland seeking economic advancement. Another 0.4 million Chinese fled into the SIS when the Japanese lauched their invasion of China proper (1937).

Economic Powerhouse

The British occupied Shanghai during the First Opium War (1839-42). There was not much there at the time. Shangahi was opened to foreign trade by the terms of the Treaty of Nanking (1842). The British settlement was established by the Land Regulations (1845). This was undertaken on the initiative of the intendant Gong Mujiu, an imperial official. [Cassel] Shanghai expanded as it grew economically. What had been a village grew into a bustling city. The great advantage was its location at the mouth of the Yangstze River. Shangahi this had access to foreihgn markets all over the world. And the Yanntzee provide a rour into the interior of the country meaning commerrce could move both ways. Both Europeans and Chinese prospered. There was also poverty with the Chinese providing cheap labor that that was part of Shanghai's economic success. Although the poor in Shanghai were normally much better off than the poor outside the city. Shanghai became the most important industrial and commercial center in China. It attracted businessmen from all over the world--some 60,000 by the 1930s.

Foreign Enclaves

The Europeans eventually joined by the Japanese carved up the city into autonomous concessions administered primarily by the British, but with other Europeans and Americans participating. The British began the process by establishing a formal concession (1846). The British demanded its expansion (1848). And then steadily grew and attravted other foreigners. This was the age of the great clipper shps, meaning a commercil competition between America and Britain (1830s-80s). The whole purpose of the clippers was to get Chinese tea and other products to the cities of tbe United States and Britain as soon as posible and the British were astonished to find themselves being outcompeted at sea. (By the United States we mean the big cities of the North East.) Until after the American Civil War (1861-65), this had to be done entirely by sea. So it is not surprising that soon an American settlemnt developed. The bishop of the American Episcopal Church, W. J. Boone, sought to build a church. He purchased an area in Hongkew (1845). Later Boone sought establish an American settlement (1848). The Shanghai County eventually agreed. American consul George Seward signed an agreement with the head of Shanghai County Huang Fang (黃芳) to establish the American Concession in Shanghai including the boundaries. [Shanghai Office for Local Chronicles] A proposal to make Shanghai an independent 'free city was rejected (1862). Finally, the British agreed to merge their area with the American area (1863). This was the origin of the Shanghai International Settlement (SIS). These concessions were all completly beyond Chinese law and administration. Each foreign presence impacted the culture, architecture, and society within the International Settlement (SIS). Most European countris joined in th SIS instead of estanlishing thir own concession. France was an dxceoption. The French Concession was established (1849). French Consul to Shanghai, Charles de Montigny, obtained authorization from Lin Kouei (麟桂), the Imperial Circuit Intendant of Shanghai. The French Settlement, unlike the SIS, was not seized by Japasnese (1941). The Germans forced the French to turn it over to the Japanese pupppt regime--the Reorganized National Government of China in Nanjing (1943). A major change occurred as the Japanese presence grew in Shanhai after the Meiji Restoration (late-19th centutry). The Japanese set up a separate enclave in Hongkew. This was theoretically part of the SIS. After the First Sino-Japanese war (1894-95), Japanese aggressive ambitions becm increasingly clear and anti-Japanese sentiment began to develop. After Japan seized Manchuria (1931), the Japaanese assumed responsibility for security in Hiongkew. An associated area was the "Outside Roads" (越界筑路). This was Chinese territories outside any foreign concession. It was, however, controlled and administrated by SIS authorities.

Population

More than 1 million Chinese lived in the SIS (1932). The Chinese thus were the great bulk of the SIS population. Shanghai actually had its own walled Chinese city. Shanghai attracted Chinese migrants from the hinterland seeking economic advancement. Another 0.4 million Chinese fled into the SIS when the Japanese lauched their invasion of China proper (1937). For 4 years the Japanese left the SIS alone.

The Chinese

The initial plans for the SIS was to exclude the Chinese. This did not prove practical because the foreigners wanted to hire Chinese as both family servants and workers. Thus large numbers of Chinese were granted residency in the SIS. And the SIS attracted the Chinese both because it was a refuge from the civil strife which was sweeping China and because there were not only well paying jobs, but business opportunities. For both business and security reasons, many Chinese residents decided to live in the foreign settlements. The result was was a fascinating mixing of Eastern and Western cultures. There was an openess to Western influence beyond that any where in China, even other forign enclaves. This was in shazrp contrast to what would folllow when the Communists seized power.

Cultural Phnomenon

Shanghai became known as 'The Paris of the East'. It was not only an economic powerhouse , but a cultural center as well, a city of both vice and indulgence. Admist all this the Communist Party of China held its first meeting (1921). Among boh Chinese and foreigners interested in China, Shanghai was seen as the place to be. It had wonderful art, impressive architecture, city parks, respected schools, and was becoming the most important commercial center in Asia. And along with that there were glitzy night club, numerous brothels, wonderful restaurants, international clubs, a popular racetrack, and much more. The more notorious spots were located outside the SIS. Shanghai in short had everything that money could buy, both positive and negative. Many Europeans and Chinese lived perfectly normal lives in accordance with their on cultural values.

Sources

Cassel, Pär (2003), "Excavating Extraterritoriality: The 'Judicial Sub-Prefect' as a Prototype for the Mixed Court in Shanghai", Late Imperial China (2003), vol. 24, pp. 156–82.

Shanghai Office for Local Chronicles.

Created: 6:07 PM 5/25/2016
Last updated: 8:55 PM 1/26/2022