槟城日落洞的传统行业 Traditional Industries of Jelutong, Penang

Abstract

槟城日落洞乃早期闽粤移民落脚之处，这些移民也同时将原乡的谋生技能带来，成为华人的传统行业。这些行业，绝大部分已经濒临绝迹，为了保留华人早期的历史记忆，故此本文就日落洞目前还存在的传统行业：造船、木柴、酱油、椰子和豆芽种植等行业，进行口述访谈，就其发展演变、行业运作、特色和前景进行整理和论述。一般上传统行业具有小本经营、依靠手艺或出卖体力干活、时间长、工作辛苦的特色。随着社会进步，经济环境改善，技术和原料改进等因素的冲击，到了1980年代传统行业逐渐面临没落的危机，成为夕阳行业，乃至消失的景况。

Jelutong in Penang is an early settlement for immigrants from Fujian and Guangdong. These immigrants also brought along their livelihood skills from their hometown and gradually developed into the traditional Chinese industries in Malaysia. Today, most of these industries are on the verge of extinction. In order to preserve the historical memories of the early Chinese, oral interviews were conducted on the traditional industries such as shipbuilding, firewood, soy sauce, coconut and bean sprouts planting. The interviews focused on their operations, special features and prospects. The general characteristics of traditional industries are small scale business, relying on craftmanship or labour, long working hours, and requiring great physical strength. As society progresses, the improvements in the economic environment, technology and raw materials, traditional industries are gradually declining. In the 1980s, they became sunset industries which might even disappear in no time.