论南洋华人精英的跨国婚姻一以林文庆、伍连德为例 On Transnational Marriages Among the Nanyang Elites— Case Study on Lim Boon Keng and Wu Lien-teh

Abstract

本文梳理、分析19世纪末20世纪中期海峡华人代表人物林文庆、伍连德的跨国婚姻，目的在于了解：一、生于、长于英属殖民地，接受现代西方教育的华人精英是如何择偶的？二、中国女子嫁给南洋华人后的生活如何？在分析了南洋华人精英的跨国姻缘、他们娶自中国的妻子的家庭和教育背景以及他们的婚后生活之后，本研究认为：一、南洋海归华人精英林文庆、伍连德等倡导进行社会改良，自己也是自觉的实践者。与当时的中国相比，彼时的南洋，给了海归华人精英一个宽松的环境，他们可以比较自由地选择自己理想的配偶。二、从清末至民国，基督教网络对华人华侨与中国建立联系起着较为重要的作用。这一网络帮助南洋华人与中国女性组建婚姻、帮助他们通过基督教徒建立的机构构建他们在中国的人际与工作关系网络。三、中国女子嫁给南洋华人精英后，无论是在南洋还是在中国，夫妻彼此扶持，相互受益。

This paper analyses transnational marriages of the Straits Settlements' Chinese elites between the late 19th and mid-20th century to find out: how did the Chinese elites who were born and raised in British colonies and had received Western modem education select their spouses during the late Qing Dynasty; and what kind of life did the Chinese women have after they married their Southeast Asian (Nanyang) Chinese husbands? By analyzing the transnational marriages of the Nanyang Chinese elites, the family and education background of their wives from China, and their lives after marriage, this study has drawn three conclusions: 1) The repatriated Nanyang Chinese elites such as Lim Boon Keng, Wu Lien-teh, and others had advocated social improvement, and they themselves were self-conscious practitioners. Compared with China at that time, Nanyang had provided a freer enviromnent for overseas Chinese
elites to select their ideal spouses. 2) From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China era, Christian networks played an important role in establishing ties between the Overseas Chinese and China. This network helped the Nanyang Chinese marry Chinese women and helped them build their interpersonal and professional networks in China through institutions established by Christians. 3) For most Chinese women and their Nanyang Chinese husbands, they had supported each other and benefited from each other, both in Nanyang and in China.