十三行
Term · History
Thirteen Hongs
Literal meaning
thirteen + firms
Definition#
The licensed foreign-trade firms of Guangzhou and the riverside factory district where Western traders lived, also called the Thirteen Factories. Foreigners were allowed a quarter from 1686; the Cohong (公行) monopoly guild was formalised in 1760; the factories burned in December 1856. Tea, black and green, was among their main exports.
Translation and usage#
| Language | Use | Alternatives & cautions |
|---|---|---|
| English | Thirteen Hongs licensed Canton trading houses and factory district translation |
Also acceptable
|
| Deutsch | Dreizehn Faktoreien lizenzierte Handelshäuser von Kanton translation |
Also acceptable
|
| Русский | Тринадцать факторий кантонские торговые дома и фактории translation |
Also acceptable
|
| 简体字 | 十三行 | |
| 繁體字 | 十三行 | Regional usage
|
| 日本語 | 十三行 |
Common confusions#
- 行 is read háng here; 十三行 read shísān xíng is the name of a Wang Xianzhi calligraphy model.
- 'Thirteen' is a traditional name; the number of firms varied.