Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s3.t5: Parsis
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s3.t5
- Language
- English
Parsis
v1.c5.s3.t5.1
The Parsis are an Indian community of ethnic Persian origin who are followers of Zoroastrianism. The original Parsis migrated to the west coast of India in the 8^th or 10^th centuries CE to avoid religious persecution in their original homeland of Persia. Originally a largely agricultural community, they later ventured into and made their mark in trade and modern industry. From the later 18^th century CE until the early 20^th century CE, they played a major role in the overseas trade from the port of Bombay (Mumbai), particularly in the trade between Bombay and the China coast.
v1.c5.s3.t5.2
*A Parsi family in India*
v1.c5.s3.t5.3
The earliest Parsi merchant known to have sailed to China was Heerjee Jeevanjee Readymoney in
v1.c5.s3.t5.4
*Ludunzhi hospital in Hong Kong, China, founded in the middle of the 19th century by the family of Ludunzhi*
v1.c5.s3.t5.5
1756. In this period, as a by-product of the tea trade between China and Britain, raw cotton from western India began to be shipped to Canton (Guangzhou) to pay for the rapidly growing export of tea from China. Enterprising Parsi merchants were among the earliest to profit from the spurt in trade between Bombay and China from the last quarter of the 18^th century CE. One of the earliest Parsi firms to be established at Canton was that of Cowasjee Pallanjee & Co (1794). The great Parsi merchant and benefactor Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, who played a major role in the growth of Bombay in the first half of the 19^th century CE, made his fortune in the trade with China. The raw cotton and opium trade and the shipping business with China contributed to the rise of many other prominent Parsi families as well, including the Banajis, Wadias, Petits, Tatas, Dadiseths, Camas and others. Later, when several leading Parsi businessmen ventured into the newly emerging cotton textile industry in India in the second half of the 19^th century CE, they exported a significant portion of the cotton yarn produced in their factories to China.
v1.c5.s3.t5.6
The Parsi merchants showed a greater willingness to travel and reside in China than any other Indian merchants involved in the China trade. Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy himself travelled several times to China as a young man. As a result, hundreds of Parsi men in the 19^th century CE were to be found in Canton, Macau and later Hong Kong, Shanghai and other Chinese ports. In the early years of the 19^th century CE, at times there were more Parsis in Canton than there were British. They were often referred to by the Chinese as baitouren (whiteheads) on account of their distinctive white caps. Before the Opium War, Parsis lived in Macau and in the foreign factories on the Canton waterfront. One of these even came to be known as the ‘Parsi factory’. Parsi cemeteries in Canton and Macau have tombstones dating back to 1829.
v1.c5.s3.t5.7
Parsis played a pioneering role in the early settlement and development of Hong Kong after 1842. Among those who purchased land on the Hong Kong waterfront in the first land auction conducted by the British authorities on the island in June 1841, were Dadabhoy Rustomjee, Heerjebhoy Rustomjee, Framjee Jamsetjee and Pestonjee Cowasjee. Starting out initially in the import-export trade from Hong Kong, the Parsis soon ventured into diverse business activities, including real estate, share brokerage, the hospitality industry, banking and so on. One of them, Dorabji Naorojee, founded the cross-harbour transport service that evolved into Hong Kong’s famous "Star Ferry" service. The Parsis were also known for their involvement in charitable activities in Hong Kong. The individual, who played the pioneering role in the establishment of the University of Hong Kong, was a Parsi businessman known as H N Mody. The Ruttonjee family established one of the earliest anti-tuberculosis sanatoriums on the island.
v1.c5.s3.t5.8
This community played an interesting role in the transmission of cultural influences from China to India in the 19^th century CE. Deeply impressed by the skill of Chinese silk embroiderers at Canton, Parsi merchants commissioned Chinese embroiderers to produce beautifully embroidered silk for the sarees worn by the women of their families back home. This was the origin of the famous Parsi gara saris, which have become an intrinsic part of Parsi textile culture. Parsi merchants imported large quantities of Chinese porcelain, furniture and other artefacts which had a significant impact on the lifestyle of the elite in Bombay at that time. They also commissioned Chinese painters like Lamqua and others to paint oil portraits of themselves and their families.
v1.c5.s3.t5.9
With the changing occupational structure of the Parsi community back in India, the number of Parsi traders and businessmen in China began to dwindle in the early 20^th century CE. Nevertheless, there continues to exist a small but flourishing Parsi community in Hong Kong today whose links with China go back many generations.
v1.c5.s3.t5.10
(*Madhavi Thampi*)