Shang and Shan: Charitable networks of the 'Four Great Department Stores' and their associated Chinese-Australian families 1900-1949

The thesis examines the philanthropic work supported by the “Four Great Department Stores” - Sincere, Wing On, The Sun and Sun Sun - and their associated Chinese-Australian families in Zhongshan, Sydney, Hong Kong, Canton and Shanghai from 1900 to 1949, with a view to exploring how shang (commerce) interacted with shan (charity) and negotiating the role of transnational huaqiao (Overseas Chinese) networks in the development of Chinese indigenous philanthropy.