Pu (Abu) Shougeng

Pu Shougeng was a Chinese merchant of Arabic origins. He was influential both during the Song dynasty and the succeeding Yuan dynasty under which he served as superintendents of trade at Quanzhou.

Family of Pu Shougeng lived in Guangzhou for generations and was involved in the trade between South China and Southeast Asian countries, such as Champa and Brunei. Later they moved to Quanzhou where the overseas trade was more prosperous. Pu Shougeng was in charge of the Song Maritime Trade Office around 1274. When the troops of Kublai Khan took over the capital of the Southern Song, Lin’an (present Hangzhou), some members of the royal family fled to Fujian and sought refuge from Pu Shougeng. When he surrendered to the Yuan, the Southern Song collapsed soon after that. His power was recognized by Kublai Khan, and had granted him high positions in the local government of Fujian and Guangdong. Based on his experience in international trade and his relations with foreign countries, Pu Shougeng suggested to Kublai’s court developing foreign relations with overseas states. His suggestion was accepted and he and his family retained their social position. The riches of the Pu family can be partially understood from the account of one of their member who owned eighty ships and huge quantities of pearls.