Wang Xiaoyuan

Wang Xiaoyuan was the Jiangan merchant engaged in copper trade.

He took command of the ship belonging to his first male cousin, the official state copper merchant, Wang Yongzeng, from Xiuning district, Jiangnan, and sailed across the Eastern Ocean to purchase Japanese copper (yangtong) to be used in the casting of coins. Every year, in the summer and winter, he left twice with his boat, passed the Regional Office (fan si) of Zhejiang and received a certificate which permitted him to carry items, such as cannons for defence boats, medical drugs, and tin. He also went through the Jiangsu Regional Office (fan si), which issued him with a certificate permitting him to carry medical drugs and various other commodities. According to the regulations, he paid taxes of 120 silver liang. On the 3rd day of the 12th month 1815, he hired the ocean-going ship of Jin Quanshun together with 89 helmsmen and left from Shanghai.