Gordon Chen
Encyclopedia
Gordon Chen is a character in the James Clavell
Asian Saga novels Tai-Pan
and Gai-Jin
. He is the illegitimate Chinese/Scottish son of Dirk Struan
, founder of Struan's Trading Company, called the "Noble House". At the time of the novel Tai-Pan, he is about twenty.
Chen decided he would be "more Chinese than British". He was remarkably intelligent and a very skilled businessman. He longed for recognition of some kind from his father, and decided to become indispensable to him. Through a deal made between Dirk Struan and Jin-qua
, Gordon Chen managed part of Struan's money, investing in land and businesses like moneylending. He succeeded his adopted father Chen Sheng as comprador
of Struan's during the time where Culum Struan was Tai-pan.
Chen became the leader of the Hong Kong Triads at a very young age and, partly due to financial help from his father and also due to running protection racket
s, became the richest man in Hong Kong. He kept this piece of information away from his father, even though he extorted money from Dirk Struan. His position was nearly ruined when his status as head of the Triad was revealed; fortunately the fact was dismissed as a lie, although Dirk Struan was not entirely convinced of this.
As part of his efforts to protect his father, he arranged for the assassination of Gorth Brock and tried to acquire a cure for May-May's malaria.
Chen planned on placing spies on Struan's ships, and by the time of the novel Gai-Jin, his spies had been placed among the Chinese servants of important European officials in Japan.
He became known as Illustrious Chen for his great wealth and social status among the native Chinese
people of Hong Kong
by the time of the novel Gai-Jin.
James Clavell
James Clavell, born Charles Edmund DuMaresq Clavell was an Australian-born, British novelist, screenwriter, director and World War II veteran and prisoner of war...
Asian Saga novels Tai-Pan
Tai-Pan (novel)
Tai-Pan is a novel written by James Clavell about European and American traders who move into Hong Kong in 1842 following the end of the First Opium War. It is the second book in Clavell's "Asian Saga".-Plot summary:...
and Gai-Jin
Gai-Jin (novel)
Gai-Jin is a 1993 novel by James Clavell, chronologically the third book in his Asian Saga, although it was the last to be published. Taking place about 20 years after the events of Tai-Pan, it chronicles the adventures of Malcolm Struan, the son of Culum and Tess Struan, in Japan...
. He is the illegitimate Chinese/Scottish son of Dirk Struan
Dirk Struan
Dirk Lochlin Struan is the fictional main character of James Clavell's 1966 novel Tai-Pan. The title comes from a Cantonese term that Clavell loosely translates as "supreme leader", and Struan is the taipan or head of his own trading company in China, Struan's...
, founder of Struan's Trading Company, called the "Noble House". At the time of the novel Tai-Pan, he is about twenty.
Chen decided he would be "more Chinese than British". He was remarkably intelligent and a very skilled businessman. He longed for recognition of some kind from his father, and decided to become indispensable to him. Through a deal made between Dirk Struan and Jin-qua
Jin-qua
Jin-qua, is a character in James Clavell's novel Tai-Pan. His full Chinese name is Chen-tse Jin Arn.Jin-qua was a merchant who possessed a monopoly on all the foreign trade in China during the early 19th century....
, Gordon Chen managed part of Struan's money, investing in land and businesses like moneylending. He succeeded his adopted father Chen Sheng as comprador
Comprador
Comprador or Compradore is a term used to describe native managers of European business houses in East Asia.-History:...
of Struan's during the time where Culum Struan was Tai-pan.
Chen became the leader of the Hong Kong Triads at a very young age and, partly due to financial help from his father and also due to running protection racket
Protection racket
A protection racket is an extortion scheme whereby a criminal group or individual coerces a victim to pay money, supposedly for protection services against violence or property damage. Racketeers coerce reticent potential victims into buying "protection" by demonstrating what will happen if they...
s, became the richest man in Hong Kong. He kept this piece of information away from his father, even though he extorted money from Dirk Struan. His position was nearly ruined when his status as head of the Triad was revealed; fortunately the fact was dismissed as a lie, although Dirk Struan was not entirely convinced of this.
As part of his efforts to protect his father, he arranged for the assassination of Gorth Brock and tried to acquire a cure for May-May's malaria.
Chen planned on placing spies on Struan's ships, and by the time of the novel Gai-Jin, his spies had been placed among the Chinese servants of important European officials in Japan.
He became known as Illustrious Chen for his great wealth and social status among the native Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
people of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
by the time of the novel Gai-Jin.