本文在探討英式俱樂部與殖民社會的複雜關係。所謂的英式俱樂部，意指英國十八世紀下半葉出現的紳士型俱樂部，是一種純男性且排他性高的結社組織，十九世紀中葉隨英國殖民的腳步傳入亞洲後，日本著重其聚集行樂的特徵，稱之為「俱樂部」，華人則強調其議事的功能，多將之譯為「總會」。本文以通商口岸最重要的俱樂部「上海總會」為例，檢視它如何視殖民社會的需求調整其內涵，在排他性之外，又加入一定的公眾性，以及它如何在國籍紛雜的情況下對會員進行必要的規訓。本文指出此類組織提供的不僅是休閒，更重要的還有認同與位階，殖民社會係依賴這些縮小版的公民社會，才能在海外屹立不搖。

Examining the foreign community in Shanghai in the latter half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, we find that a civil society existed between the municipal government and the market in the form of clubs, societies and associations. Aside from their workplaces, foreigners in China seemed to always belong to a club or society. The elites often joined the Shanghai Club, the Country Club, the American Club, or the Cercle Sportif Français, while those in lower positions, such as policemen, joined the Masonic Club. Even Jewish refugees from Russia found their place at the Shanghai Jewish Club after having gained a foothold in Shanghai. These clubs not only provided leisure activities but also social status and a sense of belonging. This article focuses on the Shanghai Club, the most influential foreign social club in any of the treaty ports. It analyzes the composition of its membership, the spatial arrangement of the clubhouse, and the Club’s position in the colonial world. Since Shanghai was not a British colony, there were many other nationalities living in the concessions. This article also presents brief histories of other social clubs in Shanghai. The analysis of these clusters of clubs throws light on not only the British informal empire but also treaty port culture in China.

英式俱樂部;上海總會;殖民社會;公眾性;排他性

social clubs; treaty port culture; the Shanghai Club; informal empire