Pu Zaiting

Pu Zaoting (1871–1944), courtesy name Chunlan, was a member of the Pu family from Xuanwei, Yunnan. The Pu family of Xuanwei was a prominent local clan with a rich cultural heritage. His father, Pu Chunlan, had achieved Jinshi (advanced graduate) status during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, and established a school, taught, and cultivated talents locally.

Pu Zaoting was born in Xuanwei, Yunnan, and received traditional cultural education in his early years. In 1887, at the age of only 14, he voluntarily left his family to join a caravan, engaging in long-distance transport business. His father hoped he would enter officialdom through the imperial examinations, but Pu Zaoting insisted on his own choice, embarking on a rigorous business journey. After numerous life-and-death tests, he gradually grew from a muleteer into a merchant owning his own caravan, expanding his operations to Yunnan and Southeast Asia. His transportation business developed and expanded, making him an influential figure in the northeastern Yunnan business community, and he served as president of the Xuanwei Chamber of Commerce.

In the 20th century, Pu Zaoting shifted his focus to industrial ventures. In 1909, he and his partners established the first ham company in Xuanwei, serving as general manager, marking a new chapter in his industrial endeavors. Later, he founded the "Xuanhe Ham Canning Company," introducing advanced German technology and equipment, pushing the ham canning industry into both domestic and international markets. In 1915, at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the "Double Pig" brand ham canned products received a gold medal, becoming one of Yunnan’s first specialty foods exported internationally.

Politically, Pu Zaoting actively participated in local affairs in Yunnan. He assisted the Guo Guojun (Protectorate Army) in maintaining military logistics and was awarded the Silver Plum Blossom Medal. In 1916, during the First Uprising in Yunnan, when the Protectorate Army passed through Xuanwei, he contributed grain supplies, demonstrating his patriotism. In 1921, when Sun Yat-sen established a military government in Guangzhou, Pu Zaoting became an important supporter of the Huguo Movement, serving as director-general of the Military Supply Bureau for the Yunnan-Guangdong Army. In 1923, he was awarded the rank of Major General and played active roles in military and commercial fields under the Kuomintang.

Pu Zaoting was also dedicated to social welfare. In Xuanwei, he helped build transportation infrastructure, such as bridges; during the severe droughts and frosts, he made repeated donations for relief efforts. He participated in anti-Japanese patriotic activities, serving as an executive committee member of the Xuanwei Anti-Japanese National Salvation Committee. During the war, he was chairman of the Xuanwei Charity Federation and director of the Relief Society, caring for the people's livelihood and aiding in post-disaster reconstruction.

In his later years, Pu Zaoting focused on family traditions, adhering to the teachings of “self-cultivation, family harmony, proper conduct in society, and participation in governance,” emphasizing integrity and moral cultivation. He promoted national culture, advocated for the education and moral development of his family members, and established a family tradition pavilion to promote honest and virtuous family customs. His descendants actively engaged in revolutionary and developmental endeavors, continuing his patriotism.

Pu Zaoting passed away in 1944 at the age of 73. His life left a profound impact across business, politics, and public service, and he is regarded as an important figure in Yunnan’s history.