Endless Vitality:The Entrepreneurial Spirit of Tan Kah Kee
As an outstanding entrepreneur and a great leader among the Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia during the early 20th century,Tan Kah Kee has left an indelible mark on history and a rich legacy of spiritual wealth.However,the core of his entrepreneurial spirit has often been overlooked.This paper examines Tan Kah Kee's innovative business prac-tices and his patriotic activities,highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit of the Overseas Chinese merchants he represented.It systematically discusses the entrepreneurial spirit within the context of Chinese indigenous knowledge and its internal logic.Specifically,the essence of entrepreneurial spirit lies in resource integration,entrepreneurship,and innovation.It re-quires effective collaboration to foster trust and necessitates breaking or altering constraints through innovation,proactively developing and cultivating markets.Additionally,it involves making decisive judgments amidst uncertainties,taking respon-sibility,and managing risks.Tan Kah Kee's entrepreneurial spirit,characterized by its endless vitality,has inspired gener-ations of Overseas Chinese entrepreneurs and has become an intrinsic driving force for Chincse-style modernization.
Tan Kah Keeoverseas Chinese merchantsentrepreneurial spiritheritageindigenous innovation