Transcript China before the Opium War (1840) Fulbright - Chinese

China Before the Opium War (1840)
Session 1
Table of Contents
Dynastic Cycle in Chinese History
II. Establishment of the Qing Dynasty
III. Accomplishments of the Qing
IV. Mentality of the Qing
V. Emperor Qianlong vs. Lord Macartney
VI. Social Problems and Potential Crises
VII. Conclusion
I.
I. Dynastic Cycle in Chinese History
Timeline
The Dynastic Cycle-historical pattern
Peasant rebellion
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Zhu Yuanzhang
 Li Zicheng

II. Establishment of the Qing
•
The Manchus conquered China in 1644 (2%)
Han people & minorities (today: 56 ethnic groups, Han is 92%)
•
•
•
•
Correct policies to win Chinese support
Funeral of Ming Emperor Chongzhen
The Civil Service Examination System
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Origin back to Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), end in 1905
Four Confucian books and five Chinese classics
Dual government system based on Ming’s tradition
Civil Affairs
Finance
Rituals
War
Justice
Public Service
III. Accomplishments of the Qin
Political consolidation and territorial
expansion
Economic development
Cultural prosperity
Population exposion
III-1. Qing’s Territorial Expansion
From outer Mongolia in the north to Guangdong in the south, from
coast in the east to Central Asia in the west.
III-2. The Qing and Its NeighborsThe Tributary System
Dozens of nations in East, Southeast
and Central Asia acknowledged China’s
suzerainty over them:
Korea, Annam (N. Vietnam), Laos,
Burma, Siam (Thailand), Bhudan, Nepal,
Sulu (in Southern Philippines) the
Gurkhas, Khohkans, bukhara, Burut,
Badaksha,, Afghanistan and the Kazaks.
III-3. China’s Share of World GDP
III-4. Cultural Achievements
The great compilation of Tang Dynasty
poetry in 1705
Kangxi Dictionary in 1716 with 47,000
characters
The Complete Library of Four Treasures
in 1782: They were bound in 36,381
volumes (册) with more than 79,000
chapters (卷), comprising about 2.3 million
pages, and approximately 800 million
Chinese characters.
III-5. Population Increase
from less than 200 million in late Ming to 400 million
in 1850s
IV. Mentality of the Qin
Civilization vs. “barbarian”
The tributary states
Emperor Qiang Long met Lord
Macartney in 1793
V. Emperor Qianlong met Lord
George Macartney in 1793
King George III’s letter to the Chinese
emperor in 1792
We reply on your Imperial Majesty’s wisdom and
justice and general benevolence to making so
conspicuous in your long and happy reign, that you will
please to allow our Ambassador and Representative at
your court to have the opportunity of contemplating the
examples of your virtues and to obtain such
information of your celebrated institutions; as will
enable him to enlighten our people on his return; ……
you will be pleased to allow to any of our subjects
frequenting the coasts of your domination, and
conducting themselves with propriety, a secure
residence there, and a fair access to your markets,……
Discussion
What would happen if Emperor
Qianlong accepted Lord Macartney’s
proposal to have open trade with Great
Britain and open China to the world?
Macartney’s Mission:
Asked for free trade and open cities as
trading ports
Qianlong’s reply:
“We possess all things. I set no value on
objects strange or ingenious, and have no
use for your country’s manufactures.”
“It behooves you, O King, to respect my
sentiments and to display even greater
devotion and loyalty in future, so that, by
perpetual submission to our Throne, you may
secure peace and prosperity for your country
thereafter.”
VI. Social Problems and Potential Crisis
• China’s trade surplus became deficit because of
•
•
•
•
•
opium trade: opium cost China 800 million taels
of silver ($1.5 billion) per year
The army lost morality and strength to fight
Population pressure
Racial conflicts between the Manchus & Han
people
Local rebellions
Challenges from the West
Corruption-He Shen-His total property was ultimately estimated
at around 1,100 million taels of silver, estimated to be an amount equivalent
to the imperial revenue of the Qing government for 15 years.
China in the Eyes of Lord Macartney

The Empire of China is an old, crazy, first-rate
Man of War, which a fortunate succession of and
vigilant officers have contrived to keep afloat for
these hundred and fifty years past, and to
overawe their neighbours merely by her bulk and
appearance. But whenever an insufficient man
happens to have the command on deck, adieu to
the discipline and safety of the ship. She may,
perhaps, not sink outright; she may drift some
time as a wreck, and will then be dashed to
pieces on the shore;
VII. Conclusion
1.
2.
3.
4.
China was the largest economy & one of the
most powerful countries in the world in 19th
century.
China’s tributary system and Sino-centric
mentality made the rulers of the Qing refuse to
treat other nations equally, and neglect the
challenges from Great Britain.
China’s missed an opportunity to emerge
herself into the world in 1793.
China isolation and the challenge from the
West led to a historically unprecedented crisis
and a century of humiliation soon.
Questions?
Thank you!