The Qing & European Inroads to China

Introduction: The Qing in the 18th Century

 * The Kangxi Emperor (r. 1661 - 1772)
 * The Yongzheng Emperor (r. 1723 - 1735)
 * The Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736 - 1795)


 * China very stable at this time
 * Population expands
 * Trade increases and grows

Early European interest in China

 * European always interested in Chinese goods
 * But Chinese were not very interested in European goods
 * Chinese silver in particular was highly sought after
 * Europe paid more for Chinese imports -> benefited the Chinese much more than Europe

Historical Antecedents

 * By 13th Century -> Pope sent emissaries to China to try to Convery Mongol Emperor
 * Marco Polo -> Also managed to get to China, gave Europe its fullest portrait of the Chinese
 * Breaking down of Silk Road challenged the path to China
 * Chinese remained important goal that Europeans tried to constantly getting to China
 * Competition and vying of European kingdoms made China a mythical ally to add to European arsenals
 * Religious wars also propelled people to try to convert Chinese to Christianity (catholocism)

Merchants & Missionaries in China (16- 18th Centuries)

 * While Columbus was going West
 * Portuguese explorers tried to go East
 * Which would bypass Middle Eastern trade networks (with its taxes and price inflation)

Portuguese

 * 1498 -> Round Cape of Good Hope, Make it to Indian
 * 1514 -> Reach China
 * 1510 -> Set up trading hub in Goa (island)
 * Capture Malaca in Malaysia, which gives the Portuguese another foothold in SE Asia


 * Built a Fort on Lin Tin Island near Chinese mainland
 * Poor impression of the Chinese
 * Portuguese considered "barbarians"
 * Called "Ocean Devils" by the Chinese
 * Portuguese Navy dominated the Chinese


 * Compromise with China gave the Portuguese Island of Macao
 * In return Portuguese gave tribute to China

Jesuits

 * Disappointed by

Matteo Ricci

 * Matteo Ricci led the Jesuits in China
 * Mastered spoken and written Chinese
 * Wrote in Chinese
 * Developed strategy of trying to Convert the scholar class
 * Dressed as a Chinese scholars
 * Believed that Christian religion could be reconciled with Confucianism
 * Suggested Christianity was the progression of Confucianism
 * Tin (Chinese Heaven) likened to Christian God
 * Also used his vast knowledge of Western Science & Astronomy to impress the Chinese


 * 1601 - Given audience with Ricci
 * Allowed to bring Christianity to Beijing and add converts
 * Christianity had been established

Christian Success / Failure

 * Though the religion made in roads in China
 * Real success of Missionaries was their introduction of Western Science, Math, Astronomy
 * Introduced cannon founding, western weapons
 * Ricci becomes patron god of clockmakers in China


 * By 1700 only 300,000 of 150 million (not so great)

Rites Controversy

 * Chinese Converts also allowed continued ancestral worship in China (compromise)
 * Enemies of Jesuits complain of this compromise
 * Pope sided with the enemies of the Jesuits, outlaws ancestry worship
 * This effectively ends Christianity in China

Chinese Influence in Europe

 * The Chinese were not very influenced by Europe
 * But Europe was influenced by China
 * The powerful state government, administered by "philosopher" officials was inspiring to the educated elite
 * Enlightenment saw China as an ideal, a model for the state


 * Tea -> becomes National drink of Britain
 * Chinoserie -> Chinese influenced aesthetic tradition

European Imperialism in China

 * The second stage of Chinese - Eu

British Intrusion: Drive to "Open" China

 * 1685 -> trade begins when Emperor opens certain ports
 * Trade monopolized by the East Indian Trading Company
 * Trade based at Cohong
 * Major customs official was at Cohong
 * His name was Hoppo -> He reported directly to the Emperor
 * He was more just, fair in excise taxes
 * Cohong merchants -> called the Canton System


 * 1736 -> Cohong merchants made responsible for their foreign trading partners
 * This made the Cohong merchants reticent to be a part of this culture


 * James Flint -> leads East Indian Trading company to the Chinese Emperor
 * This was a major breach of protocol
 * Things become more controlled rather than less
 * All cities closed except Cohong

Macartney Mission

 * Lord Macartney -> Sent to China to re-open trade with Britain
 * Has more success meeting informally with Emperor
 * But still doesn't work for the British

Opium

 * Britain payed with Silver for Chinese products
 * But they lose Silver mines in North America
 * So they start exporting and selling Opium, which greatly undoes Chinese society
 * East Indian Trading Company finds Opium great way to make money
 * 1/6 revenues of the British Crown was from Opium Sales
 * Great immoral trade


 * Qing tried to ban the trade of Opium several times
 * Never worked


 * Evil of Opium harmed the Chinese people
 * Great social problem


 * Qing considered legalizing it and taxing
 * Then decided to try to eradicate it

Lin Zexu

 * Appointed by Emperor to eradicte Opium in China
 * Great Chinese Hero
 * Wrote to Queen Victoria -> Reprimands Her
 * Gave addicts medical attention
 * Eradicate domestic networks
 * Destroying Foreign Opium stores
 * For a while, it looks like this is going to work
 * Then the British Flip Out

The Opium War

 * British fight back
 * Easily crush navy
 * Treaty of Nanjing
 * Forces the Chinese to Open more cities
 * Compromises power of Chinese emperor