Qianlong's letter to the King of England, the full text of 976 words is completely deaf, and it is still in the British Museum. In the long course of history, this letter has become a mystery, what kind of secret does it hide? Why did Emperor Qianlong, the glorious ruler of the Qing Empire, show such self-confidence in his letter, and even be interpreted as ignorant by later generations? Is it really ignorant of current affairs, or does it have other profound meanings? At the turn of that turbulent century, what kind of story did the empire of the East and the kingdom of the West interweave between this pen and paper? Is this letter an arrogant show off or a deliberate strategy? Let's explore this dusty past and uncover the secrets that have been forgotten by time. Will Qianlong's true thoughts gradually become clear as the pages of history turn the page?
Behind the prosperity of the Qing Dynasty: Qianlong's self-confidence and arrogance
Under the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the Qing Empire reached the pinnacle of its territory and culture. Emperor Qianlong, known as Hongli, was the grandson of Emperor Kangxi and the son of Emperor Yongzheng, whose reign witnessed the last glory of the Qing Empire. Emperor Qianlong's self-confidence stemmed in part from his recognition of the Qing Empire's strong national power and his high opinion of his own cultural and martial arts.
During the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, the Qing Empire expanded to include the largest extent in history, including present-day Chinese mainland, Mongolia, Tibet, and other regions. Through military conquest and diplomacy, he consolidated and expanded the empire's frontiers. These military operations not only demonstrated the military talent of the Qianlong Emperor, but also demonstrated his confidence in the power of the Qing Empire.
Economically, the Qing Empire during the Qianlong period also reached its heyday. Agricultural production has developed enormously, and handicrafts and commerce have made significant progress. In particular, the Jiangnan region is famous for its handicrafts such as silk fabrics and porcelain. Emperor Qianlong had a clear understanding of the economic prosperity of the country, and he visited the south of the Yangtze River many times, witnessing and promoting the maintenance of this prosperity.
In terms of culture, Emperor Qianlong was an emperor who loved literature and art. He was also a poet himself, leaving behind a large number of poems. Emperor Qianlong vigorously promoted Confucianism and cultural education, and his reign was also called "Qianlong Cultural Prosperity". He ordered the compilation of the Siku Quanshu, the largest collection of documents in Chinese history, demonstrating the importance he attached to cultural inheritance.
However, Emperor Qianlong's self-confidence sometimes seemed too arrogant. He regarded himself as the superior kingdom of the Celestial Empire, believing that the Qing Empire was omnipresent and did not need much exchange and trade with foreign countries. This assertiveness and arrogance are especially evident in the handling of relations with Western countries. When the British Macartney mission came to China in the hope of starting trade, Emperor Qianlong's response was filled with arrogance and xenophobia. He expressed this attitude in a letter to the King of England, arguing that the Qing Empire was self-sufficient and did not need foreign goods and technologies.
This letter, as well as Emperor Qianlong's handling of foreign policy, reflect the duality of his political wisdom and personal character. On the one hand, he was indeed a capable ruler who promoted the prosperity and development of the Qing Empire, and on the other hand, his arrogance also laid the groundwork for the Qing Empire's seclusion and backwardness in the future. This complex character and policy constituted an important feature of Emperor Qianlong's reign, and also became an important basis for later generations to evaluate him.
British Ambition and Trade Requests: The Macartney Mission's Journey to the East
At the end of the eighteenth century, Britain was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, and its power was growing and the demand for foreign trade was growing. Britain has its sights set on the far east, hoping to open the door to China's huge market. To this end, the British sent a Macartney mission, carrying letters from the king and full of gifts, to embark on a long journey to the Qing Empire.
Macartney, the British envoy, was an experienced diplomat who was tasked with making a request to the Qianlong Emperor to open trade. The mission brought with it the most advanced scientific and technological achievements and precious gifts of Britain at that time, hoping to impress Emperor Qianlong and promote a trade agreement between the two sides. What they face, however, is an empire that is deeply wary of foreigners.
When the mission arrived in China, it was first confronted with the challenge of cultural differences and ceremonial battles. Officials of the Qing Dynasty demanded that the Macartney mission must observe Chinese etiquette and perform the ritual of kneeling and prostrating. This was the supreme respect for the emperor in China at that time, but in the eyes of the British, it was an insult to the dignity of the country. Macartney insisted that, as a representative of the King of England, he could only salute his own monarch. This liturgical controversy highlights the clash of Eastern and Western cultures and the different values.
After some intense negotiations, the Macartney mission finally relented and agreed to bow and bow to Emperor Qianlong, but only after they came up with a compromise plan to present the portrait of the King of England at the same time as a sign of loyalty to the British monarch. This compromise, while allowing the mission to continue its mission, also exposed the intolerance of Qing officials towards foreign envoys.
The wait for the mission in Beijing did not go well, and they learned that Emperor Qianlong was not in the capital, but was vacationing in a summer resort. So, Macartney and his entourage set out on the road to Chengde again. At the summer resort, they witnessed the luxury and prosperity of the Qing Empire, and the splendid architecture and exquisite gardens opened their eyes. However, behind all this is Emperor Qianlong's incomparable confidence in his own empire and his disregard for foreigners.
When the mission finally met Emperor Qianlong, they presented them with elaborate gifts, including advanced weapons and precious artifacts. These gifts represented the scientific and technological achievements and cultural level of Britain at that time, and were a sign of respect and friendship for Britain towards the Qing Empire. However, Emperor Qianlong's attitude towards these gifts was indifferent, he believed that the Qing Empire had everything and did not need anything from foreign countries.
The Macartney Mission's request for trade was ultimately rejected by Emperor Qianlong. In his reply, Emperor Qianlong expressed his attitude that the laws of the Qing Empire could not be changed at the request of foreigners. This letter, along with Emperor Qianlong's decision, marked an important confrontation between the Qing Empire and the Western world. The Macartney Mission's journey to the East, although it did not achieve their goal, laid the groundwork for later historical developments.
The Content and Influence of Qianlong's Letterhead: The Collision of Eastern and Western Civilizations
During the wave of globalization in the eighteenth century, the Qing Empire interacted with the Western powers more and more frequently. Emperor Qianlong's reply to the King of England became a significant symbol of the exchange and collision of Eastern and Western civilizations during this period. The letter was not only a diplomatic document, but also a cultural statement, demonstrating Emperor Qianlong's understanding and attitude towards the relationship between the Qing Empire and the Western world.
Emperor Qianlong used a very formal and traditional classical Chinese in his letters, which was a common practice in Chinese diplomacy at the time. The contents of the letter expressed gratitude for the gift from the British mission, but at the same time explicitly rejected the British request for trade. In his letter, Emperor Qianlong emphasized the self-sufficiency of the Qing Dynasty and believed that the Qing Empire did not need foreign goods, which reflected his confidence in the Qing Dynasty's national strength and his cautious attitude towards opening up to the outside world.
A particularly striking passage in the letter is that Emperor Qianlong wrote: "My empire of all nations, rich in products and all-encompassing, is not necessary for trade. This sentence directly expresses Emperor Qianlong's pride in the economic self-sufficiency of the Qing Empire, and also indirectly shows his rejection of Western countries, especially the rapidly industrialized Britain. Although this attitude of Emperor Qianlong seemed to be a manifestation of national self-confidence at the time, from the perspective of later historical development, it also exposed the limitations of the Qing Empire's policy of opening up to the outside world.
In addition, Emperor Qianlong also mentioned the ceremonial controversy of the Macartney mission in his letter, pointing out: "You should have come from afar to pay tribute, which should reflect sincerity, but it is not appropriate to violate the etiquette system of the Celestial Empire." This reflects Emperor Qianlong's insistence that foreign envoys should observe Chinese etiquette, and also shows the importance he attaches to maintaining the dignity and etiquette traditions of the Qing Dynasty.
Although this letter of the Qianlong Emperor failed to change the trade relations between the Qing Dynasty and Britain at that time, its content and attitude had a profound impact on later generations. The letters were translated into many languages and widely disseminated throughout Europe, serving as a window into the Western world into China and the thoughts of the Chinese emperors. In Europe, the letter was seen as a symbol of China's arrogance and conservatism, influencing Western countries' policies and attitudes toward China.
In China, Emperor Qianlong's letter was repeatedly cited by later scholars and politicians as an example of safeguarding the dignity and autonomy of the state. However, over time, people's evaluation of the letter has gradually changed. From the initial self-confidence and pride of national strength, to the later seclusion and backwardness, this letter from Emperor Qianlong is considered a sign of the Qing Empire's change in its attitude towards opening up to the outside world.
Emperor Qianlong's reply is undoubtedly a historical juncture, marking an important cultural and political collision between the East and the West in the eighteenth century. This letter is not only a diplomatic document, but also an exchange of cultures and ideas, which has influenced the interaction and understanding of the two civilized worlds.
Reflections and Enlightenment of History: Looking at the Future of the Qing Dynasty from Qianlong's Letters
Under the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the Qing Empire undoubtedly reached its political, economic, and cultural peak. However, it was behind this prosperity that the letters of Emperor Qianlong revealed the delicate state of an empire oscillating between self-confidence and complacency. The letter was not only a rejection of the British trade plea, but also a foreshadowing of the fate of the Qing Empire in the decades to come.
Emperor Qianlong's letters, with their firm tone and unquestionable stance, expressed the attitude of the Qing Empire towards foreign countries. The contents of the letter, especially the rejection of the British trade request, reflected the Qianlong Emperor's belief in the self-sufficiency of the Qing Empire. Behind this belief, however, lies a lack of sensitivity to changes in the outside world and a lack of awareness of the power of new industries.
Emperor Qianlong's letters, although at the time regarded as a symbol of national dignity and etiquette, began to question this closed attitude as time passed. The Qing Empire's policy of closing the country to the outside world made the country miss the opportunity to connect with the world, and failed to understand and absorb Western science and technology and ideas in a timely manner. The continuation of this policy eventually led to the passivity and backwardness of the Qing Empire in the face of the Western powers.
Emperor Qianlong's letter also foreshadowed the future decline of the Qing Empire. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, the military and economic power of Western countries increased rapidly. The Qing Empire, on the other hand, was unable to effectively respond to the challenges of the outside world due to its long-term isolation from the outside world. By the middle of the nineteenth century, when British warships forcibly opened the gates of the Qing Dynasty, the self-confidence and complacency embodied in Emperor Qianlong's letters had become a historical irony.
Emperor Qianlong's letter is not only a historical document, but also a kind of enlightenment for future generations. It is a reminder that the strength of any country should not be based on self-isolation. The prosperity of a country requires an open mind and a strategy that keeps pace with the times. Emperor Qianlong's letter became an important turning point in the history of the Qing Empire, marking the end of an era and providing profound reflection and inspiration for later historical development.