Qianlong's letter to the King of England is extremely ignorant
One day in 1792, a senior of the British East India Company was re-reading the records and estimates of the Chinese market, and a thought began to flash through his mind - could this mysterious ancient country, with its enormous potential, be the key to opening the door to the British Isles**?
And so a great mission was born, and they sailed to the Far East, hoping to open up this long-closed land and begin an extraordinary correspondence.
The Journey of a Group of Strangers: The Founding and Departure of the Macartney Mission.
The British East India Company's dispatch of this large Macartney delegation to China coincided with a period of rapid economic growth in Britain after the Industrial Revolution. The UK needs a new market to absorb excess capacity, and the mysterious Chinese market is becoming a favoured destination for businessmen. However, the long-term policy of seclusion made it difficult for British businessmen to enter China, so it was decided to send a delegation to officially explore the Chinese market.
Macartney's expedition consisted of more than 700 people, many of them experts and scientists, with the clear aim of opening China's doors. The team includes geosurveyors, language interpreters, doctors, and scientists of all kinds. They are selected and trained to be on standby for their missions. They had five pacesetters by their side, equipped with the most advanced ** at that time, which reflected the determination of the expedition to China.
The journey was long and full of unknowns, but the internal discipline of the expedition was fierce, and the charts were constantly recorded on a daily basis. Faced with rough seas and disease, they eventually reached the coast of Guangdong, China. The exotic lands ahead are full of curious inhabitants and suspicious **. The missionaries jumped over the side of the ship, made their first contact, and began their journey north.
People are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Macartney delegation to China.
According to an agreement with Emperor Qianlong, Macartney's delegation camped in the Old Summer Palace on the outskirts of Beijing. This famous royal palace is an eye-opener for British tourists, who are fascinated by the architecture and landscape of China. The arrival of foreign envoys was equally interesting to the Chinese population and authorities, with some speculating about their origins and others being wary of foreign clothing and **.
Macartney selected some of the main staff to go north, while others remained in the Old Summer Palace. It was a diplomatic mission, and Macartney knew he could not afford to miss this rare opportunity to meet. He prepared watches and tech gadgets as gifts to demonstrate Britain's industrial prowess. The group traveled through the mountains and rivers of China, passing through towns and villages, and witnessed the magnificent scenery of this vast country. One day in mid-September, they finally arrived in Rehe, and the summer palace of Emperor Qianlong was ready, waiting for the arrival of an uninvited guest.
A quick historical dialogue: the first meeting of Chinese and British cultures.
In the Garden of Ten Thousand Trees, Emperor Qianlong sat on the dragon chair, surrounded by hundreds of civil and military officials. After an awkward rehearsal, Macartney gave an unusual greeting on this solemn occasion. He presented his credentials and gifts with both hands, Qianlong smiled and nodded, and then ordered them to be taken down. In the brief conversation that followed, Macartney tried to express his respect and friendship in thick Chinese, and the Qianlong Emperor politely responded and welcomed his visit.
Despite the simplicity of the conversation, this is the first intimate encounter between Chinese and Western cultures. The Macartney delegation expressed friendship by respecting Chinese court etiquette, while Emperor Qianlong's polite response indicated that China wanted to maintain diplomatic etiquette. This scene has become a historical picture for future generations to enjoy.
The Macartney delegation failed in negotiations.
But the main purpose of this diplomatic mission is to open the door to China and Britain. Macartney's team was happy to offer the Qianlong Emperor more ports and warehouses. They translated the request into standard Chinese and presented it in a clear summary. Instead of responding directly, the Qianlong Emperor consulted his ministers and carefully considered the implications of the proposals for China's traditional diplomatic system.
In the end, Qianlong decided to reject all Macartney's requests because of these requests"Difficult to achieve"。It was a sudden blow to the British mission. They originally thought that China was eager to **, but now they realize that the descendants of Dayu are not interested in foreign affairs, so they insist on closing the country. This situation made Macartney see the huge difference in the interests of China and the United Kingdom, and also made them realize how difficult it is to open up the Chinese market.
A letter is worth a thousand words: a handwritten reply from the Qianlong Emperor.
Before returning to England, Macartney's delegation received an unexpected gift: a letter written by the Qianlong Emperor himself to King George III of England. The 976-word letter was carefully reviewed by ministers to ensure that every word was correct. In the letter, the Qianlong Emperor expressed his satisfaction and, at the same time, rejected the British demands, firmly defended the traditional policy of China, confidently emphasized"Four seas"Not necessary.
Despite his disappointment, Macartney publicly acknowledged the importance of the letter. This letter not only satisfies his request, but also expresses China's diplomatic stance, and is an important historical material for the study of China's foreign policy. With this experience, the mission began to report what it had seen and heard to the British**, and this letter was the most important part of the report.
When the Macartney delegation returned home, their experiences became the focus of the British public. The interest and curiosity of the British merchants in this mysterious land deepened, and they were frustrated by the harshness of the Qianlong Emperor. Growing calls for the opening of the Chinese market eventually led to the historic Opium War, which brought new conflicts and distortions to Sino-British relations.
We cannot help but wonder how far-reaching the historic visit of the Macartney mission will be in future generations. It opened the door to cultural exchange between the East and the West, but it also revealed the huge gap between the interests of China and the UK. The Liaison Letter witnessed the transformation of a great power from prosperity to decline, and at the same time supported the major transformation of this ancient empire towards modernization. Looking back at history, we can find inspiration, seek understanding in the midst of differences, and create new harmony in the midst of change.