THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM." ESSAYS ON THE CHINESE QUESTION. BY SIR ROBERT HART,BART,G.C.M.G. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF CHINESE IMPERIAL CUSTOMS AND POSTS. 爵 WITH APPENDICES. 4 LONDON:CHAPMAN HALL,LD. 1901
• "THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM." ESSAYS ON THE CHINESE QUESTION. BY SIR ROBER.T HART, BAR.T., G.C.M.G., .. IXS.ECTOr. CIJlIIlAL OF CHINUE IMPEIUAL CUSTOMS AND POSTS. WITH APPENDICES. LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL, LD. 1901• ~ ..... , , ....... " .' , .. ~ .. '0 : ; , , , 0 .. . . , . , " o. " : ::. " ,,' ...... .. .... , , , . ' , , " , . ..... , ' .: :: .. ..... 00 ."",-..... ...... ' 0 ..... . .... , , .. ..... , , , ~ .... . • ~ I .. .. ,0' .......... .......... 0 0 , .. ..... .. " .... ::: ~
PREFACE. THE five papers wuhich make up this volume deal tentatively and progressively with a leading question of the day-how to treat China.They are republished in this form for the convenience of those who consider them either useful or interesting.They do not claim to be either exhaustive or infallible, and their main object is to promote a good understanding A Tsungli Yamen Circular to Chinese Ministers abroad and the Inspector General's Memorandum concerning Commercial Relations are appended to illustrate and complement the views these papers embody. ROBERT HART
PREFACE. THE jive papers wkick make up tkis volume deal tentatively and progressively witk a leading question of tke day-kow to treat Ckina. Tkey are republisked in tkis form for tke convenience of tkose wko consider tkem eitker useful or interesting. Tkey do not claim to be e#ker exkaustive or infallible, and tkeir main object is to promote a good understanding. A Tsungli Yamen Circular to' Ckinese Ministers abroad and tke Inspector General' s Memorandum concerning Commercial Relations are appended to illustrate and complement tke views tkese papers embody. ROBERT HART
、 CONTENTS. THE PEKING LEGATIONS:A NATIONAL UPRISING FAGE AND INTERNATIONAL EPISODE 女 CHINA AND HER FOREIGN TRADE····O IIL, CHINA AND RECONSTRUCTION:NOVEMBER,1900 84 IV. CHINA AND NON-CHINA ·186 V. THE BOXERS:I9oo,·· APPENDIX I-A TSUNGLI YAMEN CIRCULAR TO CHINESE MINISTERS ABROAD 7 APPENDIX II.-THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S MEMORANDUM CONCERNING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.8
CONTENTS. L PAG& THE PEKING LEGATIONS: A NATIONAL UPRISING AND INTERNATIONAL EPISODE I II. CHINA AND HER FOREIGN TRADE 60 III. CHINA AND RECONSTRUCTION: NOVEMBER, 1900 • .., IV. CHINA AND NON-CHINA • 116 V. THE BOXERS: • 900 . • 150 .. APPENDIX I.-A TSUNGLI Y AMEN CIRCULAR TO CHINESE MINISTERS ABROAD '7' APPENDIX IJ.-THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S MEMORANDUM CONCERNING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS . liz
THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM.” 1 THE PEKING LEGATIONS:A NATIONAL UPRISING AND INTERNATIONAL EPISODE We cannot say we had no warning.Already, in September,1898,after the famous coup by which the reforming Emperor Kwang Hsu was relegated to the nothingness of harem life,and the well-known Empress Dowager,who had ruled the Empire through two minorities(Tung-Chih in the sixties,and Kwang Hsu in the eighties), again came to the front,the attitude of Tung Fuh Hsiang's soldiers had disturbed the Lega- tions,accentuated the possible inseourity of the foreign community,and brought guards to Peking.In the autumn of the following year the Shanghai press called attention to the Boxer movement in Shantung-its genesis and aspirations,while the Tientsin Times was laughed at,in the spring of 1900,for its bold denunoiations of the same movement and for B
"THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM." I~ I THE PEKING LEGATIONS: A NATIONAL UPRISING AND INTERNATIONAL EPISODE WE oannot say we had no warning. Already, in September, 1898, after the famous ~..J?.. by which the reforming Emperor K wang Hsil was relegated to the nothingness of harem life, and the well-known Empress Dowager, who had ruled the Empire through two ~orities (Tung-Chih in the sixties, and Kwang HSil in the eighties), again oame to the front, the attitude of Tung Fuh Hsiang's soldiers had disturbed the Legations, acoentuated the possible inseourity of the foreign oommunity, and brought guards to Peking. In the autumn of the following year the Shanghai press oalled attention to the Boxer movement in Shantung - its genesis and aspirations, while the Tientsin Times was laughed a.t, in the spring of 1900, for its bold denunoia.tions of the sa.me movement and for B
"THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM" its prophecies of the harm therefrom to come as the society's operations crossed the frontier and began to spread in Peoheli.In faot,if there was one ory to which our ears had grown so accustomed as to mind it less than our own heart-beats,it was this Chinese ory of Wolf!" Rebellion was ever on the point of upsetting the dynasty-the Government was always on its last leg8-foreigners were to be exterminated on a given date-the powers were about to partition China-eto.,etc.,etc.:each year- nay,every month,the press or local rumour, Cassandra-like,foretold woe,and yet,barring a few episodes of various degrees of importance, the Government went on as before.The last half of the nineteenth century saw the Taeping rebellion,the“Arow”war,the Tientsin mas-. saore,the Franco-Chinese misunderstanding,the war with Japan,and the surrender of Cochin- China,Burma,Kiao Chow,Port Arthur,Wei-Hai. Wei,Kwang Chow Wan,eto.,to the foreigner. It also saw the rejection of Italy's Chekiang demands-and still life went on unchanged and the cry of Wolf grew more and more mean- ingless:s0 it was not surprising that many supposed the Boxer scare would fizzle out similarly and with a minimum of danger to either Chinese Government or foreign interests. At the same time some of us regarded the movement as very significant,but we did not
:I "THESE PROM THE LIND OPSIN/AI" its prophecies of the harm therefrom to oome as the society's operations crossed the frontier and began to spread in Pecheli. In fact, if there was one cry to which our ears had grown 80 accustomed as to mind it less than our own heart-beats, it was this Chinese cry of cc Wolf I " Rebellion was ever on the point of upsetting the dynasty-the Government was always on its last legs-foreigners were to be exterminated on a given date-the powers were about to partition Chine.-etc., etc., etc.: each yearnay, every month, the press or local rumour, Cassandra-like, foretold woe, and yet, barring a few episodes of various degrees of importance, the Government went on as before. The last half of the nineteenth oentury saw the Taeping rebellion, the "Arrow" war, the Tientsin massacre, the Franco-Chinese misunderstanding, the ·war with Japan, and the surrender of Cochin- 'China, Burma, Kiao Chow, Port Arthur, Wei-Rai. Wei, Kwang Chow Wan, etc., to the foreigner. It also saw the rejection of Italy's Chekiang demands-and still life went on unchanged and the cry of Wolf grew more and more meaningleBB: so it was not surprising that many supposed the Boxer scare would fizzle out similarly and with a minimum of dangel' to either Chinese Government or foreign interests. At the same time some of us regarded the movement as very signi1icant, but we did not (
THE PEKING LEGATIONS 3 expect it to beoome a danger before autumn: its earlier development was a genuine surprise. Critioism,to be of value,must be just,and must recognize whatever of fact or sentiment has been interwoven with what has ocourred -causing its birth,shaping its aims,interlacing its products,and justifying both inception and growth.For ages China had discountenanced the military spirit and was laughed at by us accordingly,and thus,ever sinoe interoourse under treaties has gone on,we have been lecturing the Government from our superior standpoint,telling it that it must grow strong -must create army and navy-must adopt foreign drill and foreign weapons-must prepare to hold its own against all comers-must remember Codlin”is its friend,nots“Short:” our words did not fall on olosed ears-effeot was given to selected bits of advioe-and various firms did a very remarkable and very remunerative trade in arms.But while the Chinese Government made a note of all the advice its generous friends placed at its dis- posal,and adopted some suggestions because they either suited it or it seemed polite and harmless to do so,it did not forget its own thirty centuries of historio teaching,and it looked at affairs abroad through its own eyes and the eyes of its representatives at foreign Courts,studying their reports and the printed
THE PEKING LEGATIONS 3 expeot it to beoome a danger before aut~: its earlier development was a genuine surprise. Critioism, to be of vaJue, must be just, a.nd ....... must recognize whatever of fact or sentiment has been interwoven with what has oocurred -causing its birth, shaping its aims, interlacing its products, and justifying both inceP:tion and growth. For ages China had discountenanced the military spirit and was laughed at by us accordingly, and thus, ever since intercourse under treaties has gone on, we have been lecturing the Government from our superior standpoint, telling it that it must grow strong -must oreate army and navy-must adopt foreign drill and foreign weapons-must prepare to hold its own against a.ll comers-must remember U Codlin " is its friend, not " Short: " our words did not fall on closed ears-eft'ect wa.s given to selected bits of advice-and various firms did a. very remarkable and very remunerative trade in arms. But while the Chinese Government made a note of a.ll the advice its generous friends placed at its disposal, and adopted some suggestions because they either suited it or it seemed polite and harmless to do so, it did not forget its own thirty centuries of historic teaching, and it looked at affairs abroad through its own eyes and the eyes of its representatives at foreign Courts, studying their reports a.nd the printed .
4 THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM utterances of books,magazines,and newspapers. The teaching thus reoeived began gradually to orystallize in the belief that a huge standing army on European lines would be wasteful and dangerous,and that a volunteer association- as suggested by the way all China ranged itself on the Government side in the Franco-Chinese affair-covering the whole Empire,offering an outlet for restless spirits and fostering a united and patriotic feeling,would be more reliable and effective.The idea seemed to receive immediate confirmation from without in the stand a handful of burghers were making in the Transvaal:hence the Boxer Association, patriotio in origin,justifiable in its fundamental idea,and in point of fact the outoome of either foreign advice or the study of foreign methods. In the meanwhile the seeds of other growths were being sown in the soil of the Chinese mind,private and offioial,and were producing fruit each after its kind:various commercial stipulations sanotioned by treaties had not taken into full account Chinese conditions,diffioulties, methods,and requirements,and their enforce- ment did not make foreign commerce more agreeable to the eye of either provincial or metropolitan officials.Missionary propagandism was at work all over the country,and its fruits, Chinese Christians,did not win the esteem or goodwill of their fellows,for,first of all,they
4 uTHESE FROM THE LA.ND OF SINIM" utterances of books, magazines, and newspapers. The teaching thus received began gradually to crystallize in the belief that a huge standing army on European lines would be wastefal and dangerous, and that a volunteer associationas suggested by the way all China ranged itself on the Government side in the Franoo-Chinese affair-covering the whole Empire, offering an outlet for restless. spirits and fostering a united and patriotio feeling, would be more reliable and effective. The idea seemed to receive immediate confirmation from without in the stand a handful of burghers were making in the Transvaal: hence the Boxer Association, patriotio in origin, justi1iable in its fundamental idea, and in point of fact the outcome of either foreign advice or the study of foreign methods. In the meanwhile the seeds of other growths were being sown in the soil of the Ohinese mind, private and official, and were producing fruit each after its kind: various commercial stipulations sanctioned by treaties had not taken , \ \. into full account Chinese conditions, difficulties, methods, and requirements, and their enforcement did not make foreign commerce more agreeable to the eye of either provincial or metropolitan officials. . Missionary propagandism \ was at work all over the country, and its fruits, Chinese Christians, did not win the esteem or goodwill of their fe~ows, for, first of all, they
THE PEKING LEGATIONS 5 offended public feeling by deserting Chinese for foreign oults,next they irritated their fellow- villagers by refusing,as Christians,to take part in or share the expenses of village festivals, and lastly,as Christians again,they shocked the official mind,and popular opinion also,by getting their religious teachers,more especially the Roman Catholics,to interfere on their behalf in litigation.This state of affairs became specially talked about in Shantung,the native province of the Confucius of over two thousand years ago and now the sphere of influence of one of the Church's most energetic bishops.The arrangement by which missionaries were to ride in green chairs and be recognized as the equals of Governors and Viceroys had its special signification and underlined mis- sionary aspiration,telling people and officials in every province what they had to expect from it.On the top of this came the Kiao Chow affair and the degradation and cashiering of a really able,popular,and clean-handed official,the Governor Li Ping Heng,suoceeded by the cessions of territory at Port Arthur, Wei-Hai-Wei,Kwang Chow Wan,eto.,eto., ete.,and these doings,followed by the successful stand made against the Italian demand for a port on the Coast of Chekiang,helped to force the Chinese Government to see that concession had gone far enough and that opposition to
THE PEKING LEGATIONS 5 offended publio feeling by, deserting Chinese for foreign oults, next they irritated their fellowe villagers by remsing, as Christians, to take part in or share the expenses of village festivaJs, and lastly, as Christians again, they shooked the official mind, and popular opinion also, by getting their religious teachers, more especially the Roman Catholics, to interfere on their " behalf in litigation. This state of affairs became specially talked about in Shantung, the native province of the Confuoius of over two thousand years ago and now the sphere of influenoe of one of the Churoh's most energetic bishops. The arrangement by which missionaries were to ride in green ohairs and be recognized as the equals of Governors and Viceroys had its speoial signification and underlined missionary aspiration, telling people and offioials in every province what they had to expect from it. On the top of this came the Kiao Chow affair and the degradation and cashiering of a rea.lly able, popular, and olean-handed official, the Governor Li Ping Heng, succeeded by the oessions of territory at Port Arthur, Wei-Ha.i-Wei, Kwang Chow Wan, etc., eto., etc., and these doings, followed by the suocessful stand made against the Italian demand for a port on the Coast of Chekiang, helped to foroe the Chinese Government to see that oonoession had gone far enough and that opposition to
6 "THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIMT foreign enoroachment might now and henceforth be the key-note of its policy.Li Ping Heng had taken up his private residence in the south-eastern corner of Pecheli,close to the Shantung frontier,and the Boxer movement, already started in a tentative way in the latter province,now received an immense impetus from the occurrences alluded to,and was care- fully nurtured and fostered by that cashiered official-more respected than ever by his countrymen.Other high officials were known to be in sympathy with the new departure and to give it their strongest approval and support,such as Hsu Tung,Kang I,and men of the same stamp and standing,and their 、 advice to the throne was to try conclusions with foreigners and yield no more to their demands.However mistaken may have been their reading of foreigners,and however wrong their manner of aotion,these men-eminent in their own country for their learning and services-were animated by patriotism,were enraged at foreign dictation,and had the courage of their conviotions:we must do them the justice of allowing they were actuated by high motives and love of country-but that does not always or necessarily mean political ability or highest wisdom. Thus it came to pass that a novel attempt to strengthen China took form and shape;it was
• __ · ... _:::;:..;;;;;;;;;;iiiiiiiiiiii ____ ' ~WVl" ....... ~ ..... ~ 6 "THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM" foreign encroachment might now and henceforth be the key-note of its policy. Li Ping H~ng had taken up his private residence in the south-eastern comer of Pecheli, close to the Shantung frontier, and the Boxer movement, already started in a. tentative way in the latter province, now received an immense impetus from the occurrences a.lluded to, and was carefully nurtured a.nd fostered by that ca.shiered official-more respected than ever by his countrymen. Other high officials were known to be in sympathy with the new departure and to give it their strongest approval and support, such as HSll Tung, Rang I, and men of the same stamp and standing, and their a.dvice to the throne was to try conclusions with foreigners and yield no mOl'e to their demands. However mistaken may have been their reading of foreigners, and however wrong their manner of aotion, these men-eminent in their own oountry for their learning and sernces-were animated by patriotism, were enraged at foreign dictation, and had the courage of their convictions: we must do them the justice of allowing they were actuated by high motives and love of country-but that does not always or necessarily mean politioal ability or highest wisdom. Thus it oame to pass that a novel attempt to strengthen China took form and shape; it was
THE PEKING LEGATIONS more or less conceived on foreign lines and the result of a study of foreign conditions,but,apart from what it comprised of the patriotio and the justifiable,it aimed at change as little as possible. It grafted a carefully assimilated foreign idea- volunteering-on as carefully prepared a Chinese trunk,and its growth convinced the Govern- ment that it could be relied on to relieve the country from foreign dictation if not to drive the foreigner entirely out of it.That it was patriotio in its origin and justifiable in muoh that it aimed at cannot be questioned, and cannot be too much insisted on,but,like other popular risings,its popular organization and formidable development and widespread. growth made it more likely to lead than to. follow,while the claims of the initiated to. something like supernatural powers in the. matters of movement and invulnerability,ex- hibited first before Prince Tuan and then before the Emperor and Empress Dowager,won for it a standing and respect which placed it on a plane of its own and went far towards giving it a free hand for its operations.Something akin to hypnotism or mesmerism seems connected with Boxer initiation and action:the members bow to the south-east,reoite certain mystical sentences,and then,with closed eyes,fall on their baoks;after this they arise,eyes glazed and staring,possessed of the strength and agility
THE PEKING LEGATIONS 7 more or less oonoeived on foreign lines and the result of a study of foreign oonditions, but, apart from what it oomprised of the patriotio and the justifiable, it aimed at ohange as little as possible. It grafted a oarefully assimiIated foreign ideavolunteering-on as oarefully prepared a Chinese trunk, and its growth oonvinoed the Government that it oould be relied on to relieve the oountry from foreign dictation if not to drive the foreigner entirely out of it. That it was patriotio in its origin and justifiable in much that it aimed ~t oannot be questionedt and oannot be too muoh insisted on, but, lik& other popular risings, its popular organizatioDi. and formidable development and widespread. growth made it more likely to lead than tofollow, while the claims of the initiated to· something like supernatural powers in tho. matters of movement and invulnerability, exhibited first before Prinoe Tuan and then befol'& the Emperor and Empress Dowager, won for it a. standing and respeot which plaoed it on a plane of its own and went far towards giving it a free hand for its operations. Something aJdn to hypnotism or mesmerism seems conneoted with Boxer initiation and action: the members bow to the south-east, recite oertain mystioal sentences, and then, with olosed eyes, fall on their backs; after this they arise, eyes glazed and staring, possessed of the strength and agility