Home / Renditions / Publications / Renditions Journal / Nos. 53 & 54
Renditions nos. 53 & 54 (Spring & Autumn 2000)
Chinese Impressions of the West
From the mid to late 19th century, educated Chinese as well as government officials began exploring aspects of Western civilization, their purpose to preserve China’s nationhood. Excerpts from petitions, diaries and travelogues reveal the observations and experiences of government officials, diplomats, dissidents, scholars and students, those who journeyed to the West, as well as those who stayed behind. The issue also includes depictions of Westerners from popular journals and magazines.
‘Renditions has pulled off yet another coup in masterminding this special double issue devoted to reports from the West by Chinese travellers in the 19th century.’
—South China Morning Post
‘The early impressions and historical events continue to influence Chinese thinking today’
—L.Z. Yuan, Senior Advisor, China Program,
Asia Foundation.
274 pages
Table of Contents
| Preface | v | |
| Major Events in China’s Foreign Relations, 1838–1916 | 1 | |
| COURT AND INTELLECTUAL REACTION | ||
| Wei Yuan | Selections from An Illustrated World Geography Translated by Tam Pak Shan |
14 |
| Xu Jiyu | Selections from A Concise World Geography Translated by Tam Pak Shan |
18 |
| Prince Gong et al. | Memorial to Emperor Xianfeng Translated by D. E. Pollard |
22 |
| Wang Kaiyun | A Memorial on Barbarian Affairs: excerpts Translated by Burton Watson |
27 |
| Feng Guifen | Selections from Petitions from Jiaobin lu Translated by Eva Hung |
33 |
| Zheng Guanying | Four Essays: excerpts Translated by Chu Chiyu |
39 |
| OFFICIALS ABROAD | ||
| Recorded by Zeng Jize | An Imperial Audience Translated by Eva Hung |
52 |
| Zhigang | Selections from Record of the First Diplomatic Mission to the West Translated by Sally Church and Susan Daruvala |
55 |
| Li Gui | Selections from New Records of Travels Around the World Translated by Lily Lee |
62 |
| Guo Songdao | Selections from London and Paris Diary Translated by Eva Hung |
74 |
| Li Xihong | Selections from Personal Records of Travels in Britain Translated by Alice W. Cheang |
84 |
| Zhang Deyi | Selections from Strange Tales from Over the Ocean Translated by D. E. Pollard |
94 |
| Zeng Jize | Selections from Diplomatic Mission to the West Translated by Mabel lee |
106 |
| Li Fengbao | Selections from Diary of Mission to Germany Translated by D. E. Pollard |
111 |
| Dai Hongci | Selections from Diplomatic Mission to Nine Countries Translated by Martha P. Y. Cheung |
119 |
| Li Shuchang | Selections from Recollections of the West Translated by Duncan Campbell |
126 |
| Xue Fucheng | Selections from Journal of Diplomatic Mission to Four European Countries Translated by D. E. Pollard |
132 |
| Wang Zhichun | Selections from Notes from a Mission to Russia Translated by Ian Chapman |
140 |
| Qi Zhaoxi | Selections from Diary of Travels in America Translated by Brian Holton |
145 |
| Xu Jianyin | Selections from Notes on Travels in Europe Translated by |
149 |
| ‘MY EYES WERE OPENED’ | ||
| Xie Qinggao | Selections from Jottings of Sea Voyages Translated by Mark Caltonhill |
159 |
| Wang Tao | Selections from Jottings of Carefree Travels Translated by Ian Chapman |
164 |
| Ma Jianzhong | Letter to His Excellency Li Hongzhang: excerpts Translated by Kam Louie |
174 |
| Song Xiaolian | Selections from Notes on a Journey to the Northern Borders Translated by Anna Di Toro with D. E. Pollard |
181 |
| Xue Youfu | Letter to an American School Friend | 185 |
| Kang Youwei | Selections from Notes on Travels Around Europe Translated by Daniel Kane |
189 |
| Liang Qichao | Selections from Diary of Travels through the New World Translated by Janet Ng, Earl Tai and Jesse Dudley |
199 |
| Shan Shili | Selections from Travels in the Year Guimao Translated by the Editorial Team |
214 |
| Mu Xiangyue | Selections from Autobiography of Ouchu at Fifty Translated by Eva Hung |
219 |
| Woo Hoong Niok | Selections from Autobiography of Rev. H. N. Woo | 227 |
| FROM THE GRASSROOTS | ||
| Cao Sheng | Selections from An Ordeal Under the Barbarians Translated by Eva Hung |
232 |
| Chen Tianhua | Selections from Alarm Bells Translated by Ian Chapman |
238 |
| Anonymous | The Westerner’s Ten Laments: excerpts Translated by Ian Chapman |
247 |
| ———— | Anti-Christian Propaganda Anonymous: Ghost-busting Song Translated by Eva Hung Anonymous: An Appeal to the Hunan Public Translated by Tam Pak Shan |
250 |
| ———— | Balloons and Flying Machines: excerpts from Dianshizhai Pictorial Translated by D. E. Pollard |
256 |
| ———— | Selections from Youth Magazine Translated by Alice W. Cheang |
263 |
| Notes on Contributors | 268 | |
| Book Notices | 272 | |
Sample Reading
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Selections from Strange Tales from Over the Ocean (excerpt)
By Zhang Deyi
Translated by D. E. Pollard
TONGZHI 8th year 2nd month 6th day [18 March 1869, Paris].
To end these excerpts on a happy note, Zhang Deyi wrote this after a convivial conversation over drinks with a dozen men and women of several nationalities:
I reflected that the five continents in the world have populations of countless millions who are separated by distances of thousands of miles. If you listen to their speech, it mostly grates on the ears. As to their tastes, invariably they differ like flesh from fowl. The tropics and the ice-caps experience the extremes of heat and cold; steam trains and iron bridges extend to where carriages and boats cannot reach. Some differences are such as the mind could not have imagined. Yet though people’s clothes may differ eccentrically, what makes one person glad makes another glad, what makes one person sorrow makes another sorrow: feelings do not vary. Though customs are not the same, what is good everyone thinks is good, what is evil everyone thinks is evil: human nature is the same. From the point of view of high heaven, far and near are indeed one whole, all the world is one family. On my missions I have now travelled widely overseas, seen what I had not seen before; I can say already that my voyages have not been in vain. Furthermore, in my study of foreign ways I have also had them explained to me by good friends, and my eyes and ears have been opened. As just now when we met to converse together, the talk was genial and the mood was of trust and familiarity. Surely there is no joy so great! Surely there is no joy so great! It is because I was so pleased that I have made this note.
Selections from Journal of Diplomatic Mission to Four European Countries (excerpt)
By Xue Fucheng
Translated by D. E. Pollard
Confucianism vs. Christianity
In their moral exertions, in their self-denial and love of others, Christians in the West do not differ markedly from Confucians, yet the New and Old Testaments and other books the church publishes are full of fallacies, distortions and fantastic claims that even Chinese popular novels like The Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West would not descend to. A child could see that what they say is untrue.
Thus it can be seen that the Way of the Sage, being unbiased and fair-minded, has a direct appeal to the human heart. In comparison with Confucianism, Christianity is no more than crystal set against jade, as even westerners are aware. Admitted, Yang Zhu, Mo Zi, Lao Zi and Buddhism did have their day in China, but in the course of time they faded and gave out, while the teachings of Confucius have been like the sun and moon crossing the heavens, shining more brightly with the passing eras. As long as the other continents have no contact with China they will go their way undisturbed; but if they do have contact, then their teachings will converge with ours. Hence I am convinced that Christianity will decline, and Confucianism will spread to the West.
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