Primary Source Document with Questions (DBQs) onTWO EDICTS FROM THE QIANLONG EMPEROR,ON THE OCCASION OF LORD MACARTNEY’S MISSION TO CHINA, SEPTEMBER 1793beenestablished,sothatevenifyourvesselsweretoproceedthi<strong>the</strong>r,<strong>the</strong>ywouldhaveno means of disposing of <strong>the</strong>ir cargoes. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, no interpreters are available, soyou would have no means of explaining your wants, and nothing but generalinconveniencewouldresult.For<strong>the</strong>future,asin<strong>the</strong>past,Idecreethatyourrequestisrefusedandthat<strong>the</strong>tradeshallbelimitedtoMacao.2. Therequestthatyourmerchantsmayestablisharepositoryin<strong>the</strong>capitalofmyEmpire<strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> storing and sale of your produce is even more impracticable than <strong>the</strong> last. Mycapitalis<strong>the</strong>hubandcentreaboutwhichallquartersof<strong>the</strong>globerevolve.Itsordinancesaremostaugustanditslawsarestrictin<strong>the</strong>extreme.ThesubjectsofourdependencieshaveneverbeenallowedtoopenplacesofbusinessinPeking.Foreigntradehashi<strong>the</strong>rtobeen conducted at Macao, because it is conveniently near <strong>the</strong> sea, and <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e animportantga<strong>the</strong>ringplace<strong>for</strong><strong>the</strong>shipsofallnationssailingtoand<strong>from</strong>.IfwarehouseswereestablishedinPeking,<strong>the</strong>remotenessofyourcountrylyingfarto<strong>the</strong>northwestofmy capital, would render transport extremely difficult. Possessing facilities at Macao,younowask<strong>for</strong>fur<strong>the</strong>rprivilegesatPeking,althoughourdynastyobserves<strong>the</strong>severestrestrictionsrespecting<strong>the</strong>admissionof<strong>for</strong>eignerswithinitsboundaries,andhasneverpermitted<strong>the</strong>subjectsofdependenciestocross<strong>the</strong>Empire’sbarriersandsettleatwillamongst<strong>the</strong>Chinesepeople.Thisrequestisalsorefused.3. Regardingyournation’sworshipof<strong>the</strong>LordofHeaven,itis<strong>the</strong>samereligionasthatofo<strong>the</strong>r European nations. Ever since <strong>the</strong> beginning of history, sage <strong>Emperor</strong>s and wiserulershavebestowedonChinaamoralsystemandinculcatedacode,which<strong>from</strong>timeimmemorial has been religiously observed by <strong>the</strong> myriads of my subjects. There hasbeennohankeringafterheterodoxdoctrines.Even<strong>the</strong>European(missionary)officialsinmycapitalare<strong>for</strong>biddentoholdintercoursewithChinesesubjects;<strong>the</strong>yarerestrictedwithin<strong>the</strong>limitsof<strong>the</strong>irappointedresidences,andmaynotgoaboutpropagating<strong>the</strong>irreligion. The distinction between Chinese and barbarian is most strict, and yourAmbassador’s request that barbarians shall be given full liberty to disseminate <strong>the</strong>irreligionisutterlyunreasonable.Itmaybe,OKing,that<strong>the</strong>aboveproposalshavebeenwantonlymadebyyourAmbassadoronhisownresponsibility,orperhapsyouyourselfareignorantofourdynasticregulationsandhadnointentionoftransgressing<strong>the</strong>mwhenyouexpressed<strong>the</strong>sewildideasandhopes.Ihaveevershown<strong>the</strong>greatestcondescensionto<strong>the</strong>tributemissionsofallStateswhichsincerelyyearnafter<strong>the</strong>blessingsofcivilization,soastomanifestmykindlyindulgence.IhaveevengoneoutofmywaytograntanyrequestswhichwereinanywayconsistentwithChineseusage.Aboveall,uponyou,wholiveinaremoteandinaccessibleregion,faracross<strong>the</strong>spacesofocean,butwho have shown your submissive loyalty by sending this tribute mission, I have heapedbenefits far in excess of those accorded to o<strong>the</strong>r nations. But <strong>the</strong> demands presented by yourEmbassyarenotonlyacontradictionofdynastictradition,butwouldbeutterlyunproductiveofgoodresulttoyourself,besidesbeingquiteimpracticable.Ihaveaccordinglystated<strong>the</strong>factstoyouindetail,anditisyourboundendutyreverentlytoappreciatemyfeelingsandtoobey<strong>Asia</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Educators</strong> l Columbia University l http://afe.easia.columbia.edu Page 6 of 7
Primary Source Document with Questions (DBQs) onTWO EDICTS FROM THE QIANLONG EMPEROR,ON THE OCCASION OF LORD MACARTNEY’S MISSION TO CHINA, SEPTEMBER 1793<strong>the</strong>seinstructionshence<strong>for</strong>ward<strong>for</strong>alltime,sothatyoumayenjoy<strong>the</strong>blessingsofperpetualpeace.If,after<strong>the</strong>receiptofthisexplicitdecree,youlightlygiveearto<strong>the</strong>representationsofyoursubordinatesandallowyourbarbarianmerchantstoproceedtoChekiangandTientsin,with<strong>the</strong>objectoflandingandtrading<strong>the</strong>re,<strong>the</strong>ordinancesofmyCelestialEmpirearestrictin<strong>the</strong>extreme,and<strong>the</strong>localofficials,bothcivilandmilitary,areboundreverentlytoobey<strong>the</strong>lawof<strong>the</strong>land.Shouldyourvesselstouchshore,yourmerchantswillassuredlyneverbepermittedtolandortoreside<strong>the</strong>re,butwillbesubjecttoinstantexpulsion.Inthateventyourbarbarianmerchantswillhavehadalongjourney<strong>for</strong>nothing.Donotsaythatyouwerenotwarnedinduetime!Tremblinglyobeyandshownonegligence!Aspecialmandate!<strong>Asia</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Educators</strong> l Columbia University l http://afe.easia.columbia.edu Page 7 of 7