Libby Burgon

Signature Assignment
History 1510
10/29/15
In the Chien Lung Emperor's letter to King George III, there are many examples that
reflect Chinas attitudes toward other countries as well as their political worldviews. In the
context of this letter, it is clear that the emperor, and by extension the Chinese, held feelings of
superiority regarding the English specifically among other countries. Not only does the emperor
continually degrade King George III and his country, he also refuses the kings requests to trade,
acquire various Chinese territories, and allow English missionaries to interact with Chinese
citizens. It is also apparent, given the examples, that China held an elitist worldview.
The most notable evidence for Chinas belittling attitude towards foreigners overall is
the way that the emperor compares himself to the king and their respective countries. In the
second paragraph, The emperors opening line states, I have perused your memorial, in
reference to the kings envoy and produce sent by, in the emperors words, the kings humble
desire to partake of the benefits of our civilization. Due to the context given in class, memorial
is translated from a Chinese word to mean something offered or presented to an emperor, or
someone of high status, by a government official, or more broadly, someone with a clearly lower
status. Here we see that the emperor views these gestures from afar as offerings from someone
beneath him in status: King George. He cements this idea by stating the kings motive: to
partake of the benefits of our civilization, inferring that these benefits are not normally available
in England, and that this humble desire stems from the knowledge that China is a country so
great that the King must reach above his status to partake.
In the conclusion of the letter, after the emperor denies all of the kings requests, he
offers the possibility that it was not the kings will himself but the proposals of his ambassador
directly, that the above proposals have been wantonly made by your Ambassador on his own
responsibility, or peradventure you yourself are ignorant of our dynastic regulations and had no

intention of transgressing them when you expressed these wild ideas and hopes. This is a
layered insult to the kings authority and intelligence. First, he implies that the kings
subordinates do not follow his orders but do, essentially, whatever they want. If a king had so
little control and/or respect from his subjects it would truly reflect poorly on him as a leader.
Second, the emperor imagines that the king is ignorant of our dynastic regulations, which is to
say that King George III does not know how to appropriately navigate business relations. This is
viewed by the emperor as a serious fault, as he uses the word transgression. Third, when the
emperor states these wild ideas and hopes in reference to King George IIIs proposals, he is
dismissing the kings stature and likening him to a child or someone who is not a rational agent
to be taken seriously.
The emperor closes with a comparison to his own governance, the ordinances of my
Celestial Empire are strict in the extreme, and the local officials, both civil and military, are
bound reverently to obey the law of the land. After insulting the kings competences, the Chien
Lung Emperor illustrates how his leadership is a stark contrast: his rules are strict in the
extreme and his men are bound reverently to obey. With the use of the word reverently
usually found in a religious context, we see an extended allusion to divine morals. When King
George III is associated with transgression and Chinese officials are reverent, it can be
inferred that the Chien Lung Emperor sees himself as a deity, whom defying would be
considered a sin. The emperor has opened and closed his letter to the king by rhetorically
putting himself above him.
Using this letter as evidence, it can be proven that Chinas superior attitude did not end
with England, but extended to at least all of Europe. The Chien Lung Emperor states (4),
Hitherto, the barbarian merchants of Europe have had a definite locality assigned to
them at Aomen for residence and trade, and have been forbidden to encroach an inch
beyond the limits assigned to that locality.... If these restrictions were withdrawn, friction

would inevitably occur between the Chinese and your barbarian subjects, and the results
would militate against the benevolent regard that I feel towards you.
Here The Chien Lung Emperor is addressing the request for a site for England in
Canton City, and in this passage it is apparent that the emperor openly displays his disdain for
Europeans. Referring to European and English merchants as barbarians throughout the letter
is arguably the most blatant example of the social distance China puts between itself and
Europe. Continuing with the Emperors words assigned and forbidden it can be safe to
assume that there was little negotiation on Europes part for these terms of agreement. Finally,
after categorizing European merchants as barbarians, the Chien Lung Emperor insinuates
that this is not a derogatory but appropriate term for them when he implies that he holds them in
benevolent regards. For the emperor, to call Europeans barbaric is not an insult that brings
them below their status as civilized, but is instead a simple fact. What qualifies as civil in
Chinese culture is not synonymous with European life and therefore, barbaric is exactly where
Europeans should be. The Emperor goes on to elaborate that it is not just Europe that rests
beneath China, but the world, moreover, our dynasty, swaying the myriad races of the globe,
extends the same benevolence towards all. The Chien Lung Emperor uses this almost backhanded-compliment style of rhetoric to openly display his position with China, or the Celestial
Empire, above all others.
The barbarian references can also be interpreted to mean that China regards itself as
men of naturally superior caliber. This elitist worldview is also prevalent in this passage,
pertaining to the gifts from King George III,
Swaying the wide world, I have but one aim in view, namely, to maintain a perfect
governance and to fulfil the duties of the State: strange and costly objects do not interest
me. If I have commanded that the tribute offerings sent by you, O King, are to be
accepted, this was solely in consideration for the spirit which prompted you to dispatch
them from afar.

In this passage, the emperor explains that the only reason he accepted the kings
strange and costly objects was out of principle, as they were sent from a great
distance. This has nothing to do with building a relationship with England, as the gifts
assumed intended purpose were, or even acknowledging the king himself as a
respected leader, but instead it the sheer goodwill of the emperor to accept these
irrelevant gifts to appreciate the spirit to dispatch them from afar.
In the letter, the Chien Lung Emperor describes Englands strange and costly
objects as some of the things Europe can offer, such as exposure to religion,
worshipping the Lord in Heaven (presumably Christianity,) along with produce. These
things are superfluous to China, as they have no need to trade with any other nation,
our Celestial Empire possesses all things in prolific abundance and lacks no product
within its own borders. There was therefore no need to import the manufactures of
outside barbarians in exchange for our own produce. The Chien Lung Emperor
describes China in the late 1700s as completely self-sufficient and equally unimpressed
with foreign accomplishments. Conversely, China offers tea, silk and porcelain as
absolute necessities for European nations (eighth paragraph), as well as designated
places in China for international trade and gifts for the visiting Ambassador and
company. These things, as far as the letter indicates, are practical resources that are
sought after by England.
In this letter, a clear and consistent message has been conveyed by the Chien
Lung Emperor to King George III. By constantly belittling him and his power, calling all of
Europe barbarians, asserting that China is naturally monumentally further in civilization,
refusing all of Englands requests, and despite all, continually offering England luxurious
gifts as a token of Chinas generosity, the emperor has made his case that he views
China vastly above all other nations.

Works Cited

"Modern History Sourcebook: Qian Long: Letter to George III, 1793."Internet

Modern History Sourcebook. Ed. Paul Halsall. Fordham University Press, 1 Aug.
1997. Web.