Late Qing Ocean Records -- Stories of American Missionary, Man Da and the Li Family: Stories of American Missionary, Man Da and the Li Family

Author: (USA) Lee (Lee, D.S.)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: The author's great-grandfather, Lee Zhixiang, was a trusted assistant to Lin Zexu. This book, based on notes, records, photographs, and other materials left by the author's family a century ago, presents in a narrative form the public and secret stories of the Anglo-Chinese conflict surrounding the opium trade in 1838. It provides a panoramic introduction to the situation of the Thirteen Hongs in Guangzhou, particularly detailing the activities of American missionary traders. It reveals the inner story of the romance and marriage between Qing official Lee Zhixiang and Susan, the daughter of an American missionary. It uncovers the suffering and inhumane conditions experienced by Chinese laborers in the United States, as learned by Lee Zhixiang there. It vividly describes the author's grandfather, Lee Quanshi, and his firsthand experiences and observations of the Boxer Rebellion, the Russo-Japanese War fought on Chinese soil, the Chengdu massacre during the late Qing Dynasty, and his secret joining of the Tongmenghui in Japan, as well as his interactions with Huang Xing and Sun Yat-sen. The text is straightforward and easy to read, with meticulous and detailed descriptions of the plot. The over 100 exquisite oil paintings and documentary photographs in the book, in addition to those passed down through the author's family, were acquired by the author at great expense for the right to publish them. Many of these paintings and photographs are being published for the first time, offering a true record of late Qing society, culture, and politics. They not only hold high artistic value but also possess significant collectible value.