Foreigners in China: Western Envoys

Author: Bai Yutao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: With the opening of China's doors in modern times, various foreigners came to China to preach, seek wealth, teach, and engage in politics. How did they impact China's history and society? Rare historical materials, vivid and insightful analysis, accompanied by over 100 precious images, recreate the Western atmosphere of modern China, allowing us to grasp the laws and truths of the development of Chinese social history. Use your eyes to experience the extraordinary world with them, and let their passion stir your heart for China. Hundreds of precious historical images bring to life the intersection of China and the world over more than a century. The history of foreigners coming to China can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. In 53 BC, the first year of the Ganlu era in the Western Han Dynasty, the Roman Empire mobilized seven legions, a force of 45,000, to launch a large-scale invasion of Parthia, now known as Iran. After invading Iran, the Roman army was surrounded and annihilated by the Parthian forces. Over 6,000 Roman soldiers managed to break out and fled to present-day Kazakhstan. In 33 BC, Chen Tang, the deputy commander of the Western Regions Protectorate of the Western Han Dynasty, led an expedition westward and encountered this Roman legion in battle, defeating and recruiting them. He brought them back to China and settled them in Yongchang County. Over time, these Roman soldiers gradually adopted Han surnames. Despite over a thousand years of assimilation, some descendants of the original Han-era Roman soldiers in the Yongchang region, especially those with surnames like Song, Zhang, Cao, Cai, and Li, still exhibit typical Mediterranean features in their appearance. Over the past century, foreigners have left a profound mark on Chinese society, and the Chinese people's understanding of foreigners has evolved from biased to objective. This process has also been one of the Chinese people's journey to understand and engage with the world, and from a positive perspective, it is an indispensable part of the progress of the Chinese nation. Here, we have selected more than 30 foreigners who have had a significant impact on Chinese society over the past century, presenting their stories in a vivid and illustrated manner, aiming to portray their characters in a three-dimensional way.