Hart and Early Modernization in China (Hart's Diary 1863-1866)

Author: Katharine F. Bruner
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Hedden served as the Imperial Maritime Customs Commissioner of China for nearly 40 years, controlling the lifelines of China's customs and finances, and was involved in various foreign and domestic affairs of China. His diaries cover customs affairs, foreign diplomats stationed in China, merchants, missionaries, and senior officials of the Qing court (such as Li Hongzhang), the Taiping Rebellion, and other topics not recorded in other historical materials, making them invaluable historical resources. We emphasize the theme of modernization in this book because Hedden's diaries from 1863 to 1866 show that he played a significant role in the early stages of this complex process in China. His role during this period far exceeded the earlier support he had provided for various failed modernization projects, such as the Li-Arthurs Fleet, which we discussed in detail in Entering the Qing Court Service. After accepting the appointment as the Imperial Maritime Customs Commissioner at the end of 1863, Hedden became an intimate and reliable advisor to the Qing central government, something his predecessor, Li, could never achieve. As a result, Hedden remained the most influential Westerner in all of China for the rest of his long career. Hedden's diaries provide a particularly valuable record of the intricate structure of Sino-Western relations in the 1860s. As the head of customs administration in multiple countries—by 1864, the customs bureau claimed to employ staff from Britain, the United States, France, and Prussia, along with Chinese supervisors and other junior staff—the Imperial Maritime Customs Commission established an unshakable reputation for loyalty, integrity, reliability, and efficiency among the foreign diplomats in the Qing government in Beijing. Both Western and Chinese officials regarded him as their closest confidant. He thus became involved in major diplomatic issues between China and the West, as well as many minor disputes. Hedden's role as a bridge between Chinese and Western perspectives was further amplified by the extensive activities of the Imperial Maritime Customs Commission, as well as his sympathy for both China's interests and what he considered the positive contributions of the "civilization" of the West.