Collapse of the Celestial Empire: A Re-examination of the Opium War

Author: Mao Haijian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Unlike many others who are fortunate enough to finish a work after enduring hardships and then sigh with relief, I did not share that luck. Since the beginning of 1992, I shut out everything and devoted two full years to the bitter and tedious process of writing (without any sweetness), and when it was finally completed, looking at the thick stack of manuscripts on my desk, I felt no sense of relief at all.
1. Generally speaking, historical events lose their significance over time. The Opium War, however, is different. It marks a turning point in Chinese history and imposed the historical mission of modernization upon China. As long as China has not completed modernization, the significance of the Opium War will never diminish. People living in this yet-to-be-modernized region, when reflecting on reality and exploring issues, cannot help but connect to that disastrous war. A mix of humiliation, resentment, inferiority, and hope arises, giving birth to national sentiments. This is vastly different from countries that have already fulfilled the same mission, such as Japan. The Opium War itself is an unwelcome topic for the Chinese. However, historical research rejects emotional interference and emphasizes rationality and objectivity. I often ask myself, therefore, whether I have truly maintained objectivity.
2. This book is titled "A Reassessment of the Opium War," naturally implying a critique of previous research. In terms of the research process, it builds upon the shoulders of predecessors; in terms of the results, it aims to get closer to historical truth. Yet, time has passed, and a century and a half ago, people and events are now separated from us by layers of historical distance. The place where I live is called "Imperial City Root," just a stone’s throw away from the Forbidden City. From my western window, I can see the Wan Chun Pavilion on Jingshan Mountain, faintly glowing in the sunset. While reviewing archives at the Palace Museum, I often wandered the palace grounds during the noon closure, sitting on the white marble steps in front of the "Golden Hall" and daydreaming. I have also visited the ruins of the Old Summer Palace, gazing at the Chinese-style gardens, which are said to be faintly discernible in aerial photographs. The proximity in space often makes me feel the gap in time shrinking. I tried to converse with the past, though I could not achieve spiritual connection, I gained a deeper understanding of their thoughts. Despite modern historical theory proving the impossibility of fully reconstructing history, the pursuit of truth remains an eternal dream for historians.
3. This book is dedicated to my mentor, Professor Chen Xulu. Fourteen years ago, I became his graduate student. The thesis he supervised was titled "Chinese and British Military Forces During the Opium War." Since then, my interest in the Opium War has never faded. After graduation, we maintained close ties. He always encouraged me to write this book, and I secretly hoped he would write the preface. However, due to work commitments, I never had the time to start. In 1989, I joined the Institute of Modern History, finally having time at my disposal, but my mentor had passed away in 1988. As a result, although I actually began writing only two years ago, the collection of materials and reflection on the issues had already spanned over a decade. He laid the foundation for me, yet I was unable to ask for his preface. Today, as I write the preface myself, I keep wondering whether this book will meet his expectations and whether I can receive his critique. But the distance between heaven and earth is so vast. These three things still weigh heavily on my heart, even though I have finished the book. I await the criticism of the readers. My classmate and close friend Pan Zhenping has deep insights into the Opium War. Over the past decade, we have discussed the topic many times, often staying up all night, which has benefited me greatly. When I first started working on this book, he proposed two key points: to focus on the fates of individuals and to explain historical phenomena. As a traditional Chinese historical writing style, the biographical method has many strengths. I explored how to incorporate these strengths into a chapter-based structure. Given the significant changes in values and behavioral norms in modern society, I strove to interpret the thoughts and actions of historical figures using the perspectives of their time. After completing the manuscript, he was the first to read it and offered numerous critiques. Without his help, this book would not have taken its current form. Time and friendship are true, and no words are needed to express gratitude. I acknowledge his contribution here.
I am grateful to Mr. Li Shaojun of Wuhan University. The paper by the Japanese scholar Sasaki Masayoshi on the Opium War is a must-read, but I do not understand Eastern languages. Mr. Li Shaojun provided the translation for me. I am also grateful to Mr. Li Yongqing, who is now my colleague. He is one of the compilers of "Archival Materials on the Opium War." Due to limited access to archives and my failure to proofread, he provided me with the unprinted draft of the materials he compiled, which was a great help in urgent times. I am grateful to Mr. Yang Guoqiang, also from the same academic circle, who read some of the manuscript. His skill in offering suggestions made me realize my own shortcomings. I am also grateful to Mr. Zhu Jin yuan and Mr. Tang Kemin, fellow alumni, whose encouragement and support were a major driving force for me to complete this book.
The person I am most grateful to, without a doubt, is the group of scholars who had conducted thorough research on the Opium War before me and offered me great inspiration. Due to the extensive references I used, I cannot list them all here. I have recorded the benefits I gained from reading their works in the footnotes. Here, I would like to say one more thing: please forgive me for standing on your shoulders.
The above acknowledgments do not mean I am shirking responsibility. All the errors in this book are my own responsibility.