Mirror Lake's Self-Composed Chronology -- Qing Dynasty

Author: [Qing] Duan Guangqing
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: This book is one of the "Collected Notes on Qing Historical Materials," recording the main activities of Duan Guangqing (1798–1878) in his life. From 1846 to 1866, Duan Guangqing served as an official in various places in Zhejiang, holding positions such as county magistrate, prefect, Tai Dao, and eventually the provincial inspector. Therefore, the book provides detailed accounts of the situation after the Opium War and during the Taiping Rebellion. It reflects the realities of government corruption, incompetent officials, and social unrest at the time. Among these, the records of Ningbo during this period—such as foreign aggression, the rampant behavior of roaming soldiers and mercenaries, the government's inability to maintain order, as well as the commercial and maritime trade conditions of Ningbo—are particularly noteworthy, especially the descriptions of the sea dike engineering projects.