The Collapse of the Celestial Empire -- A Study of the Opium War

Author: Mao Haijian
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Features: Unlike many who are fortunate enough to complete a work after enduring hardships and then exhale in relief, I have not shared that kind of luck. Since early 1992, I have shut out everything and devoted two full years to the bitter and sour experiences of writing a book (without any sweetness), and when 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 is an exception. 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 not diminish. People living in this yet-to-be-modernized region inevitably connect their reflections on reality and exploration of issues to that catastrophic war. Feelings of humiliation, resentment, inferiority, and hope intertwine, giving rise to national sentiments. This is vastly different from countries that have already fulfilled the same mission, such as Japan. It itself is a topic that prevents the Chinese from feeling at ease. However, historical research excludes emotional interference, emphasizing coolness and objectivity. As a result, I often ask myself whether I have truly remained rational.
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 belongs to climbing on the shoulders of predecessors; in terms of the results, it should be closer to historical truth. Yet, time has passed, and the people and events of a century and a half ago are now separated from us by layers of historical barriers. The place where I live is named "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 under the setting sun. While reading archives at the Chinese History Archive within the Forbidden City, I often strolled around the palace grounds during the noon closure, sitting on the white marble steps in front of the "Golden Hall" and lost in thought. I have also visited the ruins of the Old Summer Palace, gazing at the Chinese-style gardens, whose traces have long vanished but are said to still be faintly discernible in aerial photographs. The proximity in space often makes me feel the distance in time. I tried to converse with the deceased, though I could not achieve spiritual connection, I gained a deeper understanding of their minds. 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 "British and Chinese 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 contemplation of 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 long for his critique. But the distance between heaven and earth is so vast. These three matters still weigh heavily on my heart, even though I have now finished the book. I await the criticism of my readers. My classmate and close friend Pan Zhenping has deep insights into the Opium War. Over the past decade, we have engaged in numerous discussions, often staying up all night, which has benefited me greatly. When I first started working on this book, he proposed two key principles: 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 integrate these strengths into a chapter-based structure. Given the significant changes in values and behavioral norms during 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 many 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 hereby acknowledge his contribution.
I am grateful to Mr. Li Shaojun of Wuhan University. The Japanese scholar Sasaki Masayoshi's writings on the Opium War are essential reading, but I am unfamiliar with Eastern languages. Mr. Li Shaojun provided me with the translation. I am also grateful to Mr. Li Yongqing, who has now become 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 kindly shared the draft of the materials he had compiled, alleviating my urgent need. I am grateful to Mr. Yang Guoqiang, a fellow student, who read some sections of the manuscript. His skill in offering suggestions made me suddenly realize my own shortcomings. I am also grateful to Mr. Zhu Jin yuan and Mr. Tang Kemin, fellow students, whose encouragement and assistance became a major driving force for me to complete this book. What I am most grateful for, without a doubt, are the scholars who had conducted thorough research on the Opium War before me and offered me great inspiration. Due to the extensive references I used, it is impossible to 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: my gratitude does not mean shirking responsibility. All the errors in this book are my own responsibility.