Entering the Qing Court Career in China: The Diary of Robert Hart (1835-1911)

Author: (English) Katharine F. Brunner et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: As a pivotal political and historical figure, Robert Hart's life is also quite legendary. This book collects all of Hart's diaries written between 1854, when he first set foot in China, and 1863, when he was appointed as the Imperial Maritime Customs Service Commissioner (excluding parts destroyed for personal reasons), accompanied by annotations. It also includes special chapters evaluating Hart's background, the social conditions of China at the time, his interactions with officials of the Qing government, and the gradual development of his career. This approach presents Hart's life journey through both subjective and objective lenses, highlighting the complex psychological development of an extraordinary individual, the profound cultural conflicts and exchanges embedded within it, as well as the multifaceted social realities and struggles of China at that time.