Under the direction of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, China-CEEC Libraries Union was established in October 2018 in Hangzhou, China, with its secretariat permanently set in Hangzhou Public Library. 60 libraries from China and CEEC, on a voluntary basis, seek common progress made on the principle of "equality, mutual benefit, inclusiveness and openness".
The Very Collection in My Library aims to introduce treasures kept in each member library to audience in China and Central and Eastern European countries and bring ancient books into the limelight, through of which people could enhance their understanding of cultures and histories of other countries.
This episode here is presented by Liu Dong, the director of Hebei Library, introducing you the rare ancient book Chonghou's Diary on the Mission to France.
(The Very Collection in My Library is updated on Cooperation between China and CEEC official website http://www.china-ceec.org/ and CHINA CULTURE.org https://cn.chinaculture.org/.)
Chonghou's Diary on the Mission to France is a transcript of the diary kept by Chonghou, the superintendent of trade for three northern treaty ports--Tianjin (where he was stationed), Yantai and Yingkou, when he was sent on a mission to France during the Tongzhi period of the Qing dynasty. In 1985, Li Hongquan, director of the Ancient Books Department of the Hebei Provincial Library, bought it from China Bookstore, making it the most-treasured piece of collection in Hebei Library.
Chonghou, who styled himself as "Dishan", descended from the Jurchen Wanyan clan of the Imperial House of Jin (AD 1115-1234). He was born in Xianghuang Banner of the Imperial Household Department, and graduated as juren (a rank in the imperial examination system) in 1849 (the 29th Year of the Daoguang period in the Qing dynasty). During the Xianfeng period, Chonghou was stationed in Tianjin with the rank of assistant minister to handle the trade affairs of the three ports. At that time, he founded Tianjin Machinery Bureau. Then the Tianjin missionary case took place, and he was sent to France for reconciliation matters on behalf of the imperial court. During the Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty, he was promoted to president of the censorate and with full authority made an envoy to Russia to discuss the return of Yili. However, he signed the unequal Treaty of Livadia without authorization. Therefore, he was stripped of his rank by the Qing government and was soon released.
This book is a diary kept by Chonghou during his diplomatic mission to France. The diary was written on red and green overprint plum blossom paper made by Feiyun Pavilion. Inside the book engraved Chonghou's name and some unofficial personal seals. The book contains five volumes: Notes on Cruise, A Tour to Western Europe, Mission Accomplished, Peaceful Living for Opportunities and Notes on Homeward Sail. The diary dates from December 2th, 1870 to February 9th, 1872. Chonghou entered France amid the Paris Commune Uprising, so the diary recorded more than 20 scenes of the uprising, and, of course, lots of what he saw and heard in the countries he travelled, which are of great historical value for the study of the Paris Commune of France and the relations of the Qing dynasty with foreign countries.
2024-05-11
