Wei Yuan (魏源)(IV)

Leonard in chapter two suggested that Wei Yuan's response to the crisis generated by the Opium War was shaped by the history of Sino-Nan-yang relations. Leonard also highlighted his observation that in Qing, the geographical literature about the maritime world was few when compared to the large amount of geographical writings about China's Inner Asia. This imbalance is a reflection on the difference of importance attached by the Court to these two separate regions. After the War, when the Chinese began to look at the Nan-yang with renewed interest, they began to pay attention to the geographical writing did by the Jesuit decades ago.1 Leonard also mentioned that at one time Malacca was the center of Nan-yang trade. The rulers of Malacca in the early fifteen century enticed Javanese and Sumatran traders to their port. And they also adopted Islam ' in order to enhance and solidify ties with Islamic traders'.2 Leonard also stressed that it was wrong for scholars to confuse the tribute system and the junk trade as one single system. The junk trade was the only important link between Qing and the maritime world before the Opium War. In chapter three, Leonard said that Qing was indifferent to the coastal control and treated the West with indifference and contempt up to the Opium War. Also, the Sino-Nan-yang trade was handled at the local level as part of the the junk trade. At the start of the dynasty, Qing allowed foreigners, both European and Asians to do business in Macao, Chang-chou, Ningpo, Amoy, and Yun-tai Shan.3 But as problems with the missionaries grew, Qing gradually restricted foreign trade to Canton. 4 Eventually it was known as the Canton system. The government arm of the Canton system was the Guangdong Maritime Customs. The hongs were responsible for the behavior of personnel from foreign ships. The hong merchants became the link between foreign traders and Chinese officials. From the Chinese point of view, trading was a privilege to the foreigners, therefore Qing could dictate all trading terms. And as such, the foreigners had no right to discuss, and communication with official was deemed unnecessary.5 But as western trade grew and the Canton system was unable to cope, grievances mounted. (to be continued)

Note:
1. Leonard, Jane Kate. Wei Yuan and China's Rediscovery of the Maritime World. Cambridge (Mass.) and London: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University: distributed by Harvard University Press, 1984, page 54
2. page 56
3. page 72
4. page 73
5. page 75