Modern Western Exploration Activities In Yunnan And Their Writings

The Qing Dynasty tended to decline during the latter half of nineteenth century while the western nations of capitalism were rising at the same time. England battles of invasion to Burma and deprivation of all land were broke up at three times in the hundred years after India had been colonized around the end of 18th century. France turned to its aim to Vietnam since estate of India and Burma had been all overwhelmed by the British, devastating power of these two empires, therefore, approached the frontier of Southwest China. Peking Agreement and Tianjin Agreement subscribed thereafter the Second Opium War had triumphed legalized the act of travelling, trading and preaching in and around China by westerners.From the latter half of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, natural science and the humanities are emerging at an enhanced level in growth. The scientific explorations and inspections were now in the ascendant from all fields. Yunnan, where there is abundant resources in geography, mineralogy, biology and ethnology, attracted explorers and scholars in the west. Therefore, attracted by beneficial driving forces to enter Yunnan through southwest way and abundant resources of mine, biological species, ethnics and geographical studies, numbers of officials, merchants, priests, travelers and scholars had been visiting and exploring China land in the southwest by the end of this century.On the foundation of original and general literal resources at hand and put them into a historical context, we chronicled some events of western explorations to Yunnan from all perspectives and surveyed all achievements on commerce, communication, natural resource and political climate studied by westerners which exposed the features and signification of all exploration journey and revealed the truth of these historical textual resources.The first part, titled Background and Exploration in General, discusses the timing, process and characteristics of explorations against certain background, then reveals and outlines all the historical events. Due to the special historical environment, the historic events happened. The same is true of such investigations in Yunnan. In the expanding stage of Capitalism, Yunnan had begun a target for the west in seeking expansion. It is acknowledged that all exploring journey were aroused under special political climate that last long and extensively at a large scale on population.The second part, titled Exploration of Commerce and Trade, puts the emphasis on the facts of history with analysis. The main motivation was commercial profit, which was Britain and France going to Yunnan. And commercial trade was their content of the investigations. They thought Yunnan has development potential, because of abound resources. However, the consuls in UK had different opinion. In their minds, Yunnan is a paces where there is backwardness and widely distributed. On the contrary, France thought, Yunnan is a trading port with Vietnam and Southeast Asia, especially with Tonkin.The third part, titled Exploration of traffic, discuss the proposal for Yunnan-Burma Railway between the UK and France. The proposal was unworkable by the the Britain's investigation. They began to turn benefit to good account from France. Yet France had been awaken to the importance of the Red River and made decision to struggle for power of Yunnan.The fourth part, titled Exploration of Geography and Geology and Mineral Resources, explain the investigations process and its specific contribution, with analysis on the accessible cases related to measurable figures and products.The fifth part, titled Exploration of Biological Resources, inspect the biology experiences in Yunnan. This part general studies about Andrews, Forrest, Lock and Ward and their contributions. Point out their influence and contributions in some way.The sixth part, titled Exploration of Ethnology, discuss their ethnology field research and achievements. The study of Davis, Rock and Fitzgerald is emphasized.The last part, titled Commentary on western exploration documents in Yunnan, discusses the value of historical records. To the author, these documents are rich and highly considered in history of diplomatic, communications, commercial trades, environment, ethnic group, religion and local cultures.