The Dissemination And Application Of Wanguo Gongfa In China During The Age Of Emperor Tongzhi

Wanguo Gongfa is the first and also the only international law work translated into China during the power of Emperor Tongzhi. It opened the history of Chinese translation on international law works, which is of great importance in history. For the government of Qing Dynasty, the birth of it was an opportunity to further understand the western countries which had entered the framework of treaties and to struggle for the interest of our own nation under the unfavorable circumstances. This paper will discuss the background, translation input, diplomatic application, and influence on the academic community in the background of heyday of Emperor Tongzhi to learn the beginning of the modern China's diplomacy, serving as the guide to the research of the difficult start of modernization of late Qing Dynasty's diplomacy.Besides introduction and appendix, this paper includes four parts.Introduction is to introduce in a detail way of the significance on selecting the topic, the related research retrospection from the abroad and at home, and the research emphasis in the thesis.Chapter one presents a simple introduction of the background of Wanguo Gongfa from the aspect of western cooperative policies and Qing Government's diplomatic thoughts. The adjustment of the diplomatic relationship between China and western world after the Opium War led to the temporary generous international circumstance, which not only provided an opportunity for China to start the Westernization Movement, but also enabled the ministry of foreign affairs to generate the idea that trying to understand the westerners' real rule of making regulations according to the treaties, so that a good chance was offered to introduce the International Law to China.Chapter two studies the reason why Sir Robert Hart translated Elements of International Law and the relation between Sir Robert Mart and W. A. P. Martin by studying the translation of "the 24 rules" composed of the right of legation, maritime affairs laws by Sir Robert Hart. This chapter narrates the process of W. A. P. Martin's translation and his negotiation with ministry of foreign affairs in the Qing dynasty which finally resulted the publish of Wanguo Gongfa. W. A. P. Martin made careful pick-out and organization when translating and the real intention of his translating through the close study in the translated version and bilingual exploration. Meanwhile, the chapter keeps track of how Wanguo Gongfa was being disseminated in China and dealt with in China's school education then.Chapter three takes the general picture as an outline including the intellectual's understanding of the international situation and the reliability of...