The Chinese Attitude towards External Relations

The traditional Chinese attitude towards non-Chinese can clearly be seen in operation at the time of Lord Macartney's embassy to the Emperor Ch'ien-lung in 1793. Briefly stated, any relations which existed between China and a foreign country must be of the suzerain-vassal kind, and permission to trade was granted as a gracious concession, not as a natural right. The origins of this theory go back into the distant past.1 From earliest times China had been surrounded by barbarian peoples whose culture was clearly inferior. At no time did the Chinese come into direct contact with an equal civilization; countries on China's flanks such as Korea, Japan, Annam and Siam were strongly influenced by the culture of the Kingdom. From their previous contact with the barbarians around them the Chinese were conscious that their own superiority was not one merely of material power but of culture as well. So outstanding was the culture of the Middle Kingdom that the barbarians in contact with China turned towards her for

Ancient history · Barbarian · China · Chinese culture · Civilization · Emperor · Kingdom · Political science · Power (physics · Conflict Management and Negotiation · Cultural Differences and Values · History · International Relations and Foreign Policy · International Student and Expatriate Challenges · Japanese History and Culture · Law · Philippine History and Culture · Psychology

• Leaving a Brand on China

  Open Access•James L Hevia•Modern China•1992

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