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--195.195.14.200 14:20, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Draft Entries for Wikipedia

Zongli Yamen

Following the Convention of Peking, in 1861 the Chinese Empire created an office of external relations or 'Foreign Office', called, in the Wade-Giles system, "Tsung-li ko-kuo shih-wu ya-men" or "Tsungli Yamen" for short. The modern transliteration is Zongli Yamen.

I-hsin, also known as Prince Kung (1833-98) was head of the Zongli Yamen during the time of Robert Hart's leadership of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs and the two men held each other in high regard. Indeed, so well known was Robert Hart (later Sir Robert Hart) in the Zongli Yamen that he had a affectionate nickname there of "women-ti He Te".

Prince Kung was apparently one of the few northern Manchu officials of the Chinese Empire who sided with the modernising voices within the Chinese ruling classes.

References used:

A History Chinese Civilization" by Jacques Gernet, translated by J R Foster and Charles Hartman, published by the Folio Society, London 2002.

Hart of Lisburn (The story of Sir Robert Hart) by Stanley Bell, published by Lisburn Historical Press, ISBN 0948391006 The book is published on the internet at: Hart of Lisburn

The Large Dragons 1878-1885 by Philip W. Ireland, published by Robson Lowe Ltd. 1978, London. ISBN: 0853973296. Now out of print.

Ireland lists as his sources:

International Relations of the Chinese Empire by H B Morse, Published by Longman and Green, London and New York in 3 volumes from 1910-1918.

Trade and Diplomacy on the China Coast: The Opening of the Treaty Ports 1842-1854 by J K Fairbank, published by The Harvard University Press 1953.

Hart and the Chinese Customs S F Wright, published by William Mullen and Son for Queen's University, Belfast.

Ireland also consulted the daily journals of Hart, held at Queen's University, Belfast in 77 volumes.