A Study On The Government Of Qing Dynasty's Jurisdiction To Aomen From 1651 To 1849

The Portuguese who had leased Aomen from Ming Dynasty pledged allegiance to the government of Qing Dynasty at 1651 and was governed by it from then on. From 1651 to 1849, the Qing Government strengthened the administrative system and perfected the regulations to defend its sovereignty in Aomen and administer it effectively. During this period, though the Portuguese' constant challenge, Portuguese failed to break into Aomen for the tremendous difference in the strength of both sides. The Opium War gave the Portuguese an opportunity to adhere to big powers. They seized Aomen by force while the Qing Government was defeated. Furthermore, they spread their illicit jurisdiction into the whole Aomen. The government of Qing Dynasty was unable to exercise their jurisdiction in Aomen after 1849.The development of Aomen benefited a great deal from the circumstances that the Qing Government exercised jurisdictional powers in Aomen. In view of this, it is quite necessary to make a special discussion. This thesis studies the Aomen's administration from 1651 to 1849 in the aspects of the government of Qing Dynasty establishing officials, pursuing political decrees, exercising administration,trade,military,judicature and religion jurisdictions relying on a large number of files,documents and part of tablet literature.The first section investigates the government of Qing Dynasty's administration jurisdiction to Aomen, discussing the chief, the vice-chief of Xiangshan County and Aomen Tongzhi (澳门同知) taking charge of its responsibility to their function and representing for the government of Qing Dynasty to exercise concrete jurisdictions in Aomen. The chief of Xiangshan County managed the Chinese and Portuguese of Aomen over a long period of time. Its power was not weakened because of the establishment of the vice-chief and Aomen Tongzhi. The vice-chief was nearest to the Portuguese so that it was not difficult for him to issue orders and exercise jurisdictions. Thus, he became the first bridge connecting the Portugal authorities of Aomen and the government of Qing Dynasty. Comparing with the chief and the vice-chief of Xiangshan County, Aomen Tongzhi had the highest authority and certain decisive power in many aspects, ensuring the Chinese Government exerts jurisdictions in Aomen effectively.The second section states the trade jurisdiction of Aomen under the government of Qing Dynasty. Aomen was fortunate enough not to suffer from the migrating and trade prohibition in the early days of Qing Dynasty for its special position in the business between Chinese and foreign countries. In managing and levying on the Portuguese vessels, Chinese Government took different measures compared with the ones towards the merchant ships from other countries. After the foundation of Yue Customs (奥海关) Aomen tax branch became one of the most important branches. It established four branches, performing checking,levying and supervising the vessels individually, which demonstrated the increasingly perfect managing system. The Qing Government took Aomen as an ideal place which could restrict the foreign merchants. The trade jurisdiction was strengthened gradually with the formulation of a series of regulations.The third section illustrates the Qing Government's military jurisdiction to Aomen. From the early days of Qing Dynasty, Chinese Government stationed troops at the Front Camp which is in the northwest of Aomen. The status of officer was constantly enhanced and the number of soldiers was increased as things developed. Furthermore, the Front Camp Barrack was established during the period of Emperor Jiaqing in order to take charge of Aomen more effectively. On the premise that the government of Qing Dynasty had powerful military forces, Portuguese were allowed to establish the cannon stands and station troops so that the government of Qing Dynasty could defend and control Aomen by itself in order to defend themselves in the leasing area. And also, Chinese troops could expel the foreigner and pirates. Therefore, the local troop could exert its full function.The fourth section studies the government of Qing Dynasty's judicature jurisdiction to Aomen. The government of Qing Dynasty exercised strong powers in Aomen continually. When it came to the relationship between Chinese, Chinese and Portuguese, or Chinese and foreigners, the local officials of Guangdong adjudicated them based on the government of Qing Dynasty's law items. The Portuguese authorities should obey the rules of Chinese Government severely and also assist Chinese officials to arrest and interrogate the criminal. By means of a variety of regulations, a much closer managing system had been formed gradually.The fifth section studies the government of Qing Dynasty's religion jurisdiction to Aomen. From Ming Dynasty, most missionaries came into the mainland via Aomen. At the time when Christian was prohibited during Emperor Yongzheng, the imperial court instructed people to escort the missionaries to Aomen. Since then, Christian religion had been prohibited by Emperor Qianlong, Jiaqh,and Daoguang. In view of this, Christian religion could only be spread in Aomen. Thus, it became the only religion strongpoint after the eighteenth century. In the period of Qianlong and Jiaqing, the mainland Catholic led the missionaries through Aomen and came into mainland to spread religion. As the missionaries arrested and expelled, Aomen became the shelter and refuge of the missionaries. In the period that religion was prohibited, Portuguese in Aomen were allowed to believe in religion, but Chinese people were prohibited. At that time, Portuguese acted as the orders to arrest the missionaries who came into the inland and manage them in Aomen. The Mazu Temple (妈祖阁庙),Lianfeng Temple (莲峰庙) in Aomen were revamped afresh and expanded, even the Lianfeng Temple became the stationing place when Chinese officials made an inspection tour in Aomen. The Qing Government advocated and supported Chinese traditional religion in order to give full play to its special political and religious significance, to enlarge administrative influence and ensure the sovereignty in Aomen.The sixth section studies the Yishi Pavilion (议事亭) in Aomen. It acted as the Portuguese government organization and a place that the Chinese officials attend to affairs in Aomen. The former indicated the autonomy organization of the Portuguese, but the latter was a place that the Chinese Government issuing orders and handling affairs. The Yishi Pavilion turned into the Portuguese' organization location after 1784. It had limited powers in keeping order and maintaining security in many circumstances.The seventh section studies the loss of the jurisdiction to Aomen, discussing the course that Portuguese occupied Aomen after the Opium War and the reasons why Chinese Government lost its jurisdiction respectively. Portuguese accelerated to occupy Aomen after the war and eventually snatched the jurisdiction to Aomen and achieved their long premeditated attempt in 1849 after a series of colonial expansion policies. The reasons why the government of Qing Dynasty lost its jurisdiction included its incorrect diplomatic policy, the lack of treaty consciousnesss the corruption of Chinese officials and Portuguese' long-time covetousness to Aomen, etc.