| In the later half of the 19th century, with collapse of the Qing Dynasty and the continuous invasion of the western powerful countries, the tributary system centered around the Qing government was also collapsing. However, rulers of the Qing Dynasty tried their best to continue the situation. It was under this circumstance that the main contents of this thesis happened.As the most important vassal nation in the tributary system of the Qing Dynasty, Korea was of the vital importance to the existence of the tributary system and the security of northeast China. However, the invasion of France, America, UK and Japanese to Korea aroused unease in Korea, which accordingly exerted negative influence on the Qing Dynasty as well as stability of the tributary system.From 1870s, the Qing government changed its traditional ruling policy that exerted no interference on the policies and domestic administration of the tributary nations and started the new diplomatic policies to Korea, which lasted to the early 1900s. During the time, the diplomatic policies of the Qing Dynasty to Korea deviated the traditional way. Therefore, this thesis mainly launches reviews on the diplomatic mechanism of the Qing Dynasty to Korea from the 1860s to the mid-1880s.As far as the evolution of diplomatic mechanism of the Qing Dynasty to Korea is concerned, this thesis covers the following contents:Since 1860s, the central government diplomatic system concerning Korea that had been centered around the Ministry of Rites has gradually been replaced by the Peiyang Minister, Tsungli Yamen and Envoy Sent to Japan. The Peiyang Minister, among others, played a decisive role. As a result, from Ma Jiazhong dispatched to Korea as an envoy to Cheng Shutang dispatched to Korea as a Commercial Agent, the envoy-dispatching system dominated by envoy was gradually replaced by the new envoy-dispatching system featuring in modern characteristics.The evolution made a display of the modernization of China's diplomatic policies. However, since this kind of modernization only aimed to maintain the outdated tributary system, it could not escape from the failure destination. From the viewpoints of mechanism and system, this thesis attempts to make a review of the changes and modern significance brought about by the evolution for the diplomacy between the Qing Dynasty and Korea, and find the reasons of the failure.Centering around the evolution of diplomatic mechanism of the Qing Dynasty to Korea from the 1860s to 1885, this thesis launches the review in five chapters.Introduction makes research on the academic significance and research methods of the diplomatic mechanism to Korea at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Through reviewing the achievements secured by the Chinese and foreign academic circles on the studies of political relation between the Qing Dynasty and Korea and the diplomatic system of the later Qing Dynasty, this thesis points out that the previous studies on the relation between the Qing Dynasty and Korea many started with the European and Japanese invasion on Korea. There is no study from the viewpoint of the Qing Dynasty. The studies of the diplomatic system of the later Qing Dynasty were mainly concentrated on the transformation from traditional to modern. So this thesis makes a combined study of the Sino-foreign relationship history and the diplomatic system history, thus making a deep study on the evolution of diplomatic mechanism of the later Qing Dynasty.Chapter I mainly introduces the establishment and mechanism of tributary system in the relationship between the Qing Dynasty and Korea. Section 1 mainly introduces the establishment and stability of the tributary system. Section 2 introduces the institutional establishments concerning the Korean affairs within the tributary system of the Qing Dynasty, which is comprised of three parts: the central government institution centering around the Rites Ministry, the envoy dispatched to Korea, and the Northeast institutions comprised of the Fengtian and Jilin local administrative system. Section 3 makes a summary of this chapter, which points out several characteristics in the tributary system of the Qing Dynasty and Korea.Chapter II mainly reviews the issues concerning the Qing Dynasty persuading Korea to open up and reform the outdated mechanism. Section 1 introduces the promotion of decision-making position of Tsungli Yamen, Peiyang Ministry and Envoy Sent to Japan in the affairs concerning the Korea affairs, which led to the position retreat of the Rites in the diplomatic issues concerning Korea, thus forming the pattern that Tsungli Yamen and Peiyang Minister dominated the Korean affairs. Section 2 makes a detailed study on the multiple procedures and course of the Qing Dynasty persuading Korea to open up to the outside world. The Qing Government, accordingly, reformed the tributary mechanism. Section 3 makes a summary of this chapter, which points out the formation of the dominant position of Tsungli Yamen and Peiyang Minister in the Korean affairs was a result of the evolution of the outdated mechanism. Meanwhile, it promoted the further evolution of the traditional mechanism of the Qing Dynasty.Chapter III introduces the dispatching of special envoys and the formation of special envoy system as well the influence exerted on Korea's opening-up by the special envoys. Section 1 reviewed Ma Jianzhong's visits to Korea in May and June 1882 twice to sign the signing of commercial cities between Korea and America, Korea and UK, and Korea and Germany. Section 2 reviewed Ma Jianzhong's urgent visit to Korea in August 1882 after the Korean Civil Strife. During the time when he stayed in Korea, Ma Jianzhong launched conciliated Taewon-gun, the Enlightenment Group and the Japan, which finally facilitated the Qing Government to make a decision to arrest Taewon-gun to crack down on the Korean Civil Strife. Section 3 makes a review on Li Hongzhang dispatching Ma Jianchang to station in Korea to the Korean Government to handle the commercial affairs. However, due to influence of the tributary mechanism, Ma Jianchang's function in Korea was restrained. Finally, he had to come back to China . Section 4 makes a summary, which points out that Ma Jianzhong and Ma Jianchang, as the special envoys dispatched to Korea, played the transitional and temporary roles. On one hand, they made some breakthrough in the traditional mechanism, on the other hand, they were restrained by the traditional mechanism.Chapter IV makes a review on the dispatching of commercial agent to Korea and the establishment of the system concerning commercial agent in Korea. Section 1 introduce the signing of "Regulations of Commercial and Civil Trade through Maine and Land Ways between China and Korea," which is the background and foundation for dispatching the commercial agent to Korea. Section 2 introduces the creative work the commercial agent did after arriving in Korea, for instance, building official mansion, pioneering concession, negotiating commercial affairs, protecting Chinese merchants and making diplomatic negotiations with the Korean Government on behalf of the Qing Government. Section 3 introduces the establishment of systems to dispatch commercial agent to Korea. These systems include port agent system, diplomatic note system, and trial system. Section 4 reviews the identification confusion of commercial agent in Korea caused by conflict between the new and outdated mechanism. Finally, Chen Shutang retreated to China. Section 5 is the summary of this chapter, which points out that the establishment of commercial agent system started to convert part ideas and policies concerning the relation of the Qing Dynasty and Korea under the tributary relationship. The modern factors in the change had milestone significance in the evolution of Korea's diplomatic mechanism.Chapter V is the conclusion of the thesis. From the overall viewpoint, this Chapter makes historic review on the evolution of the diplomatic mechanism of the Qing Dynasty to Korea. By means of sifting through the evolution of diplomatic mechanism to Korea at the end of the Qing Dynasty, analyzing the failure reasons of the diplomatic mechanisms of the Qing Dynasty from the view-point of diplomatic decision-making, and reviewing the modern significance of the evolution of diplomatic mechanism at the end of the Qing Dynasty, this Chapter makes retrospect, comparison and analysis on the theme of the thesis and makes far-reaching exploration.
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