Research On Kuiling’s Dongshijishishilue

Dongshijishishilue is written by Kuiling who had been to Korea Dynasty in1866(the5th year of Tongzhi). When Kuiling returned Qing he published his travel diary written during the diplomatic mission and named the book Dongshijishishilue. As an important kind of documentation, Dongshijishishilue is rich in content, giving many details.Kuiling who was jinshi behaved himself decently, worked hard and enjoyed the trust of Qing Dynasty. Kuiling’s personal quality was up to the standard of selection of diplomatic envoy. When Kuiling came back from Korea Dynasty, he published his travel diary and named it Dongshijishishilue. The book is collected by some libraries in Chinese and foreign libraries now, but the book titles are different. Through investigation, the books have the same contents. So there is only one book written by Kuiling on the diplomatic mission to Korea Dynasty.The record of Dongshijishishilue concludes the travel of diplomatic envoy, the ceremony of feudatory, the cultural communication between the diplomatic envoy and civil officials of Korea Dynasty and the social condition of the outside of Shanhaiguan Pass. The schedule of diplomatic envoy was very tight, which embodies the means of pensioning vassal state. The record about the ceremony of feudatory is hard to find in the travel diary written by diplomatic envoys of Qing Dynasty, it shows the ceremony of feudatory to us, makes us gain a deeper insight into the suzerain-vassal relations between Qing Dynasty and Korea Dynasty. The cultural communications between the diplomatic envoy and civil officials of Korea Dynasty were limited, and the diplomatic envoy was not positive in the cultural communications, which embodies the features of cultural exchange of Qing Dynasty and Korea Dynasty in Mid-19th Century. Kuiling wrote many poems about the scene of Korea Dynasty. The poems imply the cultural and historical relationships between Qing Dynasty and Korea Dynasty. In the poems, Kuiling conveys his sense of national pride. The outside of Shanhaiguan Pass was a very important area for the emperors of Qing Dynasty. It was directly related to the vicissitude of Qing Dynasty. So Kuiling paid great attention to it on the way to Korea Dynasty. Economic depression appeared in that area, but in the year when Kuiling went to Korea Dynasty the outside of Shanhaiguan Pass had a good harvest. As a result of the good harvest and the proper management of Qing Dynasty, the community of the outside of Shanhaiguan Pass seemed stable.The record of Dongshijishishilue is very special in the travel diary written by diplomatic envoys, and the book has great historical value as a witness of the history. First, the record about the ceremony of feudatory for the princess of Korea Dynasty is hard to find in the history book. It shows the ceremony of feudatory to us and has great historical value. Second, the book uncovers first-hand information for our study of the historical and cultural relationships between Qing Dynasty and Korea Dynasty in Mid-19th Century. The limited cultural exchange of Kuiling and civil officials of Korea Dynasty implies the means of pensioning vassal state of Qing Dynasty, the diplomatic strategy of Korea Dynasty and the political culture relationships between Qing Dynasty and Korea Dynasty. Civil officials of Korea Dynasty were positive in the cultural communications, this implies that their attitudes to Qing Dynasty had been changed. Third, the book provides valuable data for our study of the outside of Shanhaiguan Pass in Mid-19th Century. The record of Dongshijishishilue shows the community of the outside of Shanhaiguan Pass to us, and it is important material for us to study the history of Qing Dynasty, such as the "Eight Banners" Garrison.