Research On Diplomatic Documents In The Late Qing Dynasty

During the last seventy years of the Qing Dynasty(1840-1912),a period of rapid political,economic,cultural and social changes in China,and a critical period for the transition from traditional diplomacy to modern diplomacy.In order to cope with the complex international diplomatic situation and maintain the stable development of the country,the late Qing government carried out a series of changes and innovations to the traditional diplomatic instruments,which made the diplomatic instruments of that period present a distinct era.It has become an indispensable part of the history of China undefineds diplomatic instruments and has a high academic research value.Taking the diplomatic documents of the late Qing government and other countries as the research object,the thesis makes a systematic and in-depth study of the record type,language and style of the diplomatic documents of the late Qing Dynasty by means of the methods of literature study and comparative analysis.Firstly,more than 20 kinds of diplomatic record type in this period are summarized,and the characteristics of many new record type produced in this period are analyzed,which are mainly parallel record type and the scope of application of record type is gradually clear.Secondly,combining the specific diplomatic texts to explore the styles of different types of diplomatic instruments,it is found that different types of diplomatic instruments have their own characteristics and styles of gradual standardization and immobilization.Then,by comparing with the diplomatic documents before the late Qing Dynasty,the author concludes that the language of the diplomatic instruments in the late Qing Dynasty presents the characteristics of equality and modernization.Finally,the thesis expounds the role and influence of diplomatic documents in the late Qing dynasty from three aspects,including the change of diplomatic strategies of the late qing government,the different diplomatic relations with European and American powers,small European and American countries,and sufan-vassal states,and the foundation for the development of modern diplomatic documents.According to the research,with the change of international environment and national strength,a series of changes have taken place in the record type,style and language of diplomatic instruments during this period,which is not only the standardization of modern diplomatic instruments,but also the standardization of modern diplomatic instruments.The international development lays a foundation and reflects the deep implication of economy,politics,culture and so on in this period.