Canton Trade

The image I chose portrays a high Chinese official at an English banquet. The official is wearing his Qing imperial robe while sitting in front of a traditional European meal with wine and bread. This painting is actually documenting the banquet held by Lord Macartney on his first diplomatic mission to China in 1793. The Chinese figure painted by William Alexander depicts the imperial official whom the foreign traders were not allowed to meet, as under the strict rules of the Canton trade system. There is an imaginary cultural vision where the East meets the West in a harmonious way in the painting. However, Alexander’s view is too pacifist for the imperial officials would never attend a European meal using a knife and a fork. In reality, the relationship between these two radically different cultures is often a hostile one in which China is viewed not as an equal partner in trade, but merely as a tool to gain more wealth.

The image also depicts an important period in Chinese history – the beginning of the destruction of the Canton trade system. By the end of the 19th century, England had made great riches from the China trade through the East India Company. However, the Canton trade system heavily regulated foreign trade and limited European commercial expansion in China. In order to negotiate for freer trading conditions, the British diplomats needed access to the imperial officials. Most likely, they were never given the chance to meet these high Chinese officials. When negotiations failed to open more trade ports for the East India Company, it introduced steamships and clippers to force entry into China. At the time, the Qing dynasty was suffering from corruption and thus incapable of maintaining the imperial system of controls. Without the aid of the natural constraints, the Qing court couldn’t maintain the Canton trade system. After the loss of the Opium War, China was thrown into a much less equal Sino-Western relationship.