1. THE FIRST HISTORICAL ARCHIVE OF CHINA
1.1. DEVELOPMENT
On the 10th of October 1925, the Gugong Bowuguan (Museum of the Imperial Palace), in Beijing, was Officially established, and its Departments were divided as follows: Guwuguan (Historical Artifacts Department), Tushuguan (Library Department) and Zongwu Chu (Administrative Department). The Library Department housed two Sections: one for Books and one for Documents. The Documents Section was responsible for handling all Historical Documents and Artifacts of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and represents the oldest nucleus of the First Historical Archive of China.
In June 1927, the Documents Section assumed the title Zhang Gu (Documents and Historical Section).
In October 1928, the Documents and Historical Section was separated from the Library Department and became the Wenxian Guan (Museum of Historical Documentation).
In January 1949, with the liberation of Beijing, the Wenguan Hui (Administrative Commission of Cultural Antiquities) took over the direction of the Imperial Palace Museum, the structure of the Museum of Historical Documentation remaining unchanged.
In May 1951, the Museum of Historical Documentation was retitled as Dang' an Guan (The Archive).
In December 1955, The Archive of the Imperial Palace Museum was annexed by the Guojia Dang' an Ju (State Bureau) and renamed the First Historical Archive of China.
In June 1958, the Diyi Lishi Dang' an Guan (First Historical Archive of China) changed once its name to become the Dang' an Bu (Archive of the Ming and Qing Dynasties).
In October 1959, the Central Archive was formally established and together with the Archive of the Ming and Qing Dynasties become the Department of the Archive of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
In December 1959, the Department of the Archive of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was named the First Historical Archive of China.
In December, 1969, the Department of the Archive of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was separated from the Central Archive and was placed under the directorship of the Imperial Palace Museum, nevertheless retaining the name Archive of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
In April 1980, the Archive of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was joined to the Bureau of Archives of the State and assumed the title First Historical Archive of China.
In August, 1993, the First Historical Archive of China began to be directed by the Cen tral Archive, nevertheless retaining its original name.
The First Historical Archive of China is a Nationwide entity. Its function is to collect, archive, programme, catalogue, restore, photocopy, microfilm and translate all the Documents of the Qing Dynasty and earlier ones, as well as to organize exhibitions, editions, research and publication related to the works stored in its premises.
1.2. SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTATION:
The main function of the First Historical Archive of China is to archive the Documents of the Central and Provincial Administrative Bodies of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has forty-two Sections and a total of more than ten million items.
The most ancient Documents are written on bones and tortoise shells dating from the Shang Dynasty (1523-1028 B. C.).
The Archive of the Ming Dynasty includes scarcely more than 3000 items, for the most part bequeathed by the Archives of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the Courts of Hei Chong (r.1621-†1628) and Si Chong (r.1628-†l645), while a small quantity hail from the Courts of Tai Chou, Seng Chou, Sun Chong, Hin Chong, Mou Chong, Sai Chong, Mok Chong, San Chong and Kuong Chong.
The Archive of the Qing Dynasty makes up the largest part of the total, embracing the years 1607 to 1911 and 1912 to 1940.
The Archive includes Documents dispatched to Superior levels, to Provincial and Local levels or directed to Parallel levels; common Documents and even special ones, totalling more than one hundred different types, such as Instructions, Orders, Memoirs, Edicts, Amnesties, Signatures, Communiqués, Summons, Official Letters, Referendums, Telegrams, Plans, Charts and Tables, Bulletins and Pamphlets, etc., the majority of which are in the National Han (Chinese) Language, a small number in the National Manchu Language or in a mixture of Han and Manchu, in addition to a few in the Languages of National Minorities of China and in foreign Languages. These originals Documents are written on paper, wood, bamboo and on materials and fabrics of silk and satin. The contents range from Politics, Economics, Military Affairs, Diplomatic Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Geography, Astronomy, Hydraulics, Meteorology, Juridical Affairs, (ancient) Architecture and Landscaping, all of which are of great importance in the study of the History of the Qing Dynasty.
1.3. OPENING AND USE OF THE ARCHIVE
Before 1980, the Archive was virtually closed to foreigners but since then, the Archive has been Officially opened to all International rersearchers. With the exception of a small number of Documents referring to topics of great sensitivity, such as border matters, issues between Nationalities and issues concerning medicinal prescriptions, the rest of the Archive is open both to China as a whole as well as to scholars from foreign Countries.
For example, in 1992 the Archive received visits from more than thirty Delegations, incorporating a total of one-hundred-and-ninety-five Members, from Austria, Belgium, Japan, Holland, Hong Kong Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Macau, Mongolia, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. In the same year readers totalled four-thousand-eight-hundred researchers both from China and abroad (of which eight-hundred-and-forty were from Germany, Italy, Holland, Japan, Spain, the United States of America and seven other Countries and Regions of the World). 26,978 Documents were studied, 4.020 boxes of films visioned, 91 "Ping Pian" consulted and a total of 8,729 items handled.
The First Historical Archive of China is open all-year round and does not charge any research fees.
In order to promote the study and publication of materials stored in the Historical Archive, the Archive has published, since the founding of 'New China', more than one-hundred books, bulletins and reference works. The publication of transcriptions of Documents and Historical Sources aims the protection of the originals, while at the same time facilitating their use by researchers.
2. ARCHIVE OF SINO-PORTUGUESE RELATIONS
2.1. OUTLINE
The Archive of the First Historical Archive of China is systematized according to the classification of the jigou (agencies) and huafen (divisions) from which all the Historical Documents originate. Although indexes and catalogues already exist, not all of the Archive's Sections have yet been fully inventoried owing to the large quantity of Documents. If some Sections are excellently classified, specified and catalogued, with each of its Documents being well identified, the majority of the Sections have only in-process indexes, while still others are only classified according to their specialization.
As the Library and Archival undertakings are not yet perfected, it is necessary, at times, to search for specific Historical material in several different Sections. For example, the sources for the Documents relating to the Diplomacy of the Qing Dynasty are from different jigou, such as all the Imperial Palace Museum Departments, the Jun Jichu (Department of Armed Forces), the Waiwu Bu (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Neiwu Fu (Office of Internal Affairs), the Zongli yamen (Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Rites). Also, the nature of these Documents vary between Memoranda, ["Red"] Papers, Official Notices, Notes, Pamphlets, etc.
With regard to Historical Documents about Sino-Portuguese relations, so far they have only being catalogued in the jigou of the Imperial Palace Museum Departments, the Department of Armed Forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other jigou still lacking indexes for Documents pertaining to this subject. For this reason, the Archive does not as yet have an exact figure for the total number of these Documents scattered in the various jigou which require collection, thematic selection and to be systematically catalogued.
2.2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTATION WITH REGARD TO SINO-PORTUGUESE RELATIONS.
What follows is a brief description of the Documentation with regard to Sino-Portuguese relations in the three Sections mentioned above.
2.2.1. Quantity: The Imperial Palace Museum Departments, the Ministry of Armed Forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contain about five-hundred Documents referring to Sino-Portuguese relations; of these, more than threehundred are from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This Ministry was founded in the 27th year of the reign of the Guangxu (r.1875-†1908) Emperor, with the purpose of dealing with all matters regarding Foreign Affairs. For this reason, we can conclude that the bulk of the Documentation of Historical materials regarding Sino-Portuguese relations is concentrated on the Period following the Qing Dynasty.
2.2.2. Time: Except for the reign of Shunzhi, there are Documents for this field from all the reigns of the Qing Dynasty, such as Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, Guangxu and Xuantong.
The oldest Document dates from 2nd of September 1710, KX 49. It is a Memoir written by the Special Envoy in Guangdong, Fan Shi Chong, sent to the Emperor and referring to an issue dealing with the West related by the Supervisor of the Guangdong Customs House, Li Guo Ping. The most recent Document dates from the 19th of August 1911, XT 3. It is a Letter written by a High Official of the Court accredited to France, Liu Shi Xun, sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and informing that Portugal had issued an Order that Dai Cheng Ling (Chinese Counsellor accredited in Portugal) should accept the draining of rivers and the prohibition against gambling in Macao.
2.2.3. Content: Historical Documents refering to the fields of:.
2.2.3.1. Diplomacy: Documents about the exchange of Ambassadors between China and Portugal, the presentation of credentials, interviews, visits and even the journeys of the families of the Portuguese Embassy's personnel, in China.
2.2.3.2. Border and concessions: Documents about the Macao border, including telegrams sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by a High Official responsible for the matter, by the Kanjie weichi hui (Boundary Maintenance Association), by the Luguang weichi hui (Association of Maintenance of Hong Kong), by the Jiewu Yanjiu Hui (Institute of Border Studies) and by Representatives of Overseas Chinese in Nanyang huaqiao (Southeast Asia).
2.2.3.3. Jurisdiction: Documents such as the telegram sent by the Ling Nan Association, of Jiu Jian, about the incident between a Portuguese and a Chinese passenger; and about the updating of Regulations for the extradition of criminals, as stipulated by Macao.
2.2.3.4. Chinese workers: Documents about new Regulations for recruiting workers and the revision of tax Regulations; about Chinese naturalization of foreign Nationalities; and the poor treatment of Chinese in East Africa [...].
2.2.3.5. Military and armaments: Documents exchanged with regard to the detention of a Japanese ship which was transporting forbiden cargo; about Military weapons embargo by Macao; and Official correspondence referring to the dispatching of troops to the Siege of Gon Bei by the Macao Governor, in addition to Notes, Telegrams and Records of interviews.
2.2.3.6. Trade and commerce: Official Notes and Telegrams about the detention of a Portuguese merchant ship carrying salt; and regarding revised Regulations for Customs taxes.
2.2.3.7. Mining and railways: Documents sent by the Head of the Portuguese Embassy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dealing with the exploitation of mines and the construction of the Guangdong-Macao railroad, and about the exploitation of the Coal Mine at Da Ling Shang according to the Portuguese businessman Ron Liang [according to Chinese pronunciation]).
2.2.3.8. Finance: Documents about Portugal's compensation, about the expenses of the Portuguese Embassy, about exemption from tax on the purchase of horses by Portuguese Diplomats, about loans of foreign capital and about the exemption from licenses for vehicles used by Portuguese Diplomats.
2.2.3.9. Culture: Telegrams about the offering of musical scores as well Official and assorted Notes.
2.2.3.10. Others: Documents about the establishment of the Ao shi Yanjiu Hui (Institute of Studies of Macao Affairs), aimed at investigating border matters, about a proposal made by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and about the identity between the Office responsible for the Chinese and the Political system of Constitutional Monarchy.
History has confirmed that the Qing Dynasty constitutes a declining Period of Chinese society of loosing prosperity. After the Opium War, China sunk into being a Nation controlled by Colonial and Feudal Powers. Besides the Historical Documents of normal Protocol, the other above-mentioned Documents testify that China was submitted to humiliations and inequalities. However, all the Documents in the The First Historical Archive of China are of great value for the study of Sino-Portuguese relations and the issues concerning Macao, from the end of the Qing Dynasty onwards. The Archive welcomes specialists, scholars, and historians to explore and take advantage of this Chinese Documental Repository.
Translated from the Chinese by: Zoe Copeland
Revised by: Maria Trigoso
CHINESE GLOSSARY
Ao Shi Yangjiu Hui 澳事研究会
Beiping 北平
Bingbu Dang'an 兵部档案
canzan 参赞
Chenghua 成化
Chongzhen [Si Hong] 崇侦
Da Ling Shan 大岭山
Dai Chen Lin 戴陈霖
Dang'an Guan 档案馆
Daoguang 道光
Diyi Lishi Dang'an Guan 第一历史档案馆
Fan Shi Chong 范时崇
Gongbei 拱北
Gongzhong ge Chu 宫中各处
Guangdong 广东
Guangxu 广绪
Gugong Bowuguan 故宫博物馆
Guojia Dang'an Ju 国家档案局
Guwuguan 古物馆
Han 汉
Hongwu [Tai Chou] 洪武
huafen 划分
Jiajing [San Chong] 嘉靖
Jiaqing 嘉庆
Jiewu Yanjiu Hui 界务研究会
jigou 机构
jiguan 机关
Jiu Jiang 九江
Jun Jichu 军机处
Kangxi 康熙
Kanjie weichi hui 堪界维持会
Li Bu 礼部
Li Guo Ping 李国屏
Lingnan 岭南
Lishi Dang'an Guan 历史档案馆
Liu Shi Xun 刘式训
Lugang weichi hui 旅港维持会
Man 满
Ming 明
Ming Qing Dang'an Bu 明清档案部
Ming Qing Dang'an Guan 明清档案馆
Nanyang huaqiao 南洋华侨
Neiwu Fu 內务府
Ping Pian 平片
pingxing 平行
Qianlong 乾隆
Qing 清
Rong Liang 容良
Shang 商
shangxing 上行
Shunzhi 顺治
Taichang [Kuong Chong] 泰昌
Tongzhi 同治
Tushuguan 图书馆
Waiwu Bu 外务部
Wanli [Sang Chong] 万历
Wenguan Hui 文管会
Wenxian Guan 文献馆
Xianfeng 咸丰
xiaxing 下行
Xuande [Sun Chong] 宣德
Xuantong 宣统
Yongle [Seng Chou] 永乐
Yongzheng 雍正
Yue Haiguan Jiandu 粤海关监督
Zhang Gu 掌古
Zhengde [Mou Chong] 正德
Zhongguo Diyi Lishi Dang'an Guan 中国第一历史档案馆
Zhongyang Dang'an Guan 中央档案馆
zhupi 朱批
Zongli yamen 总理衙门
Zongwu Chu 总务处
* Director of the First National Historical Archive of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing.
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