Ep. 306 | The History of Guangzhou (Part 4)
The history continues with the many exciting and historically consequential events of the mid-19th century. In this Part 4 episode, the history of Guangzhou takes a dramatic turn as the Europeans start showing up in greater numbers clamoring for more trade and more access to the China market. The Qianlong Emperor calls for the Canton System which leads to a number of "stepping stones" that ultimately results in the Treaty of Nanjing. And now with four additional treaty ports opened to trade, Guangzhou's importance starts to wane.
Listen On Your Favorite Podcast Player
Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Guǎngzhōu | 广州 | Capital of Guangdong province |
| Qīng Dynasty | 清朝 | China's final imperial dynasty, lasting 1644-1912 |
| Qín Dynasty | 秦朝 | China's first imperial dynasty, lasting 221-206 BC |
| Nánhǎi Commandery | 南海郡 | One of the thirty-six commanderies setup around China by the forst Qin Emperor |
| Fānfāng | 蕃坊 | The Foreign enclace in Guangzhou where the foreigners resided |
| Zhū Yuánzhāng | 朱元璋 | Founder of the Ming Dynasty, reigned 1368-1398 |
| Hǎi Jìn | 海禁 | A series of sea bans that prohibited coastal sea rade to be carried out. They were instituted from time to time in the Ming and Qing dyansties as part od the isolationist policies of certain emperors. |
| Macao | 澳门 | Poirtuguese enclave estabished in 1557 that was returned to China in 1999 |
| Shùnzhì Emperor | 顺治帝 | Second emperor of the Qing Dynasty, reigning 1644-1661 |
| Kāngxī Emperor | 康熙帝 | Third emperor of the Qing Dynasty, reigning 1661-1722 |
| Yōngzhèng Emperor | 雍正帝 | Fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, reigning 1722-1735 |
| Guǎngdōng | 广东 | Province in southernmost China. Capital is Guangzhou |
| Guǎngxī | 广西 | Province just to the west of Guangdong. |
| Liángguǎng | 两广 | The two neighboring provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi, politically grouped together as one entity in past Chinese history |
| Yīkǒu Tōngshāng | 一口通商 | The Canton System of trade instituted by Qianlong |
| Tiānjìn | 天津 | Port city just to the southeast of Beijing |
| Níngbō | 宁波 | Coastal city in Zhejiang Province just to the south of Shanghai |
| Zhōushān | 舟山 | City just to the east of Ningbo, comprised of many small islands |
| Xiàmén | 厦门 | Coastal city in Fujian that was also known as Amoy |
| Nánjīng | 南京 | Capital city of Jiangsu province. Served as the capital of several past dynasties |
| Co-Hong | 公行 | Part of the Canton System were these Chinese merchants who had exclusive authority to trade with the foreigners. The foreign traders could only deal with these officials |
| Qiánlóng Emperor | 乾隆帝 | Fifth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, reigning 1735-1796 |
| Hoppo | 户部 | The official designated by the emperor to oversee all trade at the port of Guangzhou |
| Fújiàn | 福建 | Coastal province in China, south of Zhejiang. Capital located in Fuzhou |
| Lín Zéxú | 林则徐 | 1785-1850, politician and scholar who served in a number of high-ranking positions in the Qing government. His forceful measures taken against the foreign traders dealing in opium, changed the course of history |
| The First Battle of Chuānbí | 穿鼻之战 | The first battle of the Opium War. It occured on November 3, 1839 and resulted in a British victory over China |
| Dìnghǎi | 定海 | A district of Zhoushan made up of 128 islands |
| Qíshàn | 琦善 | 1786-1854, a Mongol nobleman and official of the late Qing Dynasty, best known for his negotiations with the British during the First Opium War |
| Dàoguāng Emperor | 道光帝 | 6th emepror of the Qing Dynasty, reigning 1820-1850 |
| Shāmiàn Island | 沙面岛 | A sandbank island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou |
| Guān Tiānpéi | 关天培 | 1781-1841, Chinese admiral of the Qing Dynasty who served in the First Opium War |
| Yáng Fāng | 杨芳 | 1770-1846, Han Chinese general and diplomat of the Qing Dynasty |
| Second Battle of Chuānbí | 第二次穿鼻之戰 | Fought between the Qing and British forces on January 7, 1841 |
| Qín Shǐhuáng | 秦始皇 | The founding emperor of the Qin Dynasty who lived 259-210 BC |
| Yìshān | 奕山 | 1790-1878, A Manchu official and diplomat during the late Qing |
| Sānyuánlǐ | 三元里 | a neighborhood in the Baiyun District in the northern suburbs of Guangzhou. The Sanyuanli Incident happened there on May 29, 1841 |
| Báiyūn District | 白云区 | One of 11 districts in the city of Guangzhou. Baiyun is located in the northern suburbs of the city |
| Yuèxiù Park | 越秀公园 | A huge park located in the Yuexiu Dustrict of Guangzhou |
| Xiàmén | 厦门 | Coastal city in Fujian that was also known as Amoy |
| Zhènjiāng | 镇江 | Also known by its old name of Chinkiang, it is a prefecture-level city in Jiangsu on the Yangzi River |
| Hàn Dynasty | 汉朝 | Dynasty founded by Liu Bang in 202 BC that lasted until 220 AD |
| Han Emperor Wǔ | 汉武帝 | Powerful emperor during the Han Dynasty who reigned 141-87 BC |
| Nányuè Kingdom | 南越国 | An ancient kingdom in Guangdong, Guangxi and Vietnam that lasted from the fall of the Qin Dynasty until 111 BC when it was conquered by the forces of Han Wudi |
| Red Turban Rebellion | 红巾起义 | A rebellion that lasted 1351-1368 against the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. There was also another Red Turban Rebellion that happened during the Qing that lasted 1854-1856 |
| Taiping Rebellion | 太平天国运动 | Rebellion in China that lasted 1850-1864 that led to the deaths of around twenty million people |
| Niǎn Rebellion | 捻乱 | Rebellion in mostly northern China that lasted 1851-1864 |
| Punti-Hakka Clan Wars | 土客械斗 | A conflict between the Hakka and Cantonese people between 1855-1867 |
| Treaty of Nanjing | 南京条约 | The treaty that ended the First Opium War, signed August 29, 1842 |
Enjoy the show and want to support the CHP?
Join the Teacup Patreon
Make a Direct Donation
Buy Laszlo a Cup of Coffee
Related Episodes
In this episode, we see how Japan marched and bicycled their way across the Johor Strait and proceeded to quickly defeat the British Commonwealth troops.