119
THE TAKING OF CHAPU
KEITH STEVENS
Recently my daughter and I visited Chapu, a town which for a moment in history was the scene of one of the first encounters between British Forces and the Tatars of the Imperial Chinese Army.
Chapu, sometimes recorded as Chapoo but now romanised as Zhapu, is a small town lying almost exactly half way between the cities of Shanghai and Hangchou, the latter being the provincial capital of the central Chinese province of Chekiang. It used to be an important port on the north coast of the Bay of Hangchou noted for its connections with the Japan trade during earlier times; however, by the 1840s it had become a backwater garrison town for the Chinese army of the Manchu Ch'ing dynasty in support of the small Manchu garrison. The original Ch'ing fighting force, the Tatar Banners from Manchuria and Mongolia, had become effete through soft living, whilst the provincial forces of Chinese so-called soldiery, the Green Banners, were ill-equipped, ill-trained, and under strength.
During the eighteen thirties, China wanted nothing of foreigners, whilst the Europeans, seeing a vast land teeming with millions of potential customers, wanted admission into China and its lucrative trade. Europeans, and to a certain extent the Americans too, were becoming more and more frustrated by the Chinese attitude towards foreigners in general, refusing to accept them under what was considered in the West as normal international relations.
Misunderstandings were centred around China looking upon Great Britain and other European countries as tributary states, and the British East India Company, which had had its monopoly abolished in 1833, had entered the opium trade. Opium was banned by the Chinese authorities, and after an official was sent from Peking to Canton—the only port open to foreigners for trade in general—especially to put an end to the opium trade. British officials became involved due to confusion over recognition of their status and the question of the illicit trade of opium. A further quarrel broke out over the jurisdiction of Chinese courts in cases involving British subjects.
119
THE TAKING OF CHAPU
KEITH STEVENS
Recently my daughter and I visited Chapu, a town which for a moment in history was the scene of one of the furst encounters between British Forces and the Tatais of the Imperial Chinese Army.
Chapul, sometimes recorded as Chapoo but now romanised as Zhapu, is a small town lying almost exactly half way between the cities of Shanghai and Hangehou, the latter being the provincial capital of the central Chinese province of Chekiang. It used to be an important port on the north coast of the Bay of Hangchou noted for its connections with the Japan trade during earlier times, however, by the 1840s it had become a backwater garrison town for the Chinese army of the Manchu Chi'ing dynasty in support of the small Manchu garrison The original Ch'ing fighting force, the Tatar Banners from Manchuria and Mongolia had become elfete through soft living, whilst the provincial forces of Chinese so-called soldiery, the Green Banners, were ill equipped, ill trained and under strength
During the eighteen thrities China wanted nothing of foreigners whilst the Europeans seeing a vast land teeming with millions of potential customers wanted admission into China and its lucrative trade. Europeans and to a certain extent the Americans too were becoming more and more frustrated by the Chinese attitude towards foreigners in general, refusing to accept them under what was considered in the West as normal inter- national relations
Misunderstandings were centred around China looking upon Great Britain and other European countries as tributary states, and the British East India Company, which had had its monopoly abolished in 1833, had entered the opшum trade Optum was banned by the Chinese authorities and after an official was sent from Peking to Canton-the only port open to foreigners for trade in general-especially to put an end to the optum trade. Briush officials became involved due to confusion over recognition of then status and the question of the illicit trade of opium. A further quarrel broke out over the jurisdiction of Chinese courts in cases involving British subjects.
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