Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Guan, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a proibição do comércio de algodão, carregado pelos navios estrangeiros para Cantão

Resource type
Title
Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Guan, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a proibição do comércio de algodão, carregado pelos navios estrangeiros para Cantão
Abstract
This abstract describes a bilingual historical document comprising an imperial edict issued in the forty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1777), specifically on the second day of the seventh lunar month, and bearing marginalia dated to the Ren Yin year—contextually aligned with 1777 rather than other possible sexagenary cycle equivalents. The document is an official proclamation issued by Guan, Acting Prefect of the Guangzhou Maritime Defence Prefecture for Military and Civil Affairs, addressed to the foreign headman of Macau. It transmits an imperial directive originally promulgated by Li, Governor-General of Guangdong Province, concerning trade regulation and agricultural policy in Guangdong. Key provisions include: the prohibition of foreign (termed ‘Oceanic Barbarian’) vessels engaged in cotton trade from entering Guangdong ports, issued under direct imperial command; and a subsequent imperial rescission of the provincial ban on cotton cultivation. The text bears multiple official seals, including those of the Guangzhou Maritime Defence Prefecture, the Office of the Guangzhou Prefecture for Military and Administrative Affairs, and the National Archive of the Torre do Tombo, indicating its archival provenance and administrative circulation. The document reflects Qing-era governance mechanisms, Sino-foreign diplomatic protocol, and the interplay between imperial authority, provincial administration, and maritime trade oversight in late eighteenth-century Guangdong. It is a primary source of significance for scholars examining Qing legal administration, colonial-era commercial regulation, and cross-cultural diplomatic communication in southern China.
Date
1777-08-05
Archive
Portugal. Arquivos Nacionais da Torre do Tombo
Loc. in Archive
PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000055
Link
Notes

Transcription

Page 1

[Stamp — top center]


[Marginalia — left center]
489
T55
人年年年


Page 2

[Stamp — top right]
[Red circular seal: 署廣州海防軍民府觀]

[Main text]
署廣州海防軍民府觀 諭夷目嘜囉
哆知悉現奉
巡撫廣東部院李 憲諭內開照得外


Page 3

[Stamp — center]
[Circular red stamp: ARQUIVO NACIONAL DA TORRE DO TOMBO]

[Main text]
洋夷船來粵貿易裝載棉花先經
欽奉
上諭概不許其進口欽遵飭行遵照并出示


Page 4

[Main text]
查禁在案茲現奉
諭旨粵省棉花之禁亦可不辦欽此合就諭
飭遵照諭到該同知即便遵照毋違等


Page 5

[Main text]
因奉此合就諭知諭到該夷目等即便遵

[Marginalia — left]
照毋違特諭

[Stamp — left]
[Circular red stamp encircling marginalia text]


Page 6

[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)

[Marginalia — right side, near bottom]
T 55

[Stamp — center]
[Circular red ink seal with Chinese characters: 廣州府機務同知關防]

[Main text]
乾隆四十二年七月
二日諭

Translation

Page 1

[Stamp — top centre]
Imperial Edict

[Marginalia — left centre]
489
T55
Ren Yin year (i.e., the Year of the Tiger in the sexagenary cycle; corresponding to 1602, 1662, 1722, 1782, 1842, or 1902—contextual dating required)


Page 2

[Stamp — top right]
[Red circular seal: Office of the Guangzhou Maritime Defence Prefecture for Military and Civil Affairs, held by Guan]

[Main text]
Guan, Acting Prefect of the Guangzhou Maritime Defence Prefecture for Military and Civil Affairs, hereby issues this proclamation to the foreign headman Macau (Macao).

Be it known that I have received, under official instruction, the following edict issued by Li, Governor-General of Guangdong Province:

‘Whereas foreign merchants and residents…’


Page 3

[Stamp — centred]
[Circular red stamp: National Archive of the Torre do Tombo]

[Main text]
Foreign (‘Oceanic Barbarian’) vessels arriving in Guangdong for trade and seeking to load cotton were, by imperial edict, expressly prohibited from entering port. This directive was issued under the direct command of the Emperor and is to be strictly observed, enforced, and publicly proclaimed.


Page 4

[Main text]
Prohibited, as recorded in official files.
His Imperial Majesty has now issued the following edict: ‘The prohibition on cotton cultivation in Guangdong Province may be rescinded.’
By imperial command.
Accordingly, this edict is hereby transmitted for strict observance. Upon receipt of this order, the Subprefect concerned is to comply immediately and without delay.


Page 5

--- TRANSLATION ---
[Main text]
By order hereby, you are instructed to take due notice of this directive; upon receipt, the foreign headmen concerned shall comply forthwith.

[Marginalia — left]
Comply strictly—no deviation permitted. By special mandate.

[Stamp — left]
[Circular red seal enclosing the marginalia text]


Page 6

[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)

[Marginalia — right-hand margin, near foot of page]
T 55

[Stamp — centred]
[Circular red ink seal bearing the Chinese characters: *Guangzhou Fu Jiwu Tongzhi Guanfang* — ‘Official Seal of the Assistant Administrator for Military and Administrative Affairs, Guangzhou Prefecture’]

[Main text]
In the forty-second year of the Qianlong reign [1777], seventh lunar month,
second day — Imperial Edict

Citation
Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Guan, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a proibição do comércio de algodão, carregado pelos navios estrangeiros para Cantão. (1777). Portugal. Arquivos Nacionais da Torre do Tombo (PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000055). http://43.156.68.124/docs/NMFH42Q9/viewer_NMFH42Q9.html