传教士进贡与乾隆皇帝的西洋品味

通过进贡赢得中国最高统治者的好感,是利玛窦开创的传教策略的重要组成部分。本文利用《宫中进单》中的传教士进单,总结出乾隆朝西洋传教士的三种进贡类型:一是通过地方官员的进贡,二是新到京传教士的进贡,三是在京传教士以臣下身份在节庆时的进贡,进而指出进贡是传教士的一种集体行动,并探讨了传教士在乾隆朝特殊环境之下进贡时的憎恨、企盼,甚至感激的心理。本文结合其他材料,通过进贡透视了乾隆皇帝的西洋品味,着重探讨了三个方面的内容:一、对西洋奇物的好奇,二、对西洋器物的广泛兴趣,三、对西洋绘画的持久兴趣。进贡是一种交往形式,进贡中传教士与乾隆皇帝各怀目的,但进贡本身已注定不是一种平等的交往,一切都由乾隆皇帝所决定。

Missionary Tribute and the Qianlong Emperor's Western Taste

An important component of Matteo Ricci's mission strategy to China was through winning the goodwill of supreme rulers by presenting gifts.This paper,by using the "Palace Tribute Inventories" of the missionaries in the Qianlong era,held at the First Historical Archives of China in Beijing,sums up three types of western missionary tribute in the Qianlong era:First,the tribute through local officials;second,the tribute by missionaries upon their arrival in Beijing;and third,the tribute by missionaries as subje...