The Last Embassy: The Dutch Mission of 1795 and the Forgotten History of Western Encounters with China

by Tonio Andrade

From the acclaimed author of The Gunpowder Age, a book that casts new light on the history of China and the West at the turn of the nineteenth century



George Macartney's disastrous 1793 mission to China plays a central role in the prevailing narrative of modern Sino-European relations. Summarily dismissed by the Qing court, Macartney failed in nearly all of his objectives, perhaps setting the stage for the Opium Wars of the nineteenth century and the mistrust that still marks the relationship today. But not all European encounters with China were disastrous. The Last Embassy tells the story of the Dutch mission of 1795, bringing to light a dramatic but little-known episode that transforms our understanding of the history of China and the West.

Drawing on a wealth of archival material, Tonio Andrade paints a panoramic and multifaceted portrait of an age marked by intrigues and war. China was on the brink of rebellion. In Europe, French armies were invading Holland. Enduring a harrowing voyage, the Dutch mission was to be the last European diplomatic delegation ever received in the traditional Chinese court. Andrade shows how, in contrast to the British emissaries, the Dutch were men with deep knowledge of Asia who respected regional diplomatic norms and were committed to understanding China on its own terms.

Beautifully illustrated with sketches and paintings by Chinese and European artists, The Last Embassy suggests that the Qing court, often mischaracterized as arrogant and narrow-minded, was in fact open, flexible, curious, and cosmopolitan.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction, Asia

424 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Philippe Beauvais · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so very unique and charming, while still providing great historical analysis. It follows the colourful characters of the 1795 Dutch embassy to the Qing court, a story filled with misadventure, tragedy, complaints and a great ton of wonder.

Andrade’s tireless research allows the reader to not only dive into 1800s China, but also to peer into the very minds of the men leading the expedition as they navigate an untold journey for westerners of the era. It follows and far eclipses Lord Macartney’s disastrous mission, and gets in the good favours of the illustrious emperor Qianlong. The descriptions of so many temples, peoples and landscapes can get a little tiring, but they all faithfully paint an intriguing picture of the Middle Kingdom.

[TG Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

【讀後的胡思亂想】歐陽泰的《最後的使團》

1. 與子俱小。

這段「荷蘭使節團到北京祝賀乾隆登基六十周年（1795年）」的各項記錄，在研究近代中國外交關係上，基本受到忽視。與其對比的，是在此事件前兩年前，英國馬戛爾尼的失敗出使事件。我們現代人當然可以對於學界不公平看待史料，提出各種內部與外部的解釋原因。但我認為最重要的，還是這個事件文件所依附的母國國家勢力的變遷。自從18世紀英狤猁國逐漸展露頭角之後，緊接著它的崛起繁榮，乃至於其後啟的文化繼承者的亞美利堅合眾國。這自然使得馬戛爾尼成為兩百年來最重要的第一手史料；無論其最後得出的正反結論，都必須從馬戛爾尼出發。

而本書所敘述的這個荷蘭使團，在賓主盡歡地完成了它的禮節性外交任務後，於同一年其母國尼德蘭聯省共和國滅亡，VOC也在不久後解散消失了。至於該地區在拿破崙時代結束後所接續繼承的政治實體，基本上已成了歐洲的二線國家。

所以說，當事人所留下來的史料，是否受到保留與重視，與其母國勢力有很大的關連。

記得唐德剛曾經痛罵那位參與甲午海戰的英國海員 William Ferdinand Tyler，說他的回憶錄裡一堆胡說鬼扯，卻成了中西學界的經典史料（我永遠會記得自己國中時歷史老師教到這一段時，老師在課堂上幫我們補充所講到的海戰過程的事蹟，居然全都來自這位「英國浪人癟三」……）。

2. 一個人永遠擺脫不了他所處的時代。

當我自己年少時的籠統公論，歐美西方一切好，中國一切壞——以財富、生產、生活品質而言，這也稱得上是客觀的現象。延伸至歷史談論時，「近代中國」也必須符合這項大家的底層意識形態，研究也需把東西方接觸時的「中國」和「歐美」，建立成為戲劇化的明暗對比臉譜。

但這四五十年來，對岸 PRC 的那三件（財富、生產、生活品質）有顯著的提昇（這也是客觀現象）。也因此，重新建構近代中國（明清與民初）的新史觀，也逐漸成為新的潮流，一定要也要像是網路文章的「十億人都驚呆了︰明清皇帝對西歐的技術完全都不陌生」。這些年來自己所讀的歷史雜書，早已將我年少時那種「閉關自大、不思進取」的全部負面觀念全部清洗掉了。本書算是再為此新增一段史料證劇。

沒有人會是純粹的理性者，連歷史研究者也無法例外。

[Arjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very enjoyable to read about the Dutch envoy to the Qing court in 1795. The book is well written and interesting both for sinologists as well as readers with little prior knowledge about 18th century China or Batavia.

This book is a reevaluation of the Dutch envoy which went down in history as a failure. Often history is told by the last men standing, in this case the British, who had sent a failed mission two years prior led by Lord Macartney and wanted to make the kowtowing Dutch one seem even worse. Tonio Andrade based his research on the diaries of the participants, and other documents in Dutch and Chinese that were missed by earlier scholars. He convincingly demonstrates that it is unjust to paint the Dutch mission as a failure, just because it didn’t lead to economic gain. This was mainly due to the collapse of the East Indies Company and the Netherlands being overrun by Napoleon’s armies that happened during the mission, which meant there was no commercial follow up possible. On their return to Europe the participants reports were not widely published and translated either, or misreported leading to further misunderstandings about the success of the trip.

Drawing from the personal observations of four members of the trip, in letters home as well as in diaries, Andrade could include many authentic details of what life was like in China. He provides day to day descriptions of the arduous 1500-mile trip over land from Canton to Beijing in the middle of winter, which is rushed so that the envoy arrives in time for the celebration of the 60th year reign anniversary of Qing dynasty emperor Qianlong. There are many details about the lodging, food, entertainment, scheming in the Dutch group as well as on the part of the Mandarins that accompany them on their trip up and down the country, that help pace the book. On their way back the envoy takes the more leisurely Grand Canal Route and stops off at many sights that are tourist attractions to this day.

What was considered most scandalous by contemporaries was the Dutch willingness to kowtow for the emperor. Andrade argues that the Dutch, with their diplomatic experience in Japan where they held a unique post at Deshima, understood that in Asia the role of diplomacy is not just about bargaining, gaining concessions, and signing treaties. Chinese diplomacy was “aimed at the maintenance of a regime of communications and interaction which both sides viewed as legitimate”. Arcade concludes that: “The Dutch visitors were greeted so warmly in the forbidden city and the imperial pleasure gardens, not just because their kowtows reinforced imperial order but also because it was fun to include these exotic outsiders in the holiday festivities”.

[Tristan Mostert · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This book is designed to provide both an immersive narrative and a historical argument", reads the note on the first page. Mission accomplished on both counts. The book takes you along on the Dutch East India Company's last embassy to the Chinese court, as the company itself was going bankrupt and the Dutch Republic back in Europe was on the verge of being invaded by the French. The unprecedentedly rich sources, and the wonderful writing (the whole book is in the present tense, unusual for a work of history but works like a charm), really bring alive not only its protagonists, but also the setting of late 18th-century China. It reads like a novel, but then also makes an extremely valid and insightful point about western perceptions of the Chinese Empire leading up to the Opium Wars. Andrade's earlier book about the fall of Dutch Formosa, Lost Colony: The Untold Story of China's First Great Victory over the West, was already an impressive combination of scholarship and great reading. In this new book, he has outdone himself.

[Tee Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Andrade knows how to write a quality scholarly-trade crossover and this by far is his best work yet. Lost Colony was a masterpiece, but Last Embassy is a touching story with a memorable cast of characters such as Andreas Everardus van Braam Houckgeest, Isaac Titsingh, and the Qianlong Emperor. Last Embassy is an exciting journey from start to finish!

[Doni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrade is a master of his craft, as he paints a picture of pre Opium Wars China that is unheard of in recent literature. The book conveniently came out at a time when US-China tensions are again at levels comparable to the 1990s; with the same mistakes of Macartney being repeated once again. The US shows unwillingness to conform with Chinese demands, shows zealous pride in Western superior values and alienates the Chinese by considering them as irrational and hostile.
The book brilliantly shows how a meagre Dutch mission, contrary to popular belief, was able to conduct a successful diplomatic embassy, and leave a positive impression at the Chinese court. The Last Embassy is a practical class in personal diplomacy, with its vibrant storytelling of encounters between the Dutch mission and the Chinese officials; highlighting the important role of establishing personal relationship in conduct of grand diplomacy.

[Melissa Lim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given China’s rising power, I thought this book offers a unique perspective of Chinese history from a pov that’s not the usual war/politics/economics analysis.

I enjoyed how the book was supplemented with images and was also well researched, sharing an unbiased view from different accounts.

Unfortunately, the embassy’s journey wasn’t really that interesting to me. Most of the book is a description of the journey. As a reader I kept waiting for some sort peak or climax to the journey, but it was factually reported in a rather flat way.

The conclusion was an opportunity to bring some meaning to the book, where the significance of the journey could be analysed and we could learn what happened to the characters after. However, I found the writing style a little too lengthy for my preference, and honestly wasn’t much analysis beyond the different ideas of whether it was a successful and what’s the definition of a successful embassy and where western views different from eastern’s on relationship and purpose of embassies. I thought this idea was already rather known and wished for further comparison with the world today.

I also wished there were more accounts from the Chinese’s pov. But understandably, that might all have been lost to history.

I think the book would have more significance if we still lived in a world where the west are still rather ignorant of China’s culture and history. Then as a reader, I might have felt more surprised and appreciated the lesson on China’s cultural wealth.

Nonetheless, given another chance, I would read this book still. It’s a good supplement to my current interest in China.

[Winston B-S · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and focused book. This is a very entertaining narrative that really helped my understanding of both the VOC and High Qing culture. Despite being written by an academic historian, this would serve as an excellent pop history book. A combination of both excellent writing and careful archival research.

One caveat: I found the conclusion of the book shockingly unconvincing. The author adds a short argument that Qing diplomacy was effective and that the "tribute system" was a stable diplomatic order (Among other things, he states that system was peaceful, which is not how I would characterize the era of the Ten Great Campaigns.). He suggests that ignoring the Titsingh/Van Braam mission was one of the reasons why past scholars were dismissive of Qing diplomacy. The author never engages with the obvious question about High Qing diplomacy: if it was so effective, why didn't it work? Why couldn't the Qing maintain peaceful relations into the 19th century if they had created such an effective and flexible system? This argument clearly needs more space to be fully argued. The book would be better if he had left this argument out or fully developed it

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was enraptured with the introduction and so excited to read it. I think the change for the rest of the book into the present tense and the “on the ground” approach to the whole journey of the embassy was a bit awkward at first or it was just for me as I expect a “birds eye view” of the history books I read. I think it would have been better in longer reading chunks but because I was reading it before I went to bed and not too long it was a slog constantly jumping in and out of following along with these characters. While I appreciate all the research and quotes from letters and observations in the text, I feel like it could have worked better as a historical novel. I was ready to give it a lower star but then the conclusion was fantastic and brought everything together putting the trip into context which is what I really enjoyed.

[Eressea · Rating 5 out of 5]

開年第一本文字書
以前課本只會寫馬嘎爾尼無功而返，頂多再加一個阿美士德
接下來就鴉片戰爭管你大清要不要叩頭了~

最近本書出版才知道
馬嘎爾尼之後，阿美士德之前
荷蘭人曾經派過一個讓乾隆爺龍心大悅的祝壽使節團
但因為出使期間荷蘭被拿破崙滅了
導致這個使團的成就不為人所知
直到千百年後才被本書作者重新評價

在看本書之前我就知道荷蘭人在亞洲做生意
是很有彈性沒"骨頭"的
在日本要踏繪就踏繪，跪將軍就跪將軍
所以對乾隆爺對聖旨要三跪九叩也是沒問題的
荷蘭人認為就是一種禮節嗎，入境隨俗
雖然其他歐洲國家很不齒荷蘭人的行為
但荷蘭確實也得到不少好處，銀子有到手比較重要
本書從歐洲人視角看很多中國風俗和皇家秘辛
讓對這段時期有點認識又更多不認識的我覺得好新奇
有點背景概念讀起來也特別快
使團對中國人的評價，到今天似乎也還是很符合XD

可惜的是本次出使期間母國沒了，東印度公司也沒了
作者說要是沒有這個大事件，說不定荷蘭能開創對中貿易新局
但我覺得如果有然後的話
工業革命之後的荷蘭人還會那麼"尊重"亞洲禮節嗎?
這可真是個大大的問號啊?

作者在乾隆爺為什麼那麼優待這個荷蘭使團
讓他們看了很多連本國人都不一定看得到的皇家設施和活動
作出滿多"新清史"風格的解釋
什麼以禮治國啊，皇帝的多重形象啊，沒啥新意
倒是想到這麼優待使節，是否很大程度上是乾隆爺私心
要讓宮眷們看看洋人呢??
書裡不只一次提到使團行禮如儀時
小窗縫隙後有許多雙女眷的眼睛在看
也許乾隆爺在後宮講起有人要來祝壽
拗不過女眷們的好奇心
於是讓使團深入禁地給嬪妃們好好看個夠?
不過這種事如今也無法找到證據了~
也很難解釋拜訪結束後，使團沿大運河南返廣東
仍舊受到盛大的招待
總之就是我一個小小的搞笑想法

[Billy Lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the Dutch mission to Qing China in 1795, which is relatively less well-known when compared to the famous failure of the Macartney Embassy. The author has successfully presented and reconstructed the mission's aim, history, and significance. But in general, a large proportion of the book is devoted to description of the trip, e.g. what they saw, what they ate, how they were treated by the local officials, which seems a bit monotonous to read. To me, this book is less intriguing than Lost Colony, another book by the author.

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

play along, and you'll begin to understand. Yes, it's a far cry from Europe, but one of the beauties of life is how differently its lived, her and there.

A detailed account of the Dutch Embassy to the Qing Court in 1795, a ceremonial embassy to celebrate Emperor Qianlong's sixtieth year rule on the throne. The last European delegation to be received in the traditional Chinese imperial court. The next one wont happen until after the Opium War.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish more academic research was presented in such an engaging narrative. I liked the amount of detail and it even made me laugh when one of the traveler's porters ran away and locals subsequently stole his hat. It was interesting to read about the way the narrative was changed in the following decades to make the mission seem like an embarrassing failure. 

[Redmar Huisman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een heel goed boek over een handelsreis in het China van eind achttiende eeuw en de ervaringen van de reizigers. Het feit dat er constant gebruik wordt gemaakt van de tegenwoordige tijd is soms wat verwarrend.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating recounting of the little-known Dutch embassy to the Qing court doing old fashioned diplomacy and perhaps providing a glimpse of another path that European-Chinese relations may have travelled over the ensuing centuries

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult to rate. A really interesting story on itself but really too long on the description of how the members of the embassy (dis)liked the various lodgings, means of transport and meals.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tale of a group of Europeans traveling through China and visiting the emperor

[Pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming tale of common-ish lives in the colonial world at the end of the 18th century. I genuinely enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.

[Stanoxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern sinologist reduced himself no more than a bunch of western travellers two-hundred years ago in illustrating an ancient China. Too many gossips, less insights.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable to read. A unique delineation of the 18 century China from the European’s perspective.

[Sam Kuivenhoven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geniaal

[Sem C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I can’t think of a reason not to give this book 5 stars. Andrade masterfully transforms a journey through 18th-century China into an engaging and enjoyable read. The book goes beyond merely recounting the journey; it offers diverse perspectives, rich historical context, and vivid descriptions that bring the scenery to life.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

What was it like to be among the only westerners to visit the Qianlong emperor in his private palace? Traveling through the Chinese countryside, viewing sites never seen before by non-Chinese, this is the account of a forgotten "embassy" (diplomatic mission) by some Dutch diplomats.

Written in an easy-to-read style, this is as close to a page-turner as you can get for an academic book. The author has gone to exhaustive lengths to map out each portion of a unique voyage to Beijing by a Dutch mission in 1795. Ultimately the audience is China scholars, so although I enjoyed it for its meticulous details, it will remain to somebody else to write a shorter account for non-Chinese experts.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

6/10