Emperor Qianlong’s Poem to Macartney

Today’s podcast is an interesting poem that functions less as a beautiful poem but more a historical artifact. In 1793, the English Ambassador met with the Chinese Emperor. After their meeting, the emperor, Qianlong, wrote an interesting poem about the encounter. In today’s podcast, we dissect that poem. Below is also Lee’s English translation of the poem, along with the original, straight from the pen of Qianlong.

A Poem on the My Feelings After the Ambassador of the Red-Haired English King, Macartney, Came to Give Pay Tribute and Give Offerings to Me

The Portuguese long ago sent an ambassador to pay tribute to me

Now the English have imitated the Portuguese in their expressions of loyalty to me. 

They are from far-away places where mythological figures from ancient China have not tread,

Our ancestors’ virtue and morality has drawn them from the distant oceans. 

Even though I see their [tribute] as ordinary, however, in my heart, I find their actions praiseworthy. 

I do not value their strange speech nor the dazzling cleverness of their things

They came with these few things and I have sent them away with much,

Deep inside me, I do this because I want to preserve peace in order to maintain our success.

– Translated by Lee Moore

Original Poem:

《红毛英吉利国王差使臣马嘎尔尼奉表贡至，诗以志事》

　　“博都雅昔修职贡，英吉利今效荩诚。

　　竖亥1横章输近步，祖功宗德逮远瀛。

　　视如常却心嘉焉，不贵异听物翊2精。

　　怀远薄来而厚往，衷深保泰以持盈。”