Jottings from the Granite Studio

This date in 1877, Guo Songtao (郭嵩焘 1818-1891), China’s first permanent overseas ambassador, arrived at his new posting in London. Guo was somewhat an odd fit for this role. He was a classically-trained scholar who reacted to his new appointment by remarking, “How can I, who know no foreign language and am ignorant of world [...]

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“This age is one in which the entire world is developing communications. In the past, Chinese people viewed our country as all under heaven, and Westerners likewise thought Europe was the world. Today things are gradually moving forward; Chinese people already know there is a so-called Western civilization, and Westerners, even though our country [...]

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