Anli Ding's Interview

Anli: How did you know about the Opium War?

Mr. Zhao: From the newspaper or history books because the war was so long ago.

A: The Opium War had a very big effect on China. Did this war affect your family?

Mr. Z: Not very much, because Jiaonan is very far from where the war was fought, and the war happened a long time ago. When I was very young, I can remember there were many people planting opium. This is because of the Opium War. In the 1940’s, in my hometown, there were many people who planted opium. (unable to understand)

A: They say the Opium War had a big effect on China. Do you think this is right? Why?

Mr. Z: I think it’s right. After the Opium War, China was ruled by both England and the King of the old Chinese Feudal system. The aggressor opened the gate to China, so the effect was very big. It also had a big effect on the development of China. It also had an effect on the people. At that time, the people thought that if we dropped behind in technology, we could be easily defeated during an invasion. So, the people woke up and began to reform, for example, the Xin He Revolution, where they revolted against the government.

A: Lin Ze Xun was considered to be a national hero. What do you think about him?

Mr. Z: Yeah, Lin Ze Xun is a real hero. Before the Opium War, the society of China was on the verge of a collapse. Many people in the Bureaucracy were paid to give people positions in the bureaucracy. The taxes were also very big. Why did England send the opium to China? Because the government was very corrupt and inefficient, so the country lost a lot of money. Before the war, the economy in China was very self-sufficient. The Chinese people planted food for themselves. The men worked in the fields and the women stayed at home to weave their own clothes. China exported large amounts of tea and silk. This was normal trade. From this, China was able to get some money. But after the war, China lost a lot of money. Why did the government ask the people to abstain from taking opium? Because it was very bad for their health. And because of this, China lost very much money. I heard a true story. There was a company, the East India Company, which first had normal trade. But later, it also sold opium in exchange for many expensive things in China. In the 10 years before the war, the amount of opium coming into China increased 1000%. So, China was in a financial crisis. The people suffered a lot because of this. The people that were using the opium were unable to work, so these men became useless. At this time, Lin Ze Xun suggested to stop the flow of Opium into China. After he came to Guang Zhou, he made rules to stop the opium. He took many positive steps. He looked all around the city to find the Opium, and even disguised himself. He tried very hard to find the opium. He demanded that England and the US stop sending opium to China. All the opium must be handed in, and he made many strict laws. There was an English business organization in China that mainly sold opium, which Lin Ze Xun burned to the ground. He also burned all the opium. His behavior was very good for the Chinese people.

A: The king at that time fired Lin Ze Xun because of pressure from England and other countries. What do you think about this?

Mr. Z: The king was very weak and inefficient. Lin Ze Xun had done a good thing for the Chinese people. Although there are many pressures from other countries, as a king he should have lead the people to stand up and fight back. If we had fought back actively, the other countries wouldn’t have dared to attack us. Politics were very rotten, so the Opium War happened.

A: Can you tell us what was China like before and after the war?

Mr. Z: Before the war, the economy was self-sufficient. The men went out to plant the tea and food, and the women stayed at home to weave and cook. They didn’t need to buy anything. After the war, many cities in China were opened to trade with other countries. Many things from other countries came into China, so it destroyed the old economy. And in politics, we no longer have sovereignty. The cities that were opened to trade were in both the south and north, so much more opium came into China. Many cities, such Shanghai, Beijing, and Tainjing, were conceded to England. China lost its dignity and honor.

A: So, Opium War is disgrace of China. Can you tell us if you know during the war there is a treaty called named Nanjing Treaty?

Mr. Z: Yes

A: Because of this, China lost a lot of land and money. How do you think about this?

Mr. Z: So, it is the first Opium War. The white man in China is about more than 20 million. And open 5 ports, their name Guangzhou and Fuzhou and Ningbo and Xiao Men and…And there is also a rule called zui hui guo dai yu. It should be reciprocal. But it is only good for the western countries. China lose their right to the tariff.

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