Confucianism and Western International Law in 1900: Li Hongzhang and Sir Ernest Satow Compared: The Case Study of the Crisis of Russia in Manchuria 1900-1

Abstract

Under the hierarchy structure of the late imperial China, interpersonal relationships had played a crucial role in Chinese officials’ reactions to international law in 1900. Shaped by Confucianism, interpersonal relationships significantly influenced Li Hongzhang on his internal relations with his rivals and his relations with foreign diplomats. This Confucian working philosophy did not comply with international legal principles and confused outsiders. However, Ernest Satow, the British Minister in Beijing from 1900 to 1906, was able to understand the message delivered by Chinese officials in the Confucian system. This chapter compared Li Hongzhang and Ernest Satow’s actions in dealing with international crisis in China in 1900 and explained how their background experience shaped their diplomacy.