Understanding the Letter to Advice Queen Victoria

The question asks about the author of a significant historical document, the "Letter to Advice Queen Victoria". This letter played a role in the diplomatic tensions between China and Britain in the 19th century, leading up to the Opium Wars.

Identifying the Author

The letter referred to as the "Letter to Advice Queen Victoria" was written by a prominent Chinese official during the Qing dynasty. This official was tasked with stopping the illegal opium trade being conducted by British merchants in China.

Let's look at the options provided:

• Kangxi: Emperor Kangxi reigned from 1661 to 1722, long before the events related to the Opium Wars.
• Yangang: This name is not widely associated with this specific historical event.
• Lin-zixu: Lin Zexu (also spelled Lin Tse-hsu or Lin-zixu) was a Chinese scholar and official of the Qing dynasty. He is best known for his vigorous efforts to suppress the opium trade in China. He was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner to deal with the opium problem in Canton (Guangzhou). In 1839, he wrote a powerful letter addressed to Queen Victoria of Great Britain, urging her to stop the British merchants from selling opium in China.
• Qianlong: Emperor Qianlong reigned from 1735 to 1796, preceding the period of the Opium Wars. While his reign saw significant interactions with European powers, the letter in question was written later.

Based on historical records, the author of the "Letter to Advice Queen Victoria" was indeed Lin Zexu (Lin-zixu).

Context of the Letter

Lin Zexu's letter to Queen Victoria explained the harmful effects of opium and appealed to her moral sense and the principles of international law (as understood at the time) to halt the trade. He argued that it was unjust to inflict such harm upon China while opium was prohibited in Britain itself. Although the letter was sent, it is debated whether Queen Victoria ever actually received or read it directly, as it was likely intercepted or handled by British officials who were less sympathetic to the Chinese position. Regardless, the letter stands as a key document reflecting China's perspective and efforts to combat the opium crisis before the outbreak of the First Opium War in 1840.

Therefore, the correct author is Lin-zixu.

The final answer is Lin-zixu.

Revision Table: Key Figures

Additional Information: Lin Zexu and the Opium Trade

Lin Zexu's efforts went beyond writing the letter. In Canton, he took drastic measures to stop the opium trade, including demanding that foreign merchants surrender their opium stock. When they initially refused, he blockaded their factories. This led to the surrender and destruction of over 20,000 chests of opium in June 1839, an event often cited as a direct trigger for the First Opium War.

Despite his efforts being lauded by many in China, the Qing court eventually blamed him for provoking the war, and he was exiled. However, his integrity and firm stance against the opium trade solidified his place as a national hero in China.