History of the British Empire (1815-1914)

This page provides links to historical primary sources on the British Empire in East and Southeast Asia. As in other pages of this guide, you should note that most of the sources here were created by and for the British themselves, and so must be read with a critical eye. If you can read East Asian languages, there are many more primary sources that you may be able to consult. 

• China
  Chinese products such as tea, porcelain and silks had become an integral part of British culture by the 1700s. To obtain them, the British developed a trade in opium and forced the Chinese to give them concessions in port cities. Hong Kong was the only Chinese city that became a direct colony of Britain, remaining in its possession until 1997. 
   
  • Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901
    This was an uprising against European & American foreigners in China, particularly missionaries. In Anglo-American sources, the uprising was portrayed  as a "Christian martyrdom." The naming of Pacific's mascot, Boxer, is also connected to this event. 
    • Books in English on the Boxer Rebellion, published 1899-1905
    • Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal, 1868-1911: the most popular English-language magazine written by and for missionaries in China. The articles from 1899-1901 covered the uprising as it was happening. 
    • Parliamentary Speeches & Debates during the Boxer Rebellion
       
  • Chinese culture & trade goods within the British Empire
    • Chinoiserie in Britain: books published pre-1914 on the usage of Chinese or Orientalist design elements in British decorative arts
    • Publications about the tea trade & China, pre-1860
    • Royal Asiatic Society Journals - this was the foremost British scholarly publication on Asian history, literature and culture. Its articles tended to focus on India but also covered China and other areas of Asia. They show how British academics were attempting to understand, collect and classify Asian cultures. 
       
  • Canton (now Guangzhou)
    Canton was originally the only port where the Chinese Empire allowed trade with Europeans. The British (and several other European countries) had trading concessions in Canton from the 1600s through early 1800s. After the First Opium War ended in 1842, Canton became one of five port cities where the British held concessions. 
    • Books on Canton in English, 1815-1914
       
  • Hong Kong
    A British colony/dependent territory from 1841-1997, ceded from China during the First Opium War.
    • British books about Hong Kong, 1815-1914
    • Ordinances (i.e. colonial laws), 1865-1974
    • University of Hong Kong digital archives - includes special exhibits on Hong Kong & the West until 1860, China & Far East through Western Eyes, and more.
       
  • Opium Trade & Opium Wars of 1839-42 and 1856-60
    • Books in English about Opium, 1701-1914
    • British government publications mentioning opium, 1815-1914. To narrow down within this large set, click "Revise this Advanced Search."
    • The Chinese Empire Illustrated, book published 1859 containing: "a succinct account of the history of China; a narrative of British connexion with that nation, the Opium war of 1840, and full details of the causes and events of the present war."
    • Parliamentary Speeches & Debates during the First Opium War
    • Parliamentary Speeches & Debates during the Second Opium War
       
  • Shanghai
    The British occupied Shanghai during the First Opium War. Afterwards, it became one of five Chinese cities where the British held trade concessions.
    • Books on Shanghai in English, 1815-1914
       
• Southeast Asia
  The largest British colony in Southeast Asia was in Burma, which bordered the easternmost states of British India. Although British interest in the region went back hundreds of years, they generally did not administer colonies in this area directly. Instead, they worked through local trade concessions and private companies to control politics and business. 
  Note: This section is under construction; in the meantime, search HathiTrust for related publications and Hansard for Parliamentary Debates & Speeches.
   
  • Borneo island: Brunei, Labuan, Sarawak & North Borneo (now parts of Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia)
     
  • Burma
     
  • Malaya (now Singapore & Malay Peninsula)
     
  • Moluccas (also known as the Spice Islands; now the Maluku Islands of Indonesia)
    An island chain coveted by European powers for centuries; the original source of nutmeg and cloves.
     
  • Siam (now Thailand)