A Preliminary Study on the Diplomatic History of Modern China through Thorough Researches after the Journals of Chinese Diplomatic Missions Abroad in the Late 19th Century

中国近代史外交史的研究较少，造成了历史研究与中国外交实际情况研究之间的差距。为了填补这一空白，有必要加强对19 -20世纪中国外交史的研究。因此，本研究项目旨在对中国驻外使领馆期刊进行全面的收集和调查，为研究中国近代史，特别是19世纪后期中国驻外使领馆之后的研究奠定基础。三年的研究活动，除了在国内和国际会议上发表演讲和出版专著和文章外，还产生了两篇论文和两份清单，如下：《晚清中国驻外使领馆学报》，考察了中国驻外使领馆学报的意义及其与中国驻外使领馆地位的关系，《晚清中国驻外使领馆学报指南》，《晚清中国驻外使领馆学报目录》，《晚清中国驻外使领馆学报》，《晚清中国驻外使领馆学报》。《晚清中国驻外外交人员名单》。他们成功地为研究近代中国外交史，特别是中国外交服务提供了一些重要的依据。然而，由于中国驻外使领馆期刊的意外复杂性，我们的研究活动不足以完成本研究项目开始时所针对的中国驻外使领馆期刊数据库的建立和翻译工作。这是我们应该反思和继续研究的问题。

The present gap between the historical studies and the researches of the actual situation of Chinese diplomacy is caused by the few researches for the modern Chinese diplomatic history. In order to fill such gap, it is necessary to enhance research activities of the diplomatic history in 19th-20th century China. Therefore, this research project aims at thorogh collection and investigation of the journals of Chinese diplomatic missions abroad to establish the basis of studies on the modern Chinese diplomatic histoy, especially Chinese diplomatic service abroad during the late 19th century after which has been made few researches.Three years' research activities, in addition to presentations at both domestic and international conferences and publication of a monograph and articles, result in two essays and two lists as follows : "Journal of Diplomatic Missions and Diplomatic Service Abroad in Late Ch'ing China," which examines the significance of the journals of Chinese diplomatic missions abroad and their relations with the position of the Chinese diplomatic service, "A Guide to the Journals of Chinese Diplomatic Missions Abroad during the Late Ch'ing Period," "List of the Journals of Chinese Diplomatic Missions Abroad during the Late Ch'ing Period," and "List of the Personnel of Chinese Diplomatic Service Abroad during the Late Ch'ing Period."They succeeded to provide some important bases to study the diplomatic histoy in modern China, especially China's diplomatic service. However, according to unexpected complications of the journals of Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, our research activities were insufficient to complete the making of a database and translation of the journals of Chinese diplomatic missions abroad at which had been aimed at the beginning of this research project. This is the point which we should reflect on and continue to study.