아편전쟁 (1839-1842 / 1856-1860)

아편 전쟁은 19세기 중반에 청나라와 영국 사이에서 벌어진 두차례의 전쟁을 말한다. 두 전쟁에서 청나라가 완패함으로써 중화사상은 뿌리째 흔들리게 되었고, 본격적으로 서세동점의 시대가 개막되었다. 1840년에 일어난 제1차 아편 전쟁은 중국의 아편 단속을 원인으로 하여 영국이 일으킨 전쟁이다. 전쟁 발발 당시 영국에 대한 중국의 최대수출품은 차(茶)였고, 영국의 주요수출품은 모직물과 인도산 면화였다.

Opium Wars (1839-1842 / 1856-1860)

The Opium Wars were two wars in the mid-19th century involving Great Qing and the British Government and concerned their imposition of trade of opium upon China. The resulting concession of Hong Kong compromised China's territorial sovereignty. The clashes included the First Opium War (1839–1842), with the British naval forces, and in the Second Opium War (1856–1860), also known as the Arrow or Anglo-French Wars to the Chinese, Britain was aided by French forces. The wars and subsequently imposed treaties weakened the Qing dynasty and Chinese governments, and forced China to open specified Treaty ports that handled all trade with imperial powers.

임칙서 (1785-1850)

임칙서는 중국 청나라 말기의 정치가이다. 청나라의 흠차대신을 두 번 역임하였다. 임칙서는 영국에 의한 아편 밀수를 강경하게 단속하여 영국과의 아편 전쟁이 일어난 계기를 만들었다. 양무운동의 중요인물인 양강총독 겸 남양대신 심보정의 장인이다.

Lin Zexu (1785-1850)

Lin Zexu, courtesy name Yuanfu, was a Chinese scholar-official of the Qing dynasty best known for his role in the First Opium War of 1839–42. He was from Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Lin's forceful opposition to the opium trade was a primary catalyst for the First Opium War. He is praised for his constant position on the "moral high ground" in his fight, but he is also blamed for a rigid approach which failed to account for the domestic and international complexities of the problem.[2] The Daoguang Emperor endorsed the hardline policies advocated by Lin, but then blamed Lin for the resulting disastrous war.