丁宝桢为藏事致沈桂芬函

《致沈经笙[1]中堂》是一封没有寄出去的信札[2],写于光绪五年(1879)的农历七月七日。是当时的署四川总督丁宝桢[3],写给军机大臣、兵部尚书沈桂芬有关洋务和藏务的信札。从这封信所涉及到的历史人物和事件之中,可以了解封建王朝与周边的少数民族的关系。以史鉴今,或许能对我们今天的少数民族政策提供有益的借鉴。

Here is an undelivered letter, written by Ding Baozhen in 1879 （the 7th day of the 7th month on the lunar calendar, the fifth year during Emperor Guangxu＇ s Reign）. As Governor of Sichuan, Ding wrote to Shen Guifen, Minister of Military Forces, commenting on the foreign affairs and making suggestions on Tibetan Affairs. It involves some historical figures and events, which will be of great significance to a better understanding of the relationship between the feudal dynasty and the ethnic people in the frontier and of good referential value to China today concerning ethnic policies.