乾隆末年荷兰使团表文重译始末

Negotiation of the Translation of the Dutch Letter of Credence to Qianlong Emperor in 1794

1794年,荷兰东印度公司派遣德胜使团来华庆贺乾隆皇帝登基六十周年,并带来荷文和中文两份表文。由于中文表文在译名、文字表达和形式体制上存在诸多问题,广东官员要求并协助荷使根据荷文表文进行了多次重译。对中国官府而言,重译表文既是襄助与规训荷使的重要步骤,也是将整个出使活动纳入朝贡体制的必要过程。

With the aim to celebrate the sixtieth enthronement of East India Company sent Isaac Titsingh as ambassador to the Qianlong emperor, in 1794, the Dutch China. Many problems were found by the Cantonese authorities in the Chinese version of the Dutch letter of credence in terms of authorship, wording, format, regulation and other aspects. Under the supervision and assistance of the Chinese officials and based on the Dutch version, the Dutch undertook a laborious process of redrafting. This paper points out that the process was, for the Chinese authorities, either an important step to assist and discipline the Dutch ambassadors, or a necessary procedure to integrate the Dutch embassy into the tribute system of the Qing dynasty.