从清代热河天主教的传播看十八世纪欧洲对承德的认识

A Survey of European Understanding to Chengde in the 18th century from the Spread of Catholicism in ReHe in Qing dynasty

热河作为清朝重要的塞外重镇,地接蒙古与东北,是塞外通往内地的重要孔道。早期清政府在热河地区实施严格的封禁政策,目的就是要隔绝内地与蒙古、东北的各种联系。天主教作为外来宗教,在热河的传播更是被严禁。然而,在清政府的封禁政策下,西洋传教士仍利用各种渠道在热河地区向士兵和平民传播天主教。直至鸦片战争,热河逐渐发展为天主教教区一个重要的组成部分。通过很多在华传教士的书信,十八世纪的欧洲学者对中国有了进一步的了解,其中很大一部分是对承德的认识。

Rehe as an important town connecting Mongolia and northeast in Qing dynasty is the channel between the inland area and the area beyond the Great Wall.Because of Rehe's special geographical location,the earlier Qing government adopted the strict policy of prohibition to cut off the connections between the inland and Mogolia as well as the northeast.As a foreign religion,Catholicism was strictly forbidden in its spread in Rehe.However,the western missionaries still used a variety of channels to preach to the soldiers and civilians in Rehe area.By the time of the Opium War,the Rehe had gradually become an important part of the Catholic diocese in China.By the letters of the missionary sent to Europe,the18th century European scholars had got a further understanding of China,a lot of this came from the understanding of Chengde.