Ebook: China’s Entrance into the Family of Nations: The Diplomatic Phase, 1858–1880

“Family of nations” is a figurative term originally applied to the Western European states signing the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, a group characterized by its continued expansion beyond Western Europe. In this international context, Immanuel Hsü studies China’s emergence from political isolation, discussing, in historical sequence, the forcible establishment of foreign legations in Peking; the introduction of international law into China; and the establishment of Chinese legations abroad.