Distinguished Lectures in Humanities: An Exile Misremembered: LIN Zexu and Qing China's Response to the West

Abstract

No individual looms larger in historical accounts of 19th century China than Imperial Commissioner LIN Zexu. Yet, his legacy remains mixed. Most historical accounts characterize LIN’s attempt to end the illicit opium trade as ill-conceived, conservative, and ultimately resulting in his ignominious exile to a remote corner of the empire. In this talk, Prof. ATWILL focuses on LIN’s post-Opium War career to upend traditional accounts of the Opium War and to allow us to see with new eyes how Qing China faced global challenges in a rapidly changing world.

About the speaker

David G. ATWILL is a historian of 19th and 20th century China, Tibet, and Islam in Asia. His work centers around questions of ethnicity, religion, and empire. He has carried out oral and archival research across three continents in five languages, and is the recipient of numerous fellowships, including the Wilson Center for Scholars and the Mellon Foundation. He has also served twice as a Fulbright scholar.