Asian Literature

Arthur Waley was born Arthur David Schloss in 1889. He was educated in Cambridge, completing a bachelor s degree in Classics. In 1913 he became the Assistant Keeper of Oriental Prints and Manuscripts at the British Museum. This was where his interest in Oriental arts began. While working in the museum, Waley taught himself Chinese and Japanese. He did so primarily to help him catalogue the materials in his guard. Later his interest in the region s literature and culture grew. When he was forced to resign for health reasons, he dedicated his life to furthering his interest.
He was named an Honorary Lecturer on Chinese Poetry at the School of Oriental Studies in 1948 (Simon, 1967). At the time of his death in 1966, Waley had translated numerous Chinese and Japanese works. He is considered one of the most respected Sinologists of all time (Morris, 1970). His translations are considered works of literature on their own. Ironically, Arthur Waley never got a chance to travel to the Far East (Morris, 1970).

     The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes  is one of the last works of Waley. He discovered sources that he felt would help paint a better understanding of the war. Arthur Waley was not a historian. His version therefore of events is unlike other historical writings about the opium war. He simply took individual chronicles of certain Chinese partakers and interpreted them in English. The book did not impose its conclusions about the war and the people involved in it. Apart from Waley s determination to give due respect to the Chinese participants, particularly Commissioner Lin, he restrained from imparting his own conclusion.

    Waley showed impartiality throughout the book but took the opportunity to reconstruct the image of one man, Commissioner Lin. As other European historians would document, Commissioner Lin was a non-factor in the event. He was often overlooked and treated with no respect in the light of the opium war. However in Waley s book he was a picture of dignity, determination, and honor. Commissioner Lin in fact spearheaded efforts to free China from the menace of opium. Waley expressed this unfair image of the man in the book saying
Some ten or more books on the opium war have been written in a number of different European languages, yet in none of them does Commissioner Lin, the leading figure on the Chinese side, ever come to life as a human being. (p. 11)

His disdain towards how the commissioner was depicted as a historical figure was evident in his words. Waley determined it was time that people finally learn the truth about the man.

    To underscore Waley s objectivity in recounting the story of the opium war, he was careful to choose narratives of everyday Chinese. He also chose personalities of different backgrounds, different livelihoods, and under different circumstances. In doing so Waley was able to capture the sense of those times and show  what the war felt like on the Chinese side  (p.5). It was important that Waley took bits and pieces from the experiences of different individuals to give a more multidimensional view of the event.

    All throughout the book Waley would translate the daily activities of the featured characters, including those days that seemed mundane and trivial. He would highlight their entries about the weather, nature, and other things. In one of Commissioner Lin s entries he wrote  In the early morning there was a violent north wind, but by the Hour of the Snake it calmed down a little and we were able to start  (p.16). Waley deliberately included such points to further emphasize that the figures in this collection are real people who had varied encounters. It rendered a sense of credibility to their stories.

 The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes  was used by Waley as a vehicle to impart real life experiences of the Chinese during those times. He chose to simply share their stories by translating personal confessions, diaries and autobiographies. This is what makes the book different from others. Waley in most parts avoided giving his commentary on the events that occurred. He communicated the thoughts of the Chinese participants and allowed the people to discern on their own. The result is a richly involving documentation of this very significant event.

    In the retelling of the opium war as seen by the Chinese so many cultural aspects were revealed. The personal journals exposed the various complexities within the Chinese society in those times.

    The time of the first opium war was turbulent. Commissioner Lin who was tasked to end the opium trade had to face many challenges from different sides. He had to battle against the British traders and he also had to wage war against the general population of China who were mostly addicted to the substance by the time he started his campaign. Through his ordeals conveyed in the book, it showed how times then were very dangerous even for a man like Commissioner Lin.   

    Opium trade in China was a result of the corrupt practices and greediness of some individuals of those times. In the beginning was deceit coming from the British that even Commissioner Lin knew no longer to believe what the they say (Waley, 1958). However the promulgation of the problem was because the Chinese also welcomed this new opportunity for good business. The book demonstrated the Chinese s inability to resist opium because of the promise of a more lucrative lifestyle. In this instance morality took a backseat to better economics.

    The book also painted a dark picture of the Imperial Army at that time. The military was looked upon with fear by the marginalized of society and they were distrusted by those who were educated and cultured. Commissioner Lin himself tried his best to change the image of his fellow soldiers in his travels. He was prudent in his ways and refused all the privileges offered to him just so he can restore faith in the Imperial Army. While he gained respect for himself, the general mistrust did not die down.

     The Imperial Government saw the devastation of opium trade in China. It decided to finally put an end to the substance s trade in 1836.  The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes  pointed out the insistence of China to implement its laws and pass fair judgment on those involved whether British or Chinese. It proved China s fortitude and commitment to its own protection.

    As history established, China lost the opium war to the British. In the end, their foreign counterparts were far too advanced in warfare. In page 175 of Waley s book, it stressed the disparity between the two camps. The British lost 3 men and had 23 injured in a fight  the heaviest loss that they had sustained in any action during the war  (1958). The weakness of the Imperial Army was evidently the reason for the defeat. However, to say that China did not fight strongly is a misconception. This was simply a lopsided battle of arsenal and techniques. 

    It is unfortunate that the loss of China also carried out a personal defeat to the commissioner who was exiled to Turkestan after the opium war. He was considered a disgrace to the Imperial Government because of his failure to complete his mission. It did not matter that defeating the British Military then was described as  not humanly possible (Waley, 1958).  It is unfortunate because this is how most people remember him and not by the actions he bravely took prior to the war. Through Waley s book however, Commissioner Lin s exemplary character was brought to light.

    Arthur Waley s book is a look into the opium war from the viewpoints of the Chinese, whether voluntarily or incidentally, that were involved. It stands to be different from other materials on the subject as it is based on Chinese sources and not European as most.

    It also stands to be different from the way it was written and put together by the author. While many history books would dwell on chronological events, most times indifferent to human emotions, Waley s is exactly the opposite.

    He showcased the fears, apprehensions, worries, joys, and other feelings of those who were there. For the first time, people got to experience a historical event through written word.

    Waley was also successful in opening the otherwise closed Chinese society, revealing many aspects of their culture that were directly and indirectly associated with the opium trade and the war. It allowed people to see that the Chinese culture may have similar challenges with others. They were also hampered by corruption, invasion, discrimination, and even injustice. However it also showed that just like any other culture, the Chinese s patriotism drove them to defend their land, no matter how difficult.

Waley was a Sinologist who translated Chinese sources in English. He did not intend to rival other historians about the opium war. He mainly desired a neutral view by supplying human-interest stories based on the event. And with that in mind, it can be said that  The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes  was a success for Arthur Waley.