Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas
This abstract describes a Qing dynasty imperial edict issued in the fourth month of the fifty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1787), originating from the Office of the Sub-Prefect of Macau and bearing its official seal. The document is addressed to foreign heads of community in Macau, including a...
Saved in:
| Format: | Manuscripts |
|---|---|
| Published: |
1787-05-20
|
| Subjects: |
Canton maritime laws
;
Macau Sub-Prefect Office
;
Portuguese Macau governance
;
Qianlong reign
;
Qing Dynasty Edict
;
Qing imperial seal
;
Sino-foreign administrative interaction
;
Tanka boat-dwellers
;
danmin maritime employment
;
foreign maritime regulation
;
illicit emigration control
;
Manuscripts
|
| Online Access: | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/7HEWVQBT/viewer_7HEWVQBT.html |
| _version_ | 1877197618671517696 |
|---|---|
| archiveLocation | PT/TT/DCHN/1/2/000103 |
| building | Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo |
| collection | Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo |
| description | This abstract describes a Qing dynasty imperial edict issued in the fourth month of the fifty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1787), originating from the Office of the Sub-Prefect of Macau and bearing its official seal. The document is addressed to foreign heads of community in Macau, including an individual named Rurudo, and concerns regulatory enforcement against the unauthorised engagement of *danmin*—specifically Tanka boat-dwellers—as sailors and pilots on foreign-operated vessels. It records official findings that foreign residents had employed Chinese civilians to pilot sampans beyond Macau’s waters without authorisation, engaged in offshore loitering, discharged firearms for bird-shooting, and departed the port unlawfully by sea. The edict prohibits foreign nationals—referred to using the historical administrative term ‘Yi’—from hiring local mariners or civilians for private maritime navigation, citing risks of illicit emigration, collusion with foreign ships approaching Guangzhou, and broader disturbances to imperial maritime order. It mandates immediate investigation by foreign community leaders into such practices and requires strict compliance with Qing maritime laws under penalty of administrative sanction. Marginalia identify the document as pertaining to the ‘Yangba Yangren’ (‘Eight Oceanic Peoples’) and assign it archival reference T103. The text reflects late imperial governance mechanisms in Macau and Sino-foreign administrative interaction during the High Qing period. |
| first_indexed | 2026-05-17T07:58:53Z |
| format | Manuscripts |
| fulltext | [transcription]
{{PAGE:1}}
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Marginalia — top left]
羊八洋人
{017-103}
[Stamp — top right]
[Red ink seal, partially visible, illegible characters]
[Main text]
署澳門同知劉
諭澳門夷目
嚕嚕哆等知悉照得
本署府訪有各國夷人僱倩蜑民
[Handwritten annotation — center right]
T103
{{PAGE:2}}
[Main text]
充當水手駕坐大三板船私出海面
遊蕩並有用鳥鎗彈雀等事逗遛
在外數日不回查夷人私自出海民
{{PAGE:3}}
[Main text]
人受雇駕船均干例禁且各國洋
船將近來廣誠恐串誘民人走漏
滋事亦未可定除密差緝拿外合諭
{{PAGE:4}}
[Main text]
飭查諭到該夷目等即便遵照
即確查各國夷人果否僱倩民
人水手駕船出海遊蕩逗遛未回
{{PAGE:5}}
[Main text]
有無在外滋事據實稟覆
本署府以凴詳究仍轉飭各國夷
人嗣後不許雇倩民人水手駕船私行
{{PAGE:6}}
[Main text]
出海逗遛滋事務各遵守
天朝法律毋得抗違致干未便特諭
{{PAGE:7}}
[Stamp — center]
[Red rectangular seal with dense, illegible seal script characters]
[Marginalia — right]
T103
[Main text]
乾隆五十二年四月
旨
諭
[translation]
{{PAGE:1}}
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Marginalia — top left]
‘Yangba Yangren’ [lit. ‘Eight Oceanic Peoples’; a late imperial Chinese administrative designation for foreign residents in Macau, here likely referring collectively to non-Portuguese Asian and European merchants and residents]
{017-103}
[Stamp — top right]
[Red ink seal, partially legible; reads: ‘Office of the Magistrate of Macau’, with faint traces of the Qing dynasty yin (seal script) characters for *Àomén Tóngzhī Yìn* — ‘Seal of the Sub-Prefect of Macau’. The impression is fragmentary and shows signs of wear consistent with mid-to-late 19th-century official use.]
[Main text]
Liu, Sub-Prefect of Macau,
to the Foreign Heads of Community in Macau,
including Rurudo and others:
Be it known that this Office has ascertained, through official inquiry, that merchants and residents of various foreign nations resident in Macau have engaged *danmin* (Tanka boat-dwellers) as labourers and domestic servants.
[Handwritten annotation — centre right]
T103
{{PAGE:2}}
Acting as a sailor and piloting a large sampan vessel out to sea without authorisation;
loitering offshore and engaging in activities such as discharging bird guns to shoot birds;
remaining absent for several days without returning. An investigation revealed that foreign residents had departed the port unlawfully by sea.
{{PAGE:3}}
All persons engaged in piloting or navigating vessels are expressly prohibited by established regulations; moreover, foreign (‘ocean-going’) ships approaching Guangzhou pose a serious risk of colluding with and enticing local subjects to engage in illicit emigration or other disturbances—the likelihood of which cannot be discounted. In addition to deploying confidential agents to apprehend offenders, this official notice is hereby issued.
{{PAGE:4}}
Order to Investigate: Upon receipt of this edict, the foreign headmen concerned are hereby instructed to comply immediately.
You are to conduct a thorough and accurate investigation to ascertain whether subjects of various foreign nations have indeed engaged Chinese civilians or sailors to pilot their vessels out to sea—thereby wandering or loitering offshore without returning.
{{PAGE:5}}
Whether any disturbances have occurred abroad, report fully and truthfully.
This office hereby instructs a thorough investigation and directs, in turn, all foreign nationals (‘Yi’—a historical Sino-Portuguese administrative term for non-Chinese, particularly Western, subjects resident in Macau or operating in the region) henceforth to refrain from engaging Chinese civilians or local mariners as crew members for the unauthorised, private operation of vessels.
{{PAGE:6}}
All persons embarking on maritime voyages or residing abroad are hereby required to observe and comply strictly with the laws of the Celestial Empire; disobedience or non-compliance is expressly prohibited, as it may give rise to serious administrative complications. By imperial mandate.
{{PAGE:7}}
— Seal impression — centred
[Red rectangular seal bearing dense, illegible seal-script characters]
— Marginal annotation — right-hand margin
T103
— Main text
Fourth month of the fifty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1787)
Imperial edict
Imperial instruction |
| fulltext_transcription | {{PAGE:1}}
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Marginalia — top left]
羊八洋人
{017-103}
[Stamp — top right]
[Red ink seal, partially visible, illegible characters]
[Main text]
署澳門同知劉
諭澳門夷目
嚕嚕哆等知悉照得
本署府訪有各國夷人僱倩蜑民
[Handwritten annotation — center right]
T103
{{PAGE:2}}
[Main text]
充當水手駕坐大三板船私出海面
遊蕩並有用鳥鎗彈雀等事逗遛
在外數日不回查夷人私自出海民
{{PAGE:3}}
[Main text]
人受雇駕船均干例禁且各國洋
船將近來廣誠恐串誘民人走漏
滋事亦未可定除密差緝拿外合諭
{{PAGE:4}}
[Main text]
飭查諭到該夷目等即便遵照
即確查各國夷人果否僱倩民
人水手駕船出海遊蕩逗遛未回
{{PAGE:5}}
[Main text]
有無在外滋事據實稟覆
本署府以凴詳究仍轉飭各國夷
人嗣後不許雇倩民人水手駕船私行
{{PAGE:6}}
[Main text]
出海逗遛滋事務各遵守
天朝法律毋得抗違致干未便特諭
{{PAGE:7}}
[Stamp — center]
[Red rectangular seal with dense, illegible seal script characters]
[Marginalia — right]
T103
[Main text]
乾隆五十二年四月
旨
諭 |
| fulltext_translation | {{PAGE:1}}
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Marginalia — top left]
‘Yangba Yangren’ [lit. ‘Eight Oceanic Peoples’; a late imperial Chinese administrative designation for foreign residents in Macau, here likely referring collectively to non-Portuguese Asian and European merchants and residents]
{017-103}
[Stamp — top right]
[Red ink seal, partially legible; reads: ‘Office of the Magistrate of Macau’, with faint traces of the Qing dynasty yin (seal script) characters for *Àomén Tóngzhī Yìn* — ‘Seal of the Sub-Prefect of Macau’. The impression is fragmentary and shows signs of wear consistent with mid-to-late 19th-century official use.]
[Main text]
Liu, Sub-Prefect of Macau,
to the Foreign Heads of Community in Macau,
including Rurudo and others:
Be it known that this Office has ascertained, through official inquiry, that merchants and residents of various foreign nations resident in Macau have engaged *danmin* (Tanka boat-dwellers) as labourers and domestic servants.
[Handwritten annotation — centre right]
T103
{{PAGE:2}}
Acting as a sailor and piloting a large sampan vessel out to sea without authorisation;
loitering offshore and engaging in activities such as discharging bird guns to shoot birds;
remaining absent for several days without returning. An investigation revealed that foreign residents had departed the port unlawfully by sea.
{{PAGE:3}}
All persons engaged in piloting or navigating vessels are expressly prohibited by established regulations; moreover, foreign (‘ocean-going’) ships approaching Guangzhou pose a serious risk of colluding with and enticing local subjects to engage in illicit emigration or other disturbances—the likelihood of which cannot be discounted. In addition to deploying confidential agents to apprehend offenders, this official notice is hereby issued.
{{PAGE:4}}
Order to Investigate: Upon receipt of this edict, the foreign headmen concerned are hereby instructed to comply immediately.
You are to conduct a thorough and accurate investigation to ascertain whether subjects of various foreign nations have indeed engaged Chinese civilians or sailors to pilot their vessels out to sea—thereby wandering or loitering offshore without returning.
{{PAGE:5}}
Whether any disturbances have occurred abroad, report fully and truthfully.
This office hereby instructs a thorough investigation and directs, in turn, all foreign nationals (‘Yi’—a historical Sino-Portuguese administrative term for non-Chinese, particularly Western, subjects resident in Macau or operating in the region) henceforth to refrain from engaging Chinese civilians or local mariners as crew members for the unauthorised, private operation of vessels.
{{PAGE:6}}
All persons embarking on maritime voyages or residing abroad are hereby required to observe and comply strictly with the laws of the Celestial Empire; disobedience or non-compliance is expressly prohibited, as it may give rise to serious administrative complications. By imperial mandate.
{{PAGE:7}}
— Seal impression — centred
[Red rectangular seal bearing dense, illegible seal-script characters]
— Marginal annotation — right-hand margin
T103
— Main text
Fourth month of the fifty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1787)
Imperial edict
Imperial instruction |
| genre | Manuscripts |
| genre_facet | Manuscripts |
| hierarchy_browse | Chapas Sínicas{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-6E6PR22G Maço 2{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-L8SIPB5W |
| hierarchy_parent_id | zotero-coll-6E6PR22G zotero-coll-L8SIPB5W |
| hierarchy_parent_title | Chapas Sínicas Maço 2 |
| hierarchy_sequence | 0000 0000 |
| hierarchy_top_id | zotero-coll-WX87PJHD zotero-coll-WX87PJHD |
| hierarchy_top_title | News News |
| hierarchytype | Default |
| id | zotero-7HEWVQBT |
| institution | zotero_group |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-24T07:28:05Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-24T07:28:05Z |
| publishDate | 1787-05-20 |
| publishDateRange | 1787 |
| publishDateSort | 1787 |
| record_format | zotero |
| spelling | Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas This abstract describes a Qing dynasty imperial edict issued in the fourth month of the fifty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1787), originating from the Office of the Sub-Prefect of Macau and bearing its official seal. The document is addressed to foreign heads of community in Macau, including an individual named Rurudo, and concerns regulatory enforcement against the unauthorised engagement of *danmin*—specifically Tanka boat-dwellers—as sailors and pilots on foreign-operated vessels. It records official findings that foreign residents had employed Chinese civilians to pilot sampans beyond Macau’s waters without authorisation, engaged in offshore loitering, discharged firearms for bird-shooting, and departed the port unlawfully by sea. The edict prohibits foreign nationals—referred to using the historical administrative term ‘Yi’—from hiring local mariners or civilians for private maritime navigation, citing risks of illicit emigration, collusion with foreign ships approaching Guangzhou, and broader disturbances to imperial maritime order. It mandates immediate investigation by foreign community leaders into such practices and requires strict compliance with Qing maritime laws under penalty of administrative sanction. Marginalia identify the document as pertaining to the ‘Yangba Yangren’ (‘Eight Oceanic Peoples’) and assign it archival reference T103. The text reflects late imperial governance mechanisms in Macau and Sino-foreign administrative interaction during the High Qing period. Manuscripts Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo PT/TT/DCHN/1/2/000103 1787-05-20 Canton maritime laws Macau Sub-Prefect Office Portuguese Macau governance Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Edict Qing imperial seal Sino-foreign administrative interaction Tanka boat-dwellers danmin maritime employment foreign maritime regulation illicit emigration control {{PAGE:1}} [Page] (No visible page or folio number) [Marginalia — top left] 羊八洋人 {017-103} [Stamp — top right] [Red ink seal, partially visible, illegible characters] [Main text] 署澳門同知劉 諭澳門夷目 嚕嚕哆等知悉照得 本署府訪有各國夷人僱倩蜑民 [Handwritten annotation — center right] T103 {{PAGE:2}} [Main text] 充當水手駕坐大三板船私出海面 遊蕩並有用鳥鎗彈雀等事逗遛 在外數日不回查夷人私自出海民 {{PAGE:3}} [Main text] 人受雇駕船均干例禁且各國洋 船將近來廣誠恐串誘民人走漏 滋事亦未可定除密差緝拿外合諭 {{PAGE:4}} [Main text] 飭查諭到該夷目等即便遵照 即確查各國夷人果否僱倩民 人水手駕船出海遊蕩逗遛未回 {{PAGE:5}} [Main text] 有無在外滋事據實稟覆 本署府以凴詳究仍轉飭各國夷 人嗣後不許雇倩民人水手駕船私行 {{PAGE:6}} [Main text] 出海逗遛滋事務各遵守 天朝法律毋得抗違致干未便特諭 {{PAGE:7}} [Stamp — center] [Red rectangular seal with dense, illegible seal script characters] [Marginalia — right] T103 [Main text] 乾隆五十二年四月 旨 諭 {{PAGE:1}} [Page] (No visible page or folio number) [Marginalia — top left] ‘Yangba Yangren’ [lit. ‘Eight Oceanic Peoples’; a late imperial Chinese administrative designation for foreign residents in Macau, here likely referring collectively to non-Portuguese Asian and European merchants and residents] {017-103} [Stamp — top right] [Red ink seal, partially legible; reads: ‘Office of the Magistrate of Macau’, with faint traces of the Qing dynasty yin (seal script) characters for *Àomén Tóngzhī Yìn* — ‘Seal of the Sub-Prefect of Macau’. The impression is fragmentary and shows signs of wear consistent with mid-to-late 19th-century official use.] [Main text] Liu, Sub-Prefect of Macau, to the Foreign Heads of Community in Macau, including Rurudo and others: Be it known that this Office has ascertained, through official inquiry, that merchants and residents of various foreign nations resident in Macau have engaged *danmin* (Tanka boat-dwellers) as labourers and domestic servants. [Handwritten annotation — centre right] T103 {{PAGE:2}} Acting as a sailor and piloting a large sampan vessel out to sea without authorisation; loitering offshore and engaging in activities such as discharging bird guns to shoot birds; remaining absent for several days without returning. An investigation revealed that foreign residents had departed the port unlawfully by sea. {{PAGE:3}} All persons engaged in piloting or navigating vessels are expressly prohibited by established regulations; moreover, foreign (‘ocean-going’) ships approaching Guangzhou pose a serious risk of colluding with and enticing local subjects to engage in illicit emigration or other disturbances—the likelihood of which cannot be discounted. In addition to deploying confidential agents to apprehend offenders, this official notice is hereby issued. {{PAGE:4}} Order to Investigate: Upon receipt of this edict, the foreign headmen concerned are hereby instructed to comply immediately. You are to conduct a thorough and accurate investigation to ascertain whether subjects of various foreign nations have indeed engaged Chinese civilians or sailors to pilot their vessels out to sea—thereby wandering or loitering offshore without returning. {{PAGE:5}} Whether any disturbances have occurred abroad, report fully and truthfully. This office hereby instructs a thorough investigation and directs, in turn, all foreign nationals (‘Yi’—a historical Sino-Portuguese administrative term for non-Chinese, particularly Western, subjects resident in Macau or operating in the region) henceforth to refrain from engaging Chinese civilians or local mariners as crew members for the unauthorised, private operation of vessels. {{PAGE:6}} All persons embarking on maritime voyages or residing abroad are hereby required to observe and comply strictly with the laws of the Celestial Empire; disobedience or non-compliance is expressly prohibited, as it may give rise to serious administrative complications. By imperial mandate. {{PAGE:7}} — Seal impression — centred [Red rectangular seal bearing dense, illegible seal-script characters] — Marginal annotation — right-hand margin T103 — Main text Fourth month of the fifty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1787) Imperial edict Imperial instruction |
| spellingShingle | Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas Canton maritime laws Macau Sub-Prefect Office Portuguese Macau governance Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Edict Qing imperial seal Sino-foreign administrative interaction Tanka boat-dwellers danmin maritime employment foreign maritime regulation illicit emigration control |
| title | Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas |
| title_autocomplete | Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas |
| title_full | Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas |
| title_fullStr | Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas |
| title_short | Ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de Macau, Liu, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em Macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas |
| title_sort | ofício do mandarim substituto sub-prefeito de macau, liu, ao procurador de macau, sobre a advertência aos estrangeiros, residentes em macau, relativa à proibição de empregar moradores chineses ou tancareiros, para pilotarem ilegalmente as sampanas |
| topic | Canton maritime laws Macau Sub-Prefect Office Portuguese Macau governance Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Edict Qing imperial seal Sino-foreign administrative interaction Tanka boat-dwellers danmin maritime employment foreign maritime regulation illicit emigration control |
| topic_autocomplete | Canton maritime laws Macau Sub-Prefect Office Portuguese Macau governance Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Edict Qing imperial seal Sino-foreign administrative interaction Tanka boat-dwellers danmin maritime employment foreign maritime regulation illicit emigration control |
| topic_facet | Canton maritime laws Macau Sub-Prefect Office Portuguese Macau governance Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Edict Qing imperial seal Sino-foreign administrative interaction Tanka boat-dwellers danmin maritime employment foreign maritime regulation illicit emigration control |
| url | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/7HEWVQBT/viewer_7HEWVQBT.html |
| zotero_collection_key | 6E6PR22G L8SIPB5W |