Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé
This is a Qing dynasty imperial edict issued in the seventh month of the forty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1777), bearing the red square seal ‘Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month’ and authenticated by the red circular imperial character *Yù* (‘Imperial Command’). The document originates from Xi...
Saved in:
| Format: | Manuscripts |
|---|---|
| Published: |
1777-08-08
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/MKPXW8SF/viewer_MKPXW8SF.html |
| _version_ | 1877197618908495872 |
|---|---|
| archiveLocation | PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000056 |
| building | Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo |
| collection | Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo |
| description | This is a Qing dynasty imperial edict issued in the seventh month of the forty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1777), bearing the red square seal ‘Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month’ and authenticated by the red circular imperial character *Yù* (‘Imperial Command’). The document originates from Xiangshan County and bears the red seal of its magistrate, Yang, and the National Archive of Torre do Tombo. Addressed to foreign community leaders known as *yimu*—specifically Portuguese merchants operating from Macau—the edict concerns the regulation of snuff imports arriving via vessels from the ‘Lesser Western Ocean’. It mandates that all such merchants must fully disclose quantities of snuff brought to Macau and report them formally to Chinese authorities, who retain the right to set purchase prices and procure consignments under tribute protocols. The text identifies breaches involving collusion between foreign merchants and local traders, evasion of the required journey to the provincial capital, and illicit sale of concealed cargo. In response, the Provincial High Commissioner has issued a confidential directive authorising discreet investigations by specially appointed officials and public proclamations to enforce compliance. Violators face prosecution and severe punishment under Qing law; the edict grants temporary leniency but commands immediate and strict adherence to the stipulated procedures. Marginalia—including inventory codes (T56, 951, V444), a red checkmark, and the circled annotation ‘Violation—strict observance—prompt execution’—attest to its archival handling and administrative urgency. |
| first_indexed | 2026-05-17T07:57:56Z |
| format | Manuscripts |
| fulltext | [transcription]
{{PAGE:1}}
[Stamp — top center]
[Red circular seal with black Chinese character: 諭]
[Marginalia — top right]
中字文
[Marginalia — center left]
T56
951
V444
{{PAGE:2}}
[Stamp — top right]
[Red seal: 香山縣正堂]
[Main text]
香山縣正堂楊 諭夷目
衆哆等知悉照得本年
小西洋船隻陸續回帆均
[Stamp — center left]
[Red circular stamp: ARQUIVO NACIONAL DA TORRE DO TOMBO]
{{PAGE:3}}
[Main text]
鼻煙帶到節經轉飭該夷
日等查明報貯去後茲本
聞該夷人等多有串同奸商
{{PAGE:4}}
[Main text]
偷漏赴省殊属胆现现奉
大宪密札查拏除选差密查併出示
晓谕外合亟谕查谕到该夷目等即
{{PAGE:5}}
[Main text]
便遵照凡有洋船攜帶鼻煙到澳該夷
目必須查明寔數稟報發價採買當收
由夷人偷漏別售致悞
{{PAGE:6}}
[Main text]
貢典經訪獲定即按法從重究治
姑寬各宜凛遵毋違慎速切
特諭
[Marginalia — left]
[Red ink checkmark: ✓]
[Marginalia — center, circled in red]
違慎速切
{{PAGE:7}}
[Stamp — center]
[Red square seal with Chinese characters: 乾隆四十二年七月]
[Marginalia — right of stamp]
T56
[Main text]
乾隆四十二年七月
丙
日諭
[translation]
{{PAGE:1}}
[Stamp — top centre]
[Red circular seal bearing the black Chinese character: *Yù* (‘Imperial Edict’ or ‘Imperial Command’)]
[Marginalia — top right]
Chinese-language text
[Marginalia — centre left]
T56
951
V444
{{PAGE:2}}
[Stamp — top right]
[Red seal: Magistrate of Xiangshan County]
[Main text]
Magistrate Yang of Xiangshan County hereby issues the following proclamation to the foreign community leaders (yimu):
You are hereby instructed to take notice that, this year, vessels from Lesser Western Ocean (a historical Chinese designation for Portuguese ships, particularly those operating from Macau) have been returning successively to port.
[Stamp — centre left]
[Red circular stamp: National Archive of Torre do Tombo]
{{PAGE:3}}
[Main text]
Snuff has been brought to the port; the matter was accordingly referred to the said foreign merchants,
who were instructed to investigate and report on the quantity held in store. It has now come to our attention
that many of these foreign merchants have colluded with unscrupulous local traders.
{{PAGE:4}}
[Main text]
Evasion of the prescribed journey to the provincial capital constitutes a flagrant and brazen breach of protocol. In accordance with the recent confidential directive issued by the Provincial High Commissioner, strict measures are now in force to apprehend those responsible. Accordingly, specially appointed officials have been dispatched to conduct discreet investigations; furthermore, official proclamations have been publicly posted to inform all concerned parties.
This present edict is therefore issued forthwith, commanding the foreign headmen (yímù) immediately to comply with the above instructions and report accordingly.
{{PAGE:5}}
Pursuant to the regulation, whenever foreign vessels bring snuff to Macau, the responsible foreign official (‘Yi mu’) must ascertain the precise quantity and formally report it to the relevant Chinese authorities; the authorities would then set the purchase price and procure the consignment. Any attempt by foreigners to evade this procedure—by concealing part of the cargo and selling it illicitly—would result in serious consequences.
{{PAGE:6}}
[Main text]
Those found guilty of violating the tribute regulations shall be prosecuted and punished severely in accordance with the law.
For the present, leniency is extended; all concerned are hereby expressly commanded to observe these provisions strictly and without delay.
By special edict.
[Marginalia — left]
[Red ink checkmark: ✓]
[Marginalia — centre, circled in red]
‘Violation—strict observance—prompt execution’
{{PAGE:7}}
[Stamp — centred]
[Red square seal bearing the Chinese characters: ‘Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month’]
[Marginalia — right of stamp]
T56
[Main text]
Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month
Bing
Day — Imperial Edict |
| fulltext_transcription | {{PAGE:1}}
[Stamp — top center]
[Red circular seal with black Chinese character: 諭]
[Marginalia — top right]
中字文
[Marginalia — center left]
T56
951
V444
{{PAGE:2}}
[Stamp — top right]
[Red seal: 香山縣正堂]
[Main text]
香山縣正堂楊 諭夷目
衆哆等知悉照得本年
小西洋船隻陸續回帆均
[Stamp — center left]
[Red circular stamp: ARQUIVO NACIONAL DA TORRE DO TOMBO]
{{PAGE:3}}
[Main text]
鼻煙帶到節經轉飭該夷
日等查明報貯去後茲本
聞該夷人等多有串同奸商
{{PAGE:4}}
[Main text]
偷漏赴省殊属胆现现奉
大宪密札查拏除选差密查併出示
晓谕外合亟谕查谕到该夷目等即
{{PAGE:5}}
[Main text]
便遵照凡有洋船攜帶鼻煙到澳該夷
目必須查明寔數稟報發價採買當收
由夷人偷漏別售致悞
{{PAGE:6}}
[Main text]
貢典經訪獲定即按法從重究治
姑寬各宜凛遵毋違慎速切
特諭
[Marginalia — left]
[Red ink checkmark: ✓]
[Marginalia — center, circled in red]
違慎速切
{{PAGE:7}}
[Stamp — center]
[Red square seal with Chinese characters: 乾隆四十二年七月]
[Marginalia — right of stamp]
T56
[Main text]
乾隆四十二年七月
丙
日諭 |
| fulltext_translation | {{PAGE:1}}
[Stamp — top centre]
[Red circular seal bearing the black Chinese character: *Yù* (‘Imperial Edict’ or ‘Imperial Command’)]
[Marginalia — top right]
Chinese-language text
[Marginalia — centre left]
T56
951
V444
{{PAGE:2}}
[Stamp — top right]
[Red seal: Magistrate of Xiangshan County]
[Main text]
Magistrate Yang of Xiangshan County hereby issues the following proclamation to the foreign community leaders (yimu):
You are hereby instructed to take notice that, this year, vessels from Lesser Western Ocean (a historical Chinese designation for Portuguese ships, particularly those operating from Macau) have been returning successively to port.
[Stamp — centre left]
[Red circular stamp: National Archive of Torre do Tombo]
{{PAGE:3}}
[Main text]
Snuff has been brought to the port; the matter was accordingly referred to the said foreign merchants,
who were instructed to investigate and report on the quantity held in store. It has now come to our attention
that many of these foreign merchants have colluded with unscrupulous local traders.
{{PAGE:4}}
[Main text]
Evasion of the prescribed journey to the provincial capital constitutes a flagrant and brazen breach of protocol. In accordance with the recent confidential directive issued by the Provincial High Commissioner, strict measures are now in force to apprehend those responsible. Accordingly, specially appointed officials have been dispatched to conduct discreet investigations; furthermore, official proclamations have been publicly posted to inform all concerned parties.
This present edict is therefore issued forthwith, commanding the foreign headmen (yímù) immediately to comply with the above instructions and report accordingly.
{{PAGE:5}}
Pursuant to the regulation, whenever foreign vessels bring snuff to Macau, the responsible foreign official (‘Yi mu’) must ascertain the precise quantity and formally report it to the relevant Chinese authorities; the authorities would then set the purchase price and procure the consignment. Any attempt by foreigners to evade this procedure—by concealing part of the cargo and selling it illicitly—would result in serious consequences.
{{PAGE:6}}
[Main text]
Those found guilty of violating the tribute regulations shall be prosecuted and punished severely in accordance with the law.
For the present, leniency is extended; all concerned are hereby expressly commanded to observe these provisions strictly and without delay.
By special edict.
[Marginalia — left]
[Red ink checkmark: ✓]
[Marginalia — centre, circled in red]
‘Violation—strict observance—prompt execution’
{{PAGE:7}}
[Stamp — centred]
[Red square seal bearing the Chinese characters: ‘Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month’]
[Marginalia — right of stamp]
T56
[Main text]
Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month
Bing
Day — Imperial Edict |
| genre | Manuscripts |
| genre_facet | Manuscripts |
| hierarchy_browse | Chapas Sínicas{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-6E6PR22G Maço 1{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-HDYWE267 Transcriptions{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-PAAL2UHW |
| hierarchy_parent_id | zotero-coll-6E6PR22G zotero-coll-HDYWE267 zotero-coll-PAAL2UHW |
| hierarchy_parent_title | Chapas Sínicas Maço 1 Transcriptions |
| hierarchy_sequence | 0000 0000 0000 |
| hierarchy_top_id | zotero-coll-WX87PJHD zotero-coll-WX87PJHD zotero-coll-WX87PJHD |
| hierarchy_top_title | News News News |
| hierarchytype | Default |
| id | zotero-MKPXW8SF |
| institution | zotero_group |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-24T07:28:05Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-24T07:28:05Z |
| publishDate | 1777-08-08 |
| publishDateRange | 1777 |
| publishDateSort | 1777 |
| record_format | zotero |
| spelling | Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé This is a Qing dynasty imperial edict issued in the seventh month of the forty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1777), bearing the red square seal ‘Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month’ and authenticated by the red circular imperial character *Yù* (‘Imperial Command’). The document originates from Xiangshan County and bears the red seal of its magistrate, Yang, and the National Archive of Torre do Tombo. Addressed to foreign community leaders known as *yimu*—specifically Portuguese merchants operating from Macau—the edict concerns the regulation of snuff imports arriving via vessels from the ‘Lesser Western Ocean’. It mandates that all such merchants must fully disclose quantities of snuff brought to Macau and report them formally to Chinese authorities, who retain the right to set purchase prices and procure consignments under tribute protocols. The text identifies breaches involving collusion between foreign merchants and local traders, evasion of the required journey to the provincial capital, and illicit sale of concealed cargo. In response, the Provincial High Commissioner has issued a confidential directive authorising discreet investigations by specially appointed officials and public proclamations to enforce compliance. Violators face prosecution and severe punishment under Qing law; the edict grants temporary leniency but commands immediate and strict adherence to the stipulated procedures. Marginalia—including inventory codes (T56, 951, V444), a red checkmark, and the circled annotation ‘Violation—strict observance—prompt execution’—attest to its archival handling and administrative urgency. Manuscripts Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000056 1777-08-08 Macau trade protocol Portuguese merchants in Macau Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Imperial Edict Qing maritime governance Torre do Tombo archive Xiangshan County magistrate imperial character Yù red square seal snuff import regulation yímù community {{PAGE:1}} [Stamp — top center] [Red circular seal with black Chinese character: 諭] [Marginalia — top right] 中字文 [Marginalia — center left] T56 951 V444 {{PAGE:2}} [Stamp — top right] [Red seal: 香山縣正堂] [Main text] 香山縣正堂楊 諭夷目 衆哆等知悉照得本年 小西洋船隻陸續回帆均 [Stamp — center left] [Red circular stamp: ARQUIVO NACIONAL DA TORRE DO TOMBO] {{PAGE:3}} [Main text] 鼻煙帶到節經轉飭該夷 日等查明報貯去後茲本 聞該夷人等多有串同奸商 {{PAGE:4}} [Main text] 偷漏赴省殊属胆现现奉 大宪密札查拏除选差密查併出示 晓谕外合亟谕查谕到该夷目等即 {{PAGE:5}} [Main text] 便遵照凡有洋船攜帶鼻煙到澳該夷 目必須查明寔數稟報發價採買當收 由夷人偷漏別售致悞 {{PAGE:6}} [Main text] 貢典經訪獲定即按法從重究治 姑寬各宜凛遵毋違慎速切 特諭 [Marginalia — left] [Red ink checkmark: ✓] [Marginalia — center, circled in red] 違慎速切 {{PAGE:7}} [Stamp — center] [Red square seal with Chinese characters: 乾隆四十二年七月] [Marginalia — right of stamp] T56 [Main text] 乾隆四十二年七月 丙 日諭 {{PAGE:1}} [Stamp — top centre] [Red circular seal bearing the black Chinese character: *Yù* (‘Imperial Edict’ or ‘Imperial Command’)] [Marginalia — top right] Chinese-language text [Marginalia — centre left] T56 951 V444 {{PAGE:2}} [Stamp — top right] [Red seal: Magistrate of Xiangshan County] [Main text] Magistrate Yang of Xiangshan County hereby issues the following proclamation to the foreign community leaders (yimu): You are hereby instructed to take notice that, this year, vessels from Lesser Western Ocean (a historical Chinese designation for Portuguese ships, particularly those operating from Macau) have been returning successively to port. [Stamp — centre left] [Red circular stamp: National Archive of Torre do Tombo] {{PAGE:3}} [Main text] Snuff has been brought to the port; the matter was accordingly referred to the said foreign merchants, who were instructed to investigate and report on the quantity held in store. It has now come to our attention that many of these foreign merchants have colluded with unscrupulous local traders. {{PAGE:4}} [Main text] Evasion of the prescribed journey to the provincial capital constitutes a flagrant and brazen breach of protocol. In accordance with the recent confidential directive issued by the Provincial High Commissioner, strict measures are now in force to apprehend those responsible. Accordingly, specially appointed officials have been dispatched to conduct discreet investigations; furthermore, official proclamations have been publicly posted to inform all concerned parties. This present edict is therefore issued forthwith, commanding the foreign headmen (yímù) immediately to comply with the above instructions and report accordingly. {{PAGE:5}} Pursuant to the regulation, whenever foreign vessels bring snuff to Macau, the responsible foreign official (‘Yi mu’) must ascertain the precise quantity and formally report it to the relevant Chinese authorities; the authorities would then set the purchase price and procure the consignment. Any attempt by foreigners to evade this procedure—by concealing part of the cargo and selling it illicitly—would result in serious consequences. {{PAGE:6}} [Main text] Those found guilty of violating the tribute regulations shall be prosecuted and punished severely in accordance with the law. For the present, leniency is extended; all concerned are hereby expressly commanded to observe these provisions strictly and without delay. By special edict. [Marginalia — left] [Red ink checkmark: ✓] [Marginalia — centre, circled in red] ‘Violation—strict observance—prompt execution’ {{PAGE:7}} [Stamp — centred] [Red square seal bearing the Chinese characters: ‘Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month’] [Marginalia — right of stamp] T56 [Main text] Qianlong 42nd year, seventh month Bing Day — Imperial Edict |
| spellingShingle | Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé Macau trade protocol Portuguese merchants in Macau Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Imperial Edict Qing maritime governance Torre do Tombo archive Xiangshan County magistrate imperial character Yù red square seal snuff import regulation yímù community |
| title | Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé |
| title_autocomplete | Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé |
| title_full | Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé |
| title_fullStr | Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé |
| title_short | Ofício do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a compra de rapé |
| title_sort | ofício do magistrado do distrito de xiangshan, yang, ao procurador de macau, sobre a compra de rapé |
| topic | Macau trade protocol Portuguese merchants in Macau Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Imperial Edict Qing maritime governance Torre do Tombo archive Xiangshan County magistrate imperial character Yù red square seal snuff import regulation yímù community |
| topic_autocomplete | Macau trade protocol Portuguese merchants in Macau Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Imperial Edict Qing maritime governance Torre do Tombo archive Xiangshan County magistrate imperial character Yù red square seal snuff import regulation yímù community |
| topic_facet | Macau trade protocol Portuguese merchants in Macau Qianlong reign Qing Dynasty Imperial Edict Qing maritime governance Torre do Tombo archive Xiangshan County magistrate imperial character Yù red square seal snuff import regulation yímù community |
| url | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/MKPXW8SF/viewer_MKPXW8SF.html |
| zotero_collection_key | 6E6PR22G HDYWE267 PAAL2UHW |