German Colonial Power in China

Count Karl von Luxburg (1872-1956) served as the second envoy at the embassy in Beijing, China, from 1905 to 1906 and again from 1909 to 1912. His diplomatic activities, travels, and art purchases occurred against the backdrop of European imperialism and colonialism. The increasing influence of the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Japan, the United States, and the German Empire in non-European regions, along with their efforts to acquire colonies, were key factors in the politics of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Influence on China

China had long resisted the influence of European powers within its borders. However, following the two lost Opium Wars, from 1839 to 1842 and from 1856 to 1860, China was compelled to open up and submit to the economic interests of the major Western powers. After these defeats, China was required to open its ports and inland waterways to European ships and cede the city of Hong Kong, among other concessions. The trade monopoly held by Chinese merchants was abolished, allowing Western merchants and missionaries to move freely throughout the country. China was also forced to accept the legalisation of the opium trade.

The Colony of Kiautschou

Between 1884 and 1900, the German Empire acquired colonies in Africa, northeast China, and the Pacific, becoming the fourth largest colonial power after the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands.

The murder of two German missionaries in 1897 resulted in the occupation of the Bay of Kiautschou, China, by the German Empire. On March 6, 1898, the German Empire leased Kiautschou and the port city of Tsingtau from the Chinese government for 99 years, treating it as a trading colony.

The Ministry of the Navy, responsible for the colony, viewed the area, which had a population of 190,000, as a "model colony". Here, they aimed to showcase the superiority of German culture, science, and technology. A modernisation programme included the construction of a railway line, a new sewage system, and a new port, along with investments in medical care and a telegraph system. The coal deposits were to be exploited. However, as in other occupied territories, the Chinese population was sceptical of the Germans and resisted their presence. The colonial administration responded to the protests with repressive measures.

The "Boxer Rebellion" and its Consequences

The Chinese resistance culminated at the end of 1899 in the "Boxer Rebellion" or "Boxer War" (the "Yihetuan Movement"). During the uprising, railway and telegraph lines were destroyed, and foreign engineers, missionaries, and Chinese Christians were killed. The Boxer Rebellion received support from the imperial court, leading to a declaration of war against the colonial powers of the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Japan, Austria, Italy, the United States, and the German Empire. The colonial powers violently suppressed the Chinese resistance and looted Beijing. As a result, works of art and other artefacts found their way directly or indirectly, often through dealers, into Western and thus also German collections and museums.

In the Boxer Protocol of 1901, China was required to issue an official apology and pay reparations. This protocol marked the beginning of the decline of the empire.

Chinese Art Treasures

The population in Europe closely followed the fighting in China during 1900/1901 and largely sympathised with the major Western powers. A so-called expiation mission led by Chinese Prince Chun (1883-1951) to the German Empire in 1901 was accompanied by numerous press articles and garnered significant attention among the German public. During this period, there was considerable enthusiasm for objects that had been looted from the imperial palace during the sacking of Beijing.

However, after the proclamation of the republic in China in 1912, the officialdom and imperial court lost much of their prestige within the country. Consequently, everyday objects were sold as antiques or second-hand goods. Items such as vases and textiles made their way onto the European market, where people were captivated by these "exotic" pieces.

These events and developments in China during the early 20th century complicate the task of clearly distinguishing between looted objects and those that were purchased.

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