一八六一年一月,清政府批准建立了专门负责对外交涉的外交机构——总理各国事务衙门(总理衙门,译署,总署)。从传统的朝贡制度,到建立具有近代意义的外交机构,这是一个重要的历史转变。对此,笔者准备从以下几个方面作一些探讨。在鸦片战争之前,清朝统治者自诩为“天朝上国”,把中国以外的国家和民族一概视为“蛮夷戎狄”,因此在处理对外关系上,只有所谓“理藩”,而无外交,更谈不上什么外交 In January 1861, the Qing government approved the establishment of a diplomatic agency specialized in foreign affairs - the Yamen (the Yamen, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Department of Translation, the General Administration of Foreign Affairs) of the Prime Minister. From the traditional tribute system to the establishment of diplomatic institutions with modern significance, this is an important historical shift. In this regard, I am prepared to make some discussion from the following aspects. Before the Opium War, the rulers of the Qing dynasty self-proclaimed “heavenly nation” and regarded countries and nations other than China as “barbarians.” Therefore, in dealing with the external relations, there were only so-called “governors” without diplomacy Let alone any diplomacy