{{Short description|Chinese diplomat}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Li Fengbao | native_name = | alias = | birth_name = | image = File:Qing dynasty diplomat Li Fengbao.jpg | image_size = | caption = Li in Vienna | birth_date = 1834 | birth_place = Chongming, Jiangsu Province, Qing Empire | death_date = {{death date and age|1887|08|06|1834|df=y}} | death_place = Chongming, Jiangsu Province, Qing Empire | occupation = Diplomat, politician, government official | education = | office1 = Chinese Ambassador to France | term_start1 = 1884 | term_end1 = 1884 | predecessor1 = Xu Jingcheng (didn't take office) | successor1 = Xu Jingcheng }} '''Li Fengbao''' (1834{{ndash}}1887,<ref name=":1" /> {{Lang-zh|s=李凤苞|t=李鳳苞}}), courtesy name '''Haike''' ({{lang|zh|海客}}), art name '''Dan'ya''' ({{lang|zh|丹涯}}), was a late Qing dynasty Chinese diplomat. He was the imperial commissioner or ambassador of China to Germany between 1878 and 1884. During this time, Li also held the concurrent posts of the ambassador to Austro-Hungary, the Netherlands (1881-1884)<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=The Early Dutch Sinologists (1854-1900) (2 vols): Training in Holland and China, Functions in the Netherlands Indies|last=Kuiper|first=Koos|publisher=BRILL|year=2017|isbn=9789004339637}}</ref> and Italy.
== Life == Li was born in Chongming, then a part of Jiangsu province. In his early years, he was especially fond of the study of astronomy as well as mapping, military strategy and phonology.<ref>{{Cite book|title=明清时期上海地区的著姓望族|last=Wu|first=Ren'an|publisher=Shanghai People's Press|year=1997|isbn=9787208024762|location=Shanghai|page=304}}</ref> His talents were appreciated by Ding Richang, governor of Jiangsu. Ding recommended him to Li Hongzhang. Under Li Hongzhang, Li Fengbao worked at Jiangnan Shipyard and Wusong Battery.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Krupp und die Modernisierung Chinas|last=Qiao|first=Wei|publisher=天津古籍出版社|year=2001|isbn=9787805047850|pages=74–76}}</ref>
In 1875, as a secretary of Li Hongzhang, he participated Hongzhang's meeting with British officer Thomas Francis Wade.<ref>{{Cite book|title=淮系人物列传/文职·北洋海军·洋员/淮系集团与近代中国|last=Ma|first=Changhua|publisher=Huangshan Shushe|year=1995|isbn=9787806300121|page=145}}</ref> In 1877, he was appointed the supervisor of oversea Chinese student in Britain. These students were sent by the Qing government with the purpose of learning advanced naval technologies. Along with Li was the French naval officer Prosper Giquel who was another supervisor of the students.
In August 1878, he was appointed the commissioner of China to Germany and later Austria-Hungary, Netherlands and Italy after his predecessor Liu Xihong was recalled to the imperial court.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Renditions|publisher=Research Centre for Translation, Chinese University of Hong Kong|year=2000|page=112}}</ref> Diplomatic affairs between France and China also concerned Li, according to historical records. During Sino-French War, Li actively involved in the delivery of the battleship Chinese ironclad ''Dingyuan'' from Germany to China.<ref>{{Cite book|title=清史论丛|publisher=Zhonghua Book Company|year=2002|isbn=9787504339348|pages=156–158}}</ref> In 1881, Li visited Leiden University, Netherlands and met with German scholar Johann Joseph Hoffmann.<ref name=":1" />
Although being an experienced officer and diplomat, Li was not trusted by the conservative power-blocs in Qing's court. When Chinese cruiser ''Jiyuan'''s construction was completed, rumors in Beijing spread and Li was accused of embezzlement of government funds. He was impeached by imperial censors and was dismissed once and for all from the court. Despite the fact that the cruiser Jiyuan functioned well after arriving in China, Li's dismissal was not reversed. On August 6, 1887, Li died in his hometown Chongming after suffering from depression for several years, aged 53.<ref>{{Cite book|title=秋風寶劍孤臣淚：晚清的政局和人物續編|last=Jiang|first=Ming|publisher=香港中和出版有限公司|year=2016|isbn=9789888369195|location=Hongkong|pages=242–252}}</ref>
== Works == Li Fengbao contributed to the early advancement of modern Chinese artillery. He was among the first ones to translate technical documents of Western artillery. When the Qing dynasty government purchased cannons from Krupp, his translations no doubt were the key to the understanding of the cannons' way of functioning.<ref name=":0" />
In addition, Li Fengbao translated the German infantry drill codes from German to Chinese. This code in turn was adopted by the new armies, modernized infantry troops of Qing dynasty.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Body and Military Masculinity in Late Qing and Early Republican China: The Art of Governing Soldiers|last=Schillinger|first=Nicolas|publisher=Lexington Books|year=2016|isbn=9781498531696|page=74}}</ref>
Li also left his "Diary of the ministerial trip to Germany" (使德日記). The diary is one of the few Qing dynasty historical documents that contains a detailed description of the Western society during the late 19th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=黄遵憲師友記|last=Jiang|first=Yinghao|publisher=Chinese University Press|year=2002|isbn=9789622018396|page=173}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Sources ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Fengbao}} Category:19th-century Chinese diplomats Category:Ambassadors of China to France Category:Ambassadors of China to Italy Category:Ambassadors of China to Austria Category:Chongming, Shanghai Category:1834 births Category:1887 deaths Category:Chinese shipbuilders Category:Politicians convicted of embezzlement