This is a study-aid for that select group of American specialists on China who understand this value of Ch'ing documents and aim to use them. No one who looks into this volume seriously will need to "be told why contemporary China must "be studied against the "background of Ch'ing institutions. Research on pre-Republican China is hot antiquarianism. On the contrary, it is an elementary step toward acquiring insight into Chinese ways and formulating a more adequate American policy, both public and private, toward the Chinese people.Contents :Vol. 1. Introduction, notes and appendicesVol. 2. Chinese texts