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Li Dingyuan was a [[Qing Dynasty]] official who served as vice-envoy on a [[Chinese investiture mission]] to the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] led by [[Zhao Wenkai]] in [[1800]].

Li Dingyuan was a [[Qing Dynasty]] official who served as vice-envoy on a [[Chinese investiture mission]] to the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] led by [[Zhao Wenkai]] in [[1800]].

Originally from [[Sichuan province]], Li was also known as Mò Zhuāng.

Originally from [[Sichuan province]], Li was also known as Mò Zhuāng. He passed the highest level of [[Chinese Imperial examinations|Confucian civil service exams]] in [[1778]], earning his ''jìnshì'', and was granted a position in the Central Secretariat (''Nèigé zhōngshū'', 内閣中書).<ref name=ono>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Kei, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 241.</ref>

As the 1800 mission came only shortly after the death of the long-reigning [[Qianlong Emperor]], a variety of changes were made to the ritual protocols, in observance of traditional mourning practices. The seven banquets traditionally organized by the kingdom to welcome and entertain the envoys were skipped, Zhao and Li discouraged members of their party from engaging in private trade, and they also politely declined an offer by the king to grant them a gift of 10,000 ounces of [[silver]] as an expression of gratitude.<ref>Ta-Tuan Ch'en, "Investiture of Liu-Ch'iu Kings in the Ch'ing Period." in John King Fairbank (ed.), ''The Chinese World Order'', Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968. pp135-164.</ref> Li did accept, however, a number of gifts given him by Ryukyuan officials on the occasion of his mother's birthday; it came as quite a surprise to him that they would know of his mother's birthday, and would provide such gifts, a truly thoughtful gesture.<ref>[[Gregory Smits]], presentation at "[http://www.hawaii.edu/asiaref/japan/event2013/Index.htm#symposium Interpreting Parades and Processions of Edo Japan]" symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 11 Feb 2013.</ref>

As the 1800 mission came only shortly after the death of the long-reigning [[Qianlong Emperor]], a variety of changes were made to the ritual protocols, in observance of traditional mourning practices. The seven banquets traditionally organized by the kingdom to welcome and entertain the envoys were skipped, Zhao and Li discouraged members of their party from engaging in private trade, and they also politely declined an offer by the king to grant them a gift of 10,000 ounces of [[silver]] as an expression of gratitude.<ref>Ta-Tuan Ch'en, "Investiture of Liu-Ch'iu Kings in the Ch'ing Period." in John King Fairbank (ed.), ''The Chinese World Order'', Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968. pp135-164.</ref> Li did accept, however, a number of gifts given him by Ryukyuan officials on the occasion of his mother's birthday; it came as quite a surprise to him that they would know of his mother's birthday, and would provide such gifts, a truly thoughtful gesture.<ref>[[Gregory Smits]], presentation at "[http://www.hawaii.edu/asiaref/japan/event2013/Index.htm#symposium Interpreting Parades and Processions of Edo Japan]" symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 11 Feb 2013.</ref>

On the return journey from Ryûkyû, the mission was attacked by pirates, and also endured a great storm. Li and the rest of the mission's members survived, however, and return to China safely. The experience was quite harrowing, however, and Zhao Wenkai is said to have never truly recovered.

On the return journey from Ryûkyû, the mission was attacked by pirates, and also endured a great storm. Li and the rest of the mission's members survived, however, and return to China safely. The experience was quite harrowing, however, and Zhao Wenkai is said to have never truly recovered.

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