Qishan

Qishan was a Manchu statesman and senior Qing official who negotiated with British representative Charles Elliot during the First Opium War. Seeking to limit damage after British naval victories, he agreed to preliminary terms at Chuenpi that included the cession of Hong Kong.

The Daoguang Emperor rejected the arrangement, dismissed Qishan and confiscated his property. He later returned to office and served in several important provincial and military positions. Qishan was born in Beijing and died in Yangzhou.

Amitav Ghosh’s Flood of Fire brings Qishan into the diplomatic crisis at the opening of the First Opium War. As a senior Qing official sent to negotiate after Lin Zexu’s hard-line campaign, he must reconcile the Daoguang Emperor’s demands with British naval pressure, and his dealings with Charles Elliot expose how rapidly failed negotiation is giving way to open imperial war.