《A Letter Never Sent: The Qing Dynasty’s Diplomatic Treasure and the Bomb That Changed History》

一封寄不出的國書：清末炸彈案背後的國寶密語

一封寄不出去的国书：清末炸弹案背后的国宝密语

Among the many treasures in the National Palace Museum, one artifact stands out—not only for its stunning appearance and age, but for its unique place in modern Chinese history. Recently, the document titled "The Great Qing’s Letter to the United Kingdom" was officially designated by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture as an “Important Antiquity,” becoming the first diplomatic letter from the museum to receive this honor. Yet, this letter was never delivered.

( National Palace Museum @ Taipei)

✨ 中文（繁體）

在故宮博物院眾多瑰寶中，有一件文物不僅外觀華美、歷史悠久，更承載著近代中國最動盪時期的抉擇與遺憾。最近，這件名為《大清國致大英國國書》的文書正式被台灣文化部列為「重要古物」，成為故宮首件獲此殊榮的外交國書。而它，竟是一封「從未寄出的國書」。

✨ 中文（简体）

在故宫博物院众多瑰宝中，有一件文物不仅外观华美、历史悠久，更承载着近代中国最动荡时期的抉择与遗憾。最近，这件名为《大清国致大英国国书》的文书正式被台湾文化部列为“重要古物”，成为故宫首件获此殊荣的外交国书。而它，竟是一封“从未寄出的国书”。

📜 Why Was This Letter Never Sent?

📜 為何這封國書無法送出？

📜 为什么这封国书无法送出？

1905年（清光緒三十一年），面對日本憲政改革成功、國力迅速提升，晚清政府也決定派遣五位大臣出訪歐亞各國，考察憲政制度，為中國實施君主立憲鋪路。這一舉措引發朝野矚目，各大報紙爭相報導。然而，對當時的革命黨人而言，這不啻為延宕民主革命的策略。

In 1905, the Qing government, witnessing Japan’s success after adopting a constitutional monarchy, sent five high-ranking ministers to Europe and Asia to study foreign constitutional systems. This mission drew nationwide attention and wide media coverage. However, revolutionaries saw it as a threat to the republican movement and an obstacle to political reform.

同年9月24日，五大臣即將自北京正陽門車站出發，卻遭遇震驚朝野的「五大臣炸彈案」：革命黨人吳樾偽裝成僕役潛入現場，引爆炸彈，自己當場身亡，五大臣雖僅受傷，但出國行程被迫延後。部分大臣更因傷勢無法出使，導致原本精心製作的國書無法送達英國，最終只能封存於清宮，成為一封「送不出去的國書」。

On September 24, 1905, as the delegation prepared to leave Beijing from Zhengyangmen Station, a revolutionary named Wu Yue disguised himself as a servant and detonated a bomb. He died instantly; the ministers were wounded, and the mission was postponed. Some ministers were too injured to travel, and the carefully crafted diplomatic letter meant for the UK was never used. Instead, it was sealed and stored in the imperial archives—a letter that never left.

🐉 A Regal Masterpiece of Symbolism and Beauty

🐉 外觀華麗，寓意深遠

🐉 外观华丽，寓意深远

這封國書，不只是紙上外交，更是一件藝術珍品。外層以金線繡上三條五爪金龍、福山壽海的吉祥圖案，象徵皇權與國泰民安；封面以雲彩龍紋繡飾妝點，內頁為滿漢合璧雙語書寫，展現清朝多元融合的文化品味。其中的「滌金龍」圖樣，更象徵「朕親臨其境」，彰顯此文書之重要性。

Though undelivered, this national letter is a stunning work of diplomatic art. The cover is embroidered with three five-clawed golden dragons, along with motifs of “Prosperous Mountains and Long-Life Seas”—symbols of imperial majesty. The text is written bilingually in Manchu and Chinese, reflecting the Qing’s ethnic integration. A central “gold-washed dragon” symbolizes the emperor’s personal presence, affirming the letter’s solemn authority.

🔥 Why Does It Matter? More Than an Undelivered Letter

🔥 為何重要？不只是未寄出的遺憾

🔥 为什么重要？不只是未寄出的遗憾

雖然這封國書從未抵達倫敦，卻因「五大臣炸彈案」而具有非凡歷史意義。它見證了晚清面對內憂外患時的制度選擇：是延續君主立憲，還是轉向民主共和？當文物隨國民政府遷來台灣時，老故宮人識得其歷史分量，特別將此封報廢國書帶來，保存至今。

Although the letter never reached London, the story it carries is rich with historical weight. It stands at the crossroads of late Qing China's struggle between constitutional monarchy and republican revolution. When the Palace Museum’s artifacts were relocated to Taiwan, curators recognized its symbolic value and preserved it as a unique witness to history.

文化部指出，這份文件不僅象徵清朝的外交禮制，也揭示晚清政府在國際壓力與國內革命雙重夾擊下的歷史困境，是研究近代中國憲政思潮不可或缺的珍貴證物。

Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture emphasized that the letter is not just a ceremonial artifact—it reflects the Qing dynasty’s response to both external geopolitical pressures and internal revolutionary forces, offering rare insight into China’s constitutional history.

📚 全球華文學院小知識補給站：GMA Knowledge Corner

• 「國書」是什麼？｜What is a National Letter?

  
  

• 指一國元首致他國元首的正式外交文書，具有高度禮儀與象徵意義。

  A national letter is an official message from one head of state to another, rich in ceremony and symbolism.

  
  

• 「滿漢合璧」為何重要？｜

  Why Is Manchu-Chinese Bilingualism Significant?

  
  

• 清朝文書常以雙語呈現，反映語言與族群政治並存的格局。

  Qing documents were often bilingual to reflect the dual-ethnic governance structure of the Manchu-led dynasty.

  
  

• 「五大臣炸彈案」是什麼？｜

  What Was the Bombing of the Five Ministers?

  
  

• 指1905年革命黨人吳樾企圖以炸彈暗殺憲政考察團的未遂事件。

  A failed assassination attempt by revolutionary Wu Yue against five reformist ministers departing for a constitutional study mission.

  
  

這封「見證歷史的未寄國書」如今在故宮靜靜展示，不只提醒我們那場未竟的憲政實驗，也邀請全球華語學子，重新思考語言、文化、歷史如何交織成我們共同的記憶與未來。

This “Letter That Never Left” remains on display at the National Palace Museum, silently telling a story of unfinished reform. For learners of Mandarin and Chinese history, it’s a powerful reminder of how language, politics, and culture shape a shared past and future.

📍下次您走進台北故宮，不妨駐足觀賞這封「沉默卻響亮」的國書，讓文字帶您穿越一個王朝的最後決擇時刻。

📍Next time you visit the museum, pause to see this “silent yet resounding” letter—it might just carry you through the final turning point of an empire.