Edward Charles Bowra
Encyclopedia
Edward Charles MacIntosh Bowra (1841–1874) was a British citizen serving in the Chinese Maritime Customs working for the government of the Qing dynasty
. He was among those treaty port residents who contributed to Western knowledge of China through translations and scientific work.
that a cultivated gentleman could master Oriental culture. He published a history of the province of Canton
, and compiled Index Sinice et Latine for Justus Doolittle
's Vocabulary and Handbook of the Chinese Language (1872)., but his most widely known accomplishment was a pioneering translation of the first eight chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber
in 1868.
Bowra was educated at the City of London College, then served in the London
Custom House
before he went to Italy
to join the British Legion in support of Red Shirts of Giuseppe Garibaldi
in their campaign for Italian unity.
in Tientsin and Shanghai. He was sent in 1864 as a student interpreter to Peking, then appointed interpreter in Canton. Bowra organised the 1866 tour for the Chinese Secretary of Customs, Pin Chun. In England Bowra married Thirza Woodward . On his return to China he was sent to Ningbo
, where his children Ethel and Cecil were born. He was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 1872. He organized the Chinese contribution for the Vienna Exhibition of 1873, for which the Austrian government awarded him the Order of the Iron Crown.
Bowra died in England at the age of thirty-two in 1874.
His son, Cecil Arthur Verner Bowra (1869–1947) also served in the Chinese Maritime Service. His grandson, Maurice Bowra
, born in Kiukiang, became a prominent classical scholar.
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. He was among those treaty port residents who contributed to Western knowledge of China through translations and scientific work.
Career
As an amateur Sinologist and botanist he showed a range of scholarly and practical interests which reflected the then common viewOrientalism
Orientalism is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers, designers and artists, as well as having other meanings...
that a cultivated gentleman could master Oriental culture. He published a history of the province of Canton
Canton
- Administrative divisions :* Canton , territorial/administrative subdivision in some countries, notably Switzerland* Township , known as canton in Canadian French- China :...
, and compiled Index Sinice et Latine for Justus Doolittle
Justus Doolittle
Justus Doolittle was an American Board missionary to China.-Life:Justus Doolittle was born in Rutland, New York on June 23, 1824. In 1846 he graduated from Hamilton College, and in 1849 from Auburn Theological Seminary. Having deliberately chosen China as his field of labor, he sailed for Fuhchau...
's Vocabulary and Handbook of the Chinese Language (1872)., but his most widely known accomplishment was a pioneering translation of the first eight chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber
Dream of the Red Chamber
Dream of the Red Chamber , composed by Cao Xueqin, is one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. It was composed in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. It is considered to be a masterpiece of Chinese vernacular literature and is generally acknowledged to be a pinnacle of...
in 1868.
Bowra was educated at the City of London College, then served in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Custom House
Custom House
A custom house or customs house was a building housing the offices for the government officials who processed the paperwork for the import and export of goods into and out of a country. Customs officials also collected customs duty on imported goods....
before he went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to join the British Legion in support of Red Shirts of Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
in their campaign for Italian unity.
Service in China
In 1863 he was appointed clerk in the Chinese Maritime Customs, serving under Sir Robert HartRobert Hart
Robert Hart, Bob Hart, or Bobby Hart may refer to:* Bob Hart , a.k.a. Al Trace, American musician* Bob Hart , American bass player* Bobby Hart , American songwriter...
in Tientsin and Shanghai. He was sent in 1864 as a student interpreter to Peking, then appointed interpreter in Canton. Bowra organised the 1866 tour for the Chinese Secretary of Customs, Pin Chun. In England Bowra married Thirza Woodward . On his return to China he was sent to Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, where his children Ethel and Cecil were born. He was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 1872. He organized the Chinese contribution for the Vienna Exhibition of 1873, for which the Austrian government awarded him the Order of the Iron Crown.
Bowra died in England at the age of thirty-two in 1874.
His son, Cecil Arthur Verner Bowra (1869–1947) also served in the Chinese Maritime Service. His grandson, Maurice Bowra
Maurice Bowra
Sir Cecil Maurice Bowra was an English classical scholar and academic, known for his wit. He was Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, from 1938 to 1970, and served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1951 to 1954.-Birth and boyhood:...
, born in Kiukiang, became a prominent classical scholar.
Further reading
- Charles Drage, Servants of the Dragon Throne: Being the Lives of Edward and Cecil Bowra (London: Peter Dawnay, 1966).
External links
- Photograph Bowra's Farewell Tiffin