Steering Foreign Relations and Pushing the Self-Strengthening Movement

Prince Gong, brother to the Xianfeng Emperor, emerged as a pivotal diplomatic and reform leader in late Qing history. After negotiating the 1860 Convention of Peking, he spearheaded the creation of the Zongli Yamen, China's first modern foreign office. Recognizing the urgency of Western technology, he became a central architect of the Self-Strengthening Movement, promoting military modernization and diplomatic institutionalization. Collaborating with Empress Dowager Cixi, he orchestrated the 1861 Xinyou Coup to secure governance. Despite repeated dismissals caused by court rivalries, his pragmatic diplomacy remained crucial in navigating China's delicate relations with imperialist powers.

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