On the History of the Botanical Investigation Made by the Russian Orthodox Mission in China in the First Half of the XIX Century
The Russian Orthodox Mission in China was established in Beijing in 1715, and it existed until 1955. It played a crucial role in the development of Russian-Chinese relations. It also became a Russian center for scientific study of China and the first training school for Sinologists. During the first half of the XIX century China cut off country from outsides. Russian scientists could obtain reliable information about China only through the Russian Orthodox Mission in Beijing. Author in this article analyzed the role of the Russian Orthodox mission in Beijing in the first half of the XIX century in shaping of the botanical collections. The text gives valuable information on the methods of acquisition of collections, the system of transportation of the living plants and herbarium. Much attention is given to approach the cooperation between Russian Orthodox mission and Russian scientists and Chinese government and Chinese scientists-bureaucrats. The article introduces in the scientific circulation new archival materials, especially the materials with the list of plants, which were sent to the Saint-Petersburg Botanic Garden. The author has done much to establish the facilities of the describing plants to certain species.