The Zongli Yamen, short for Office for the General Management of Affairs Concerning the Various Countries (總理各國事務衙門), also known as Prime Minister's Office, Office of General Management, was the government body in charge of foreign policy in imperial China during the late Qing dynasty. It was established by Prince Gong on 11 March 1861 after the Convention of Beijing. It was abolished by the Qing government in 1901 and replaced with a Foreign Office of ministry rank.
Front gate of the Zongli Yamen. The tablet reads "中外禔福" (Peace and Prosperity in China and Outside), from the biography of Sima Xiangru in the Book of Han. Photography c.1897–98 Marcel Monnier, le Tour d'Asie, Plon 1899
A photographic engraving of the members of the Zongli Yamen in 1894, at the time of the First Sino-Japanese War.
Yixin, better known in English as Prince Kung or Gong, was an imperial prince of the Aisin Gioro clan and an important statesman of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty in China. He was a regent of the empire from 1861 to 1865 and wielded great influence at other times as well.
Photograph of Prince Gong, shortly after the signing of the Convention of Peking, 1860
Photo of a 39- or 40-year-old Prince Gong, taken by John Thompson in 1872 at the prince's residence.
Empress Xiaojingcheng and Prince Gong
Gulun Princess Rongshou (centre, seated)
