1897 Russian Ministry of Finance Map of Manchuria

This is an 1897 Russian Ministry of Finance map of Manchuria highlighting current and projected railways, in the process creating a rare Russian-perspective snapshot of the Tzar's ambitions in East Asia. The ultimate construction of these railroads precipitated the Russo-Japanese War (1904- 1905) and set the stage for the Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931). The map depicts the region from Beijing to the Sea of Japan and from the Russian Empire to Bohai Bay. Railways throughout the region, the map's main focus, are illustrated either by solid black lines if they had already been constructed or dashed black and white lines for planned routes. At this point, the only routes that had been completed were from Tianjin north toward Manchuria and part of the Trans-Siberian Railway funning north from Vladivostok to Khabarovsk. Numerous towns and villages are labeled throughout, including Beijing, Tianjin, Vladivostok, and Kharbarovsk. Roads and trails are also indicated, as are rivers, lakes, and other physical features.

Sino-Russian Alliance of the 1890s

Russian diplomacy in the Far East was dominated by Sergei Witte, the Finance Minister. After China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894 - 95), Witte faced the choice of becoming closer allies with Japan or taking on the role of protecting China against the increasingly expansionist Japanese. Witte chose the latter and joined France and Britain in forcing Japan to soften the terms they were imposing on the Chinese after the war. This course of action angered Tokyo and the Russians became their prime enemy in the region. A treaty between Russia and China was signed in 1896 that effectively made China a Russian protectorate. Russia viewed Manchuria, and all other areas along its border, as falling under a Russian sphere of influence, and believed that they should at least have a say in affairs in the region, if not more. China, although apprehensive to do so, entered into an alliance with Russia to try and create a balance of power with respect to the Japanese. The Chinese of course wanted to restrict Russian actions in the region from the outset, but also wanted to avoid provoking the Russians and igniting a war.

Railroads in Manchuria

After they lost the First Sino-Japanese War, China realized that one rail line north into Manchuria would not be enough to stem Japanese expansionism. The Imperial Railways of North China (I.R.N.C.), which ran between Beijing and Mukden and had been built by the British, held an important position here, and led to British involvement in the crisis as well. Russia, of course, wanted to build a railway across Manchuria, but we have been unable to locate any information confirming that the projected railroad illustrated here was ever built.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the Russian Ministry of Finance in 1897. We have been unable to locate any other examples of this piece, and with the few manuscript notations that appear on this example, it is likely that the present example is one of a kind.