Xingchuan Mianzhuang Zhangcheng 行船免撞章程 [Rules for the Prevention of Ship Collisions]

60 in-text illustrations. 1 juan and fujuan 1 juan in one volume. 38, 25 leaves, orig wrappers, new stitching. 29.5x17.5cm. According to WorldCat, published by the Jiangnan Arsenal (江南製造總局), Shanghai, 1895.

This rare technical manual, translated by John Fryer (傅蘭雅) and Zhong Tianwei (鍾天緯) during the late Qing Self-Strengthening Movement (洋務運動), represents one of the earliest Chinese treatises on maritime navigation and collision prevention. Drawing on Western nautical law and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (the “Rules of the Road at Sea”), the translators sought to introduce standardized signaling systems—navigation lights, sound signals, and right-of-way conventions—to modernize China’s maritime operations and reduce accidents in increasingly congested waters.

The work is divided into eighteen main chapters followed by four appendices (附卷甲乙丙丁). The chapters cover subjects such as:

1. On Navigation Lights — discussion of the placement and function of signal lights on ships.
2. On Four Matters Requiring the Utmost Caution — the essential principles for avoiding accidents at sea.
3. On the Danger of Turning the Helm to Port Without Care — how improper steering may lead to collision.
4. On the Sight of a Single Light — interpretation of one visible navigation light.
5. On the Sight of Changing Lights — rules concerning vessels showing moving or shifting lights.
6. On the Sight of Three Lights — explanation of triple-light configurations and their meanings.
7. On the Various Colors of Signal Lights — the system of colored lanterns and their indications.
8. On Sound Signals in Fog — prescribed use of bells, whistles, and horns in low visibility.
9. On Hearing a Signal and Sight of a Vessel — how to judge a ship’s direction and proximity by both sound and sight.
10. On Which Vessel Shall Proceed and Which Shall Yield — right-of-way principles between approaching ships.
11. On Vessels Required to Give Way — further clarification of yielding responsibilities.
12. On Cases Where Both Ships Keep Course Without Risk — situations exempt from previous regulations.
13. On Rules Between Two Steamships — methods for mutual avoidance among steam-powered vessels.
14. On Overtaking Another Vessel — duties and precautions when one ship pursues another.
15. On Supplementary Explanation of the Preceding Rule — clarifications and illustrative notes.
16. On Sailing Vessels Crossing Courses With Risk of Collision — handling crossing situations between sailing ships.
17. On Additional Notes Explaining the Preceding Chapter — further commentary on sailing-vessel encounters.
18. On the General Regulations — summary of the whole system and concluding remarks.

The four supplementary sections expand on practical applications:

• Appendix A details required lights and fog signals for various vessel types and waterways (sea, rivers, ports).
• Appendix B cites legal provisions and distress signals.
• Appendix C describes rocket-and-rope life-saving apparatus used in maritime rescue.
• Appendix D presents questions and answers for navigators.

Issued around 1895, the work coincides with the late Qing government’s urgent efforts to modernize naval and commercial shipping in the aftermath of the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95). In this context, Xingchuan Mianzhuang Zhangcheng embodies both the Arsenal’s technical mission and China’s broader engagement with international maritime standards—an essential step in integrating Western science with indigenous nautical practice at the twilight of the empire.

Slight worming; corners a bit creased, occasional foxing.

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