Ashwin Lewis
The quote China is a sleeping giant; let him sleep, for when he wakes, he will shake the world has been widely attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, who allegedly made this statement in reference to China's potential for future power and influence on the world stage. However, there is no concrete evidence that Napoleon ever uttered these exact words, and some historians argue that he likely did not. The phrase first appeared in English in the 19th century, around the time of the Boxer Rebellion, and has since become a well-known expression, often used to highlight China's remarkable economic growth and emergence as a global power.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The phrase attributed to Napoleon | "China is a sleeping giant; let him sleep, for when he wakes, he will move/shake the world""Let China sleep. For when she wakes, the world will tremble""There sleeps China! God pity us if she wakes. Let her sleep!" |
| The phrase's origin | It is uncertain whether Napoleon ever said this phrase. The earliest reference to the phrase in English dates to 1888, and the first mention of Napoleon in relation to the phrase was in 1890. |
| The phrase's popularity | The phrase has been widely used in articles, books, and films. |
| The phrase's interpretation | The phrase suggests that China was a powerful country that was not yet fully developed or recognised, but that it had the potential to become a dominant force in the world. |
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What You'll Learn
Napoleon likely never said the phrase
The phrase "China is a sleeping giant" has been attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, but there is little evidence to support this claim. The earliest known quotation with the English wording "China is a sleeping giant" appeared in the New York Journal of Commerce in 1888 without any reference to Napoleon. The phrase has also been attributed to Napoleon in The Sydney Morning Herald in 1890, but only indirectly, as it describes a speech by Patrick O'Sullivan of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. O'Sullivan considered China a sleeping lion, liable to be awakened by a "Mahomet, a Napoleon, or a Cromwell".
Some have speculated that Napoleon made the statement to Lord William Amherst during his diplomatic visit to China and his audience with the emperor, after which he saw Napoleon in exile on St. Helena in 1816. However, there are no firsthand accounts by Amherst himself that confirm this. The closest sources are two texts written by men accompanying him, which make no mention of the quote.
The phrase was also referenced in the 1911 book "China in Revolution" by William T. Ellis, who wrote, "Napoleon is reported to have said: 'There sleeps China! God pity us if she wakes. Let her sleep'.". However, this quote cannot be verified.
Napoleon specialist and Fondation Napoléon historian Peter Hicks and Australian National University historian John Fitzgerald have both stated that Napoleon likely never said the phrase. There is no reference to a sleeping dragon or giant in his recorded speeches or writings, and no mention of the terrible fate in store for the world should China suddenly "wake up".
Instead, the phrase may have originated in the 1963 film "55 Days at Peking", where the British Ambassador Sir Arthur Robinson says, "Let China sleep. For when she wakes, the world will tremble", after being asked by his wife, "Remember what Napoleon said". The screenplay is based on the novel by Noel Gerson, where the quote does not appear. It is believed that one of the screenwriters, Bernard Gordon, supplied the line.
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The phrase became popular in the 19th century
The phrase "China is a sleeping giant" became popular in the 19th century, with the earliest use of the phrase being traced back to 1888 in the New York Journal of Commerce, which stated, "China is a sleeping giant in a certain sense, but railroads and steam power are effective awakeners for such sleepers." The phrase was not attributed to Napoleon in this instance. The earliest English quotation for "China is a sleeping lion," which mentions Napoleon, dates to 1890 in The Sydney Morning Herald. It describes a speech by Patrick O'Sullivan of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland: "O'Sullivan considered China a sleeping lion, liable at any moment to be awakened by a Mahomet, a Napoleon, or a Caesar."
The phrase "China is a sleeping giant" became widely associated with Napoleon Bonaparte in the 20th century, with the first English-language attribution appearing in William T. Ellis's 1911 book "China in Revolution." Ellis wrote, "Napoleon is reported to have said: 'There sleeps China! God pity us if she wakes. Let her sleep!' The commonest figure of speech concerning the Empire has been that of a sleeping giant: 'the awakening of China' is a stereotyped phrase."
The phrase gained further popularity after it was featured in the 1963 film "55 Days at Peking," where the British Ambassador Sir Arthur Robinson says, "Let China sleep. For when she wakes, the world will tremble," after being asked by his wife, "Remember what Napoleon said." The screenplay is based on a novel by Noel Gerson, where the quote does not appear.
While the phrase became widely attributed to Napoleon, there is no evidence that he ever uttered these exact words. Napoleon specialist and Fondation Napoléon historian Peter Hicks and Australian National University historian John Fitzgerald both assert that Napoleon never made this statement, as there is no reference to a sleeping dragon or giant in his recorded speeches or writings.
However, there are some records that suggest Napoleon expressed similar sentiments about China's potential power. Barry O'Meara, Napoleon's surgeon during his exile, recorded Napoleon's doubts about going to war with China, stating that it would be unwise to teach the Chinese about their own strength, as they possessed many resources and would eventually adopt measures to defend themselves.
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The phrase was first attributed to Napoleon in 1911
The phrase "China is a sleeping giant" has been widely attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, but there is no evidence to support this claim. The phrase was first attributed to Napoleon in 1911 by William T. Ellis, who wrote in "China in Revolution," The Outlook (28 October 1911): "Napoleon is reported to have said: 'There sleeps China! God pity us if she wakes. Let her sleep!' The commonest figure of speech concerning the Empire has been that of a sleeping giant: 'the awakening of China' is a stereotyped phrase."
The idea of China as a sleeping giant gained popularity during the 19th century, particularly after the Franco-British Second Opium War in 1860. English speakers began to discuss the concept of China awakening from its conservative slumber and becoming a great power. However, there is no record of Napoleon ever using the phrase "China is a sleeping giant" in his speeches or writings.
The closest reference to the phrase attributed to Napoleon is found in the notes of Barry O'Meara, Napoleon's surgeon during his exile. O'Meara recorded Napoleon expressing doubt about going to war with China, recognizing the country's immense resources and potential strength. Napoleon warned that going to war with China would teach them their own strength and compel them to adopt defensive measures, which aligns with the sentiment expressed in the phrase "China is a sleeping giant."
Despite the lack of direct evidence, the association of the phrase with Napoleon has persisted due to his reputation as one of modern history's most heroic figures. The phrase has been used to highlight the potential power of China and the possible consequences if it were to awaken and assert its strength.
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The phrase was popularised by a 1963 film
The quote, "China is a sleeping giant. When she wakes, she will shake the world", is widely attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. The quote is often labelled as "attributed" to Napoleon and is sometimes given with a warning that he may not have said it. Napoleon specialist and Fondation Napoléon historian Peter Hicks and Australian National University historian John Fitzgerald both declare that Napoleon never said the quote. There is no reference to a "sleeping dragon" or "sleeping giant" in his recorded speeches or writings.
The phrase was first used in popular culture in the 1963 film "55 Days at Peking", where the actress Elizabeth Sellars asks David Niven (who plays the British ambassador in China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900) if he remembers what Napoleon said about China. Niven then quotes the now-famous phrase that when China rouses from its slumber, all hell will break loose. The screenplay was based on the novel by Noel Gerson, in which the quote does not appear. Hicks concludes that one of the screenwriters, Bernard Gordon, must have supplied the quote.
The quote is also referenced in the 2018 film "Crazy Rich Asians". CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping also remarked, "China is a sleeping lion".
The earliest use of the quote in English was in 1911, in an article by William T. Ellis, titled "China in Revolution", published in "The Outlook". Ellis wrote, "Napoleon is reported to have said: 'There sleeps China! God pity us if she wakes. Let her sleep!' The commonest figure of speech concerning the Empire has been that of a sleeping giant: 'the awakening of China' is a stereotyped phrase."
The metaphor of "China asleep" and "China awakened" became widespread during the 19th century and remains so today. "Awakening," in the European Age of Enlightenment, meant awakening to reason and universal human values. In later times, it meant the awakening of peoples in colonial states to their predicament of oppression and the key to their emancipation. The thought gained power by associating it with Napoleon, one of modern history's most heroic figures.
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Napoleon's actual views on China
While the phrase "China is a sleeping giant" is widely attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, there is little evidence to suggest that he ever actually said this. The earliest known use of the phrase in English dates back to 1888, where it appeared in the New York Journal of Commerce without any reference to Napoleon. The phrase seems to have become more commonplace towards the end of the 19th century, particularly among English speakers talking about China.
According to some sources, the quote may have originated during a visit by Lord Amherst to St. Helena in 1817, where he had a private audience with Napoleon and they discussed China. However, there are no firsthand accounts of this meeting by Amherst, and the quote is notably absent from his writings. The closest mention of the quote during this period comes from Barry O'Meara's notes, where Napoleon is recorded as expressing doubt about going to war with China. He is quoted as saying:
> "It would be the worst thing you have done for a number of years, to go to war with an immense empire like China, and possessing so many resources. You would doubtless, at first, succeed, take what vessels they have, and destroy their trade; but you would teach them their own strength. They would be compelled to adopt measures to defend themselves against you; they would consider, and say, 'we must try to make ourselves equal to this nation. Why should we suffer a people, so far away, to do as they please to us? We must build ships, we must put guns into them, we must render ourselves equal to them.'"
Napoleon is also known to have made general observations about China and Chinese civilization, rating them as inferior to Indians, Arabs, and Persians in the arts of war, but superior in the arts of peace. He also considered them inferior to European civilizations overall.
In conclusion, while the exact phrase "China is a sleeping giant" may not have been uttered by Napoleon, the sentiment behind it may have been inspired by his views on China and its potential for future growth and power.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is unlikely that Napoleon ever said the exact words that are now attributed to him about China being a sleeping giant. There is no reference to a sleeping giant or dragon in his recorded speeches or writings.
In a conversation with his surgeon, Barry O'Meara, Napoleon expressed doubt about going to war with China, saying: "It would be the worst thing you have done for a number of years, to go to war with an immense empire like China, and possessing so many resources. You would doubtless, at first, succeed, take what vessels they have, and destroy their trade; but you would teach them their own strength."
The quote is often used to describe China's growing economic power and influence on the world stage. It has been used by journalists, academics, and even Chinese officials to highlight China's emergence as a global force.
The full quote is often given as: "China is a sleeping giant; let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world."
