Misinformation about Napoleon's "Sleeping Lion"

Napoleon said similar things twice.

The first time was in 1803 before he ascended the throne. It is said that he pointed to China on the map and said: "Ici repose un géant endormi, laissez le dormir, car quand il s'éveillera, il étonnera le monde" (English translation: "Here lies a sleeping giant (lion in other versions), let him sleep, for when he wakes up, he will shock the world.") (Here lies a sleeping giant (lion in other versions), let him sleep, for when he wakes up, he will shock the world.") Go to sleep, once he wakes up, it will shock the world) "But what people don't know is that this passage does not end, 'She is sleeping, thank God, let her sleep.'" This passage is obviously tampered with. Misinterpretation of the original text.

The second time was in 1817, when Napoleon, who had been exiled to St. Helena Island, talked with Amherst, the head of the British mission who had returned from a visit to China. At that time, Amherst returned from China dejectedly. On his way back home, he happened to pass by St. Helena Island. When Amherst heard that the world-famous Napoleon I was being imprisoned here, he wanted to meet him and hear this legendary figure's views on China's issues. After obtaining the consent of the island governor, Amesh met the former emperor. Amesh talked about his experience in China and believed that only by knocking on China's door through war can China's authoritarian rulers understand that opening the door would benefit both sides. At that time, Napoleon was full of contempt for the British approach. He commented on the British proposal of using war to solve the problem: "You said that you can use the fleet to scare the Chinese, and then force the Chinese officials to abide by European etiquette? How crazy! What if? You want to stimulate a nation of 200 million people to take up arms. You are really ill-conceived." "It is the greatest folly in the world to fight against this vast and rich empire," he continued: "You may succeed at first. , you will seize their ships and destroy their military and commercial installations, but you will also make them aware of their own strength; they will build ships and equip themselves with artillery, and they will take the gunners from France. , the United States and even London were invited to build a fleet and defeat you. "Amerst retorted: "Behind its apparent strength, China is a giant with clay feet and is very weak." But Napoleon believed that China was not weak, it was just that. It's a sleeping lion. "From today's perspective, when a lion is asleep, even a fly dares to land on its face and scream a few times." Napoleon continued: "Once China wakes up, the world will be shaken." The original French text is: "Quand la Chine "S'éveillera, le monde tremblera" (English translation: when China wakes up, the world will shake). There is no "let it sleep" in it.

Ashamedly, it was the Japanese who first realized Napoleon’s prophecy.