China’s Response to the Challenges from the West 1840-1949

Session 3

Table of ContentsI. The Self-Strengthening Movement from 1860s to 1890s ( 自强运动）

II. Political Reform in 1898 & Revolution in 1911（百日维新与辛亥革命）

III. The New Cultural Movement from 1919 to 1923（新文化运动）IV. Discussion

I. The Self-Strengthening Movement （自强运动）I-1. New Understanding of the West

“A total unprecedented situation in its three thousand years of history- 三千年未有之变局，三千年未有之强敌！” Li Hongzhang （李鸿章， 1823-1901 ）

A Gazetteer of Four Countries (四国志） Lin Zexu ( 林则徐）Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms ( 海國圖志） Wei Yuan （魏源， 1794-1856)

history, geography, and politics; military strength; industries; and methods of dealing with the West.“Learn the superior techniques of the barbarians to control the barbarians.”

“Chinese learning for foundation, Western learning for practical application-中学为体，西学为用。” Zhang Zhidong (张之洞）

I-2. First Period from 1861-1872Train technical and diplomatic personnel

Zongli Yamen 总理衙门 (Office of Foreign Affairs) in 1861

Translation College ( 同文馆） in 1862 Dispatch students abroad (120 boys went to America)

1872-1881

Adopt Western firearms, machines, scientific knowledge A small gun factory at Suzhou in 1864 Jiangnan Arsenal in Shanghai in 1865 Fuzhou Dockyard in 1866 Tianjing Marchine Factory in 1870

I-3. Second Period from 1872-1885Profit-oriented enterprises such as shipping,

railways, mining and the telegraph China’s Merchants’ Steam navigation Company in 1872 Kaiping Cola Mines in 1887 Suzhou Machine Factory in 1887 A textile factory in 1878 Shanghai Cotton Cloth Mill in 1878 First telegraphy line from Daku to Tianjing in 1879 A Naval Academy in Tianjing in 1880 Imperial Telegraphy Administration (Shanghai-Tianjing)

in 1880 A harbor and shipyard in Daliang in 1882 Students to Britain, France and Germany to learn

shipbuilding, and navigation in 1884

d phase from 1885 to 1895:

I-4. Third Period from 1885-1895Focus on light industries

A textile mill in Shanghai in 1886Mints factory in 1887Mohe Cold Mines in 1887Beiyang Fleet ( 北洋水师） in 1888A cotton mill and an iron factory in Guangzhou

in 1889A Shanghai paper mill in 1891Four cotton and textile plants in 1893Two match companies and Hubei Textile

Company in 1894

I-5. Progress and LimitationThe Self-Strengthening Movement marked the

beginning of industrialization and sowed the seeds of modern capitalism

Metropolises such as Shanghai, Nanjing, TianjingFirst group of professionals such as engineers,

managers and birth of the working classLimitation: Its imitation of western armament,

technology and diplomacy was a superficial gesture toward modernization. The finer aspects of western civilization-political institutions,, social theories, philosophy, fine arts and music went total untouched.

1-6. Failure of the Self-Strengthening Movement

The Sino-Japanese War from 1894-95 The Beiyang Fleet was totally destroyed The Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed on April 17,

18951) Recognition of Korean independence and termination of tribute to China2) An indemnity of 200 million taels to Japan3) Cession of Taiwang, the Pescadores and the Liangdong peninsula4) The opening of Chongqing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shashi5) The right of Japanese nationals to open factories in China

Empress Dowager Cixi & Emperor Guangxu慈禧与光绪

I-7. Factors Lead to the Failure of the Sino-Japanese War

Li’s only army vs. the might of whole Japan Nanyang Fleet stood by during the battles

Dowager Cixi misused the naval fund for her own pleasure to build the Summer Palace Two most advanced warships including the Yoshino

were purchased by JapanCorruption and poor training of Li’s own armyMiscalculation of Li’ diplomatic actionLimitation of the Self-Strengthening Movement

II. Political Institutional Transformation (1898-1912)

New thinking: it is far from enough only to learn western technology and industry. China needs to make political changes.

A top-down political reform under Emperor Guangxu ( 光绪） : 100-Day Reform (6/11-9/21, 1898)

“The New Deal” - to transform an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy

Key person in the political reform:Kang Youwei ( 康有为）Liagng Qichao ( 梁启超）

I-1. New DealEducation

Replacement of the eight-legged essay by essays on current affairs

Establishment of modern schoolsPolitical Administration

Abolition of unnecessary officesAppointment of the progressives in government Improvement of administrative efficiency

IndustryPromotion of railroad constructionPromotion of agricultural, industrial and commercial

developmentOthers

Tour of foreign countries by high officialsProtection of missionaries

Failure of the Reform

A coup took place and put Emperor in house arrestCauses and effects of the failure

Reformers vs. whole Confucian state and society Dowager and her followers All the scholars Government officials whose offices were abolished Manchu Bannermen and Chinese Standard Army

Consequence:

Han people were determined to overthrow the rule of the Manchus

IV. Conclusion

Facing the Challenges from the West after 1840, Chinese civilization declined significantly. In order to avoid the fate of destruction, Chinese people made radical changes in the following three stages:

The Strengthening MovementThe Political institutional

transformationThe New Cultural Revolution

II-2. Sun Yah-sen’s Revolution in 1911 Overthrow Manchurian Rule internally and drive imperialist powers externally

Three People’s Principles1)People’s National Consciousness / Nationalism

2)People’s Rights / Democracy3)People’s Livelihood / Socialism

Results: 1) Republic of China was established in 19122) War-lords competition and chaos followed

III. The New Cultural Movement from 1917 to 1923

“Down with Confucianism”“Welcome Mr. Democracy and Mr.

Science” - Chen Duxiu ( 陈独秀）

John Dewey vs. Bertrand RusselLiberalism vs. Socialism

DiscussionWhat are the motivations of the Self-

Strengthening Movement?Why did Emperor Guangxu want to have a

political reform?What are differences between the One

Hundred Day reform and Sun’s revolution?What are the differences between China’s

responses to the West in these three steps?What are the consequences of China’s

criticism of Confucianism and worship of Western democracy and science?

Thank you!

Questions?