v Chapter 29 Overview: Modern East Asia (1839-1945):

Ø West’s overwhelming global force rolls over all in its path

§ West’s industrial goods reached every point on globe

§ Western military power imposed its will

§ Held firm belief in global free trade (for everyone!)

§ West became a major “trigger of change”

· NTL=> internal force array determined indiv. response

Ø Japan & China’s response by in large successful

§ But both subject to West’s “unequal treaties”

· But on positive side=> both avoided colonization

Ø Similarities and differences exemplify China & Japan:

§ Both nations shared similar aspects:

· Elites educated in “Confucian” traditions

¨ Secular philosophy dominated vice religious

¨ Effect: Confucianism broke under secular science

Ø Intellectual elite abandoned Confucianism

Ø Embrace western secular rationale & doctrines

· NTL=> many “Confucian” values survived breakdown

¨ Strongly embedded sociopolitical identity of society

¨ “Breakdown byproduct”=> strong new Nationalism

§ What were the major differences between China & Japan?

§ China & Japan’s contrasting aspects:

· Most of their numerous differences emanate from:

¨ China’s pre-modern recurrent dynasties vs. =>

Ø Japan’s tradition of feudal evolution

Ø Commander Perry’s impact on Japan:

§ Rapid political changes unfold in Japan

· Concurrent with 15 year decline of Tokugawa regime

· Japan starts building modern state

¨ Begins modernization in 1868=> $$$ growth follows

§ By 1900=> Japan defeated China in Sino-Japanese war

· By 1905=> whom had Japan defeated to amaze world?

¨ Sustained economic growth soon follows=>

Ø Then bottom falls out with global $$ depression

§ Result of post economic depression of the 1930s?

· Japan’s government evolves into militaristic state

¨ Pursues aggressive foreign policies in Pacific

¨ Leads to major political & strategic blunder?

Ø Finally Japan’s ultimate defeat in WWII

§ NTL=> Japan’s post WWII resurgence impressive

· More stable economy & highly productive

· Strong parliamentary government under civilian rule

Ø How was China’s experience different from Japan’s?

§ Chinese polity easily withstood Opium Wars

· (even though wars of greater magnitude than Perry)

· Would take 70 years to overthrow Manchu Dynasty

§ China would start its modernization late (unsuccessful)

§ Warlordism &other troubles tore China’s dynasty pattern

· (Long established cycle of the “mandate of heaven”)

§ China found itself confronted by more powerful nations

§ China’s own assessment of how it handled modernization?

v Modern China (1839-1949):

Ø Becoming modern vs. encountering modern West

§ Phase I: from Opium War to fall of Manchu dynasty

· Little impact on China or Confucian traditions

§ Phase II: from 1912 to establishment of PRC in 1949

· Time of trouble & turmoil & great suffering:

¨ Fall of dynasty => decades of warlord rule

¨ Partial military unification & continual fighting

¨ War with Japan followed by civil war to 1949

Ø Close of Manchu (Ch’ing) Rule

§ The Opium War

· Background origins: 18^th century three country trade:

¨ 1. British goods to India

¨ 2. Indian cotton to China

¨ 3. Chinese tea to Britain

Ø Trade system favored China’s balance of trade

Ø Impact of silver inflow on China’s market-how?

¨ What did British replace cotton with from India?

Ø Impact on China’s balance of trade?

· Crisis=> Brit East India Co. loses monopoly w/China

¨ Open trade become “wide open”

· What was China’s reaction & its motivation?

· China’s reaction and motivation:

¨ China bans opium in 1836:

Ø Closed opium dens/executes dealers

¨ Motives- two fold:

Ø 1. check evil of opium trade (see Lin’s doc p.815)

Ø 2. check outflow of silver

¨ Imperial Commissioner Lin sent to Canton

Ø Superintend ban & continue crackdown

Ø Destroyed 20K chests of foreign merchants

§ Result: confrontation with Britain

· War starts Nov 1839=> Junks vs. Brit merchantman

¨ June 1840: 16 Brit warships arrive at Canton

Ø For next 2 years – what happens?

Ø Chinese ability to deal with British Navy?

¨ War ends August 1842 with Treaty of Nanking

Ø Considered by Chinese as first of what?

Ø Treaty settlement:

§ Ended tribute system from Britain to China

§ Britain provided Hong Kong deep water port

§ Hugh indemnity paid to Brits

§ Opening of 5 additional ports-trade (see Map)

· Brit merchants & families granted residency

§ What major political concessions granted?

§ Major political concessions granted to Brits:

· Britain allowed to appoint consul for ports

· Brit citizens granted extraterritoriality (?)

¨ Significance?

§ Impact of “most favored nation” clause?

· Granted trading rights automatically accrue

Ø Similar treaties concluded w/US & France (1844)

§ American: churches allowed in treaty ports

§ French: propagation of Catholicism in ports

Ø Impact on China’s opium import following treaty?

§ Chests: 30K to 87K by 1879, then 50K in 1906

· Growth of other types of trade following treaty?

¨ Disappointing => western merchants complaints?

Ø Artificial trade restraints & Trade in Canton?

· China reaction to coolie labor export to Cuba & Peru?

· Second War (1856) & Treaty settlement (1860):

¨ Sporadic conflict until Elgin & French take Peking

¨ New set of conventions & treaties benefit whom?

Ø More indemnities & 11 more ports opened

Ø Stationing of foreign diplomats in Peking

Ø Propagation of Christianity anywhere in China

Ø Legalization of opium trade

· Russian activities on China’s northern tier?

¨ Russian settlements along Amur River (1850s)

¨ 1858: China cedes north bank of Amur to Russia

¨ 1858: China gave Russia Maritime Province

Ø lands between Ussuri rvr & the Pacific

Ø China’s attitude about this situation today?

§ Rebellions against Manchu Dynasty (Map 29-1)

· Greater direct threat to Manchu regime

¨ Taiping, Nien, & Muslim Rebellions

Ø Violence & suffering unparalleled

Ø 20-30 million killed during Taiping alone

Ø Along with natural disasters & rebellions= 60M

· Taiping Rebellion:

¨ Cause: role of Hung-“ the younger brother of Jesus”

Ø God directs him to rid China of all demons=>

§ This included who?

· Manchus, Confucians, Taoists, & Buddhists

Ø Role of Association of God Worshipers

§ Cut off queues as sign of what?

§ Attack local Confucian temples=>

· Gentry’s reaction?

§ Joined by peasants, miners, & laborers

Ø Hung=> “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace”

Ø 1853: Nanking captured & made Hung’s capitol

§ Soon control most of Yangtze basin

§ Eventually controlled 16 of 18 provinces

¨ Taiping Ideology:

Ø Combined moral reform, religious fervor, &=>

§ Vision of idealistic egalitarian society

Ø Combined Old Testament w/ancient Chou rites

§ Puritanical ethics (Christianity)

· Banned all materials of corruption

§ Shared & equal property (Chou)

· Upheld filial piety

· Maintained women were men’s equal

¨ What were the major weaknesses of the movement?

Ø Leadership shortcomings & admin effectiveness

§ Lack of Gentry involvement

Ø Result of divided kingdoms=> dissension

Ø Failure to cultivate anti-Manchu secret societies

Ø Failed to cultivate westerners (neutral=>pro gov)

Ø Failed promises, ideals, & expectations

§ Land remained undistributed

§ Hung lived w/concubines in luxury

· Nien Rebellion (Map)

¨ From bandits in residing walled villages=>

Ø secret societies who raid nearby countryside

¨ To army, tax collectors, & rulers of 100K sq miles

¨ Ch’ing court’s greatest fear about Nien? (Taiping)

· Muslim Revolt (SE & NW=> Map)

¨ Islamic Kingdom with sultan (one example)

¨ Take advantage of weakened dynasty & remote area

Ø Few Ch’ing officials & no army units (ineffective)

· Tseng’s role in quelling rebellions (1852):

¨ Confucian background and ideology=> order 1^st

¨ Recruitment & incorporation of Gentry class

Ø Growing importance: local government & militias

Ø Confucian landlords with much to lose to rebels

¨ Tseng’s “Human Braves” against Taiping advance?

· Debilitating effect of Manchu conservatives until 1860

¨ Limited Tseng’s role & drag feet visa vie treaties

¨ What happened to conservative officials after 1860?

Ø (After Brits & French occupy Peking)

· Role of reform government?

· Role of reform government officials:

¨ Supplant conservatives & initiate internal changes

¨ Adopt policy of cooperation with West

¨ Place Tseng in charge of suppressing rebellion

Ø Tseng appoints Li (local cmdr of Ashwei Army)

· How were Tseng’s armies supported?

¨ Foreign & Shanghai merchants’ role

¨ Customs service $$ & foreign ships & weapons

· Taiping rebellion in 1864 when Nanking was captured

¨ Tseng &Li suppress Nien in 1868 & Muslims in 1873

· Effective combination that saves Manchu dynasty:

¨ Scholar-officials employing local gentry

§ “Self-Strengthening” & decline (1874-1895)

· History: all relative=> compared to late Sung & Ming

¨ Late 19^th century looks pretty good in comparison

¨ But as to its response to West or Japan’s progress?

· How accurate was “self-strengthening” term in reality?

¨ Especially in comparison to West’s advances w/time

¨ Illustrated by Li & Ito’s 1895 treaty negotiation

Ø Ito’s question: Why no change or reform?

Ø Li’s answer? Excessive wishes w/o power to fulfill

· Peking’s Court:

¨ Role & intrigues of Empress Dowager

Ø Her single goal above all else?

Ø Conservative bureaucrats, military, & eunuchs

Ø Balance between court & powerful regional govs

¨ Result: Manchu’s hold on by their fingernails

Ø Too weak to govern effectively

Ø Inclined only to approve provincial initiatives

· Regional Governments:

¨ Key role of regional governors-general

Ø 200-300 staff & army administrate 2-3 provinces

Ø Loyalty to court affords autonomy in return

¨ 1^st task: reconstruction

Ø Gain support & cooperation of Gentry

Ø Attend to immediate needs of poor & refugees

Ø Reduce taxes in Yangtze valley

Ø Reclaim lands gone to waste

Ø Begin water-control projects & build granaries

Ø How successful were they?

¨ 2^nd task: “self-strengthening”

Ø What does this term mean?

¨ 2^nd task: “self-strengthening” (implication: weak)

Ø (adoption of western arms & technology)

Ø Built arsenals & shipyards

Ø Began commercial ventures (1870-1880s)

§ China Merchant’s Team Navigation Co.

§ Kaiping Coal Mine (1876)