Qing Dynasty Long Road to Modernity during 1860-1910 Affected by Empress Dowager CIXI - Essay Example

Qing Dynasty Long road to Modernity during 1860-1910 affected by Empress Dowager CIXI The history of the governance of Empress Dowager Cixi, within the scenario of Qing Dynasty, is amazing because she gained upward mobility from the status of a concubine to an Empress. During the initial stages of rule, Empress Dowager Cixi did not provide much importance to innovative measures to reform her nation. But the defeat in defeat in Sino-Japanese War forced her to reconsider her policies related to governance and military. One can see that the policies adopted by Empress Dowager Cixi helped the Qing Dynasty to accept modernity in general. Thesis statement: Empress Dowager Cixi’s less interest in Western model of governance during the initial stages of her reign, and her negative attitude towards Hundred Days Reform (1898) did not do much favor to the Qing Dynasty, but the defeat in Sino-Japanese War (1895) forced her to change the course of her governance because her involvement in Self-Strengthening Movement (from1861 to 1895) proves the same. This section is broadly divided as: Western model of governance, Hundred Days Reform (1898), Self-Strengthening Movement (1861–1895), and Sino-Japanese War (1895). Western model of governance During the initial stages of rule, Empress Dowager Cixi considered that Western ideas and related model of governance is a threat to her status as regent. To be specific, Cixi was not the real heir within the Qing Dynasty. Instead, she defeated other regents and gained control over the Qing Dynasty. John McCannon stated that, “She did not rule China in her own right, but controlled her nephew-and the government-long after Guangxu became an adult.”1 Still, she did not try to do anything against the traditional mode of governance in China because she was ready share her authority with another empress known as Empress Dowager Ci’an. In addition, Cixi considered that the relationship with Western ideas can result in the spread of Western ideas. Barbara A. West stated that, “In the early 1860s she encouraged westernization among her subjects and invited European teachers into China; however, she was shocked by the liberal thinking of people who studied abroad in the United States and promptly halter her campaign for Western education.”2 Besides, the Western ideas related to modernity can limit her prominence within her society. So, she decided to proclaim a less influential person as the emperor of China. On the other side, she was aware that she can control the new Emperor (say, Guangxu Emperor), and can rule on her own. The internal problems (say, political) within China before Cixi’s reign prove that there is enough proof for Cixi to hate westernization of her motherland. To be specific, the Second Opium War affected the warm relationship between the Chinese ruling class and the foreign diplomats. There is enough evidence to prove that the European traders tried to monopolize the trade relationship with China. But the Chinese ruling classes, including the Xianfeng Emperor, were not ready to agree with the policies of foreign traders. For instance, the European diplomats including Harry Parkes were forced to undergo arrest and execution. This proves that China was not in favor or European influence over their economy. Besides, the European forces considered this as an imminent threat upon their commercial interests. So, the Europeans co-operated and attacked the Chinese trade centers and even the Emperor’s palace. On can see that this incident forced the people of China to realize that European influence can result in Westernization and the same can destroy their cultural characteristics. During this time, Cixi and other people in the palace were forced to flee to Manchuria. This incident deeply influenced her and its aftereffects can be seen in her hatred towards foreigners and westernization. To be specific, she considered foreigners as the agents of Westernization. Besides, she knew that westernization can help the people to realization of democracy and the same may affect her own status as the Empress. So, she tired her level best to keep her motherland away from western influence. In short, it is evident that Cixi was not interested in modernity related to Western ideas, during the initial stages of her rule. Hundred Days Reform (1898) One can see that the masterminds behind the Hundred Days Reform attempted to inculcate modernity within the scenario of Chinese society under Qing Dynasty. But this attempt to reform the society did not last much long because Cixi suppressed the rebels, under the leadership of Guangxu Emperor. To be specific, Cixi considered that the reform movement will strengthen the ‘puppet’ Emperor, and may affect her prominent role in the society. From a different angle of view, Cixi was not against the reform movement, but the Emperor’s role forced her to act against the same. So, Cixi decided to suppress the reform movement by plotting and implementing a coup détat. The end result of the aforementioned reform movement was that they failed to meet the aims because the Empress (Cixi) was totally against the same. To be specific, the reformists aimed to lead the Chinese society towards modernity by implementing certain reformatory measures. Besides, the Emperor, with the help of a senior official known as Kang Youwei to implement certain innovative measures to bring forth change in the society as a whole. The examination system within China was based upon traditionalism. So the reformists tried to inculcate innovation within the examination system. There were so many dependents in the palace who tried to live without doing any work. The reformists aimed to eliminate this sort of dependents from royal service. Xiaoqing Diana Lin stated that, “The Guangxu emperor endorsed the so-called Hundred Days Reform in 1898, but the empress dowagers last-minute intervention prevented it from being fully carried out.”3 On the other side, the reformists knew that mere traditional education cannot help their nation to go beyond traditionalism. So, they tried their level best to insist the Emperor to renovate the educational system. Bonnie G. Smith stated that, “The conservative faction assisted in a coup d’e ́tat in September 1898 that reestablished Cixis regency for the third time and confined the emperor to the palace because of “illness”.”4 In addition, the reformists aimed to transform the Chinese society to democracy. This was the most important aim because the reformists knew that democracy can help the people to choose their leaders. Similarly, capitalistic principles, modernizing the military, and industrialization were other ideas put forth by the reformists in general. The Emperor was interested in modernizing his nation because he was aware that he cannot save himself and his rule from a mass movement/agitation. So, the Emperor allowed the reformists to implement the innovative ideas within the society. Fan Hong stated that, “The Empress Dowager Cixi freely used xenophobic sentiments in an attempt to restrict, and better still to get rid of, Western influence in the country.”5 On the other side, Cixi considered that democracy can destroy monarchical rule in China. Besides, she considered that capitalism is a Western idea and it cannot solve the problems within a traditional society. So, she turned against the reformists and implemented her own plan. Self-Strengthening Movement (1861–1895) Once can see that the Self-Strengthening Movement was an initiative from the side of Cixi to inculcate modernity within the scenario of Qing dynasty. X. L. Woo stated that, “Fighting to maintain her power base, Empress Cixi struggled with the need to modernize the painfully backward empire she had inherited while honoring age-old traditions.”6 To be specific, the military defeats and the influence of foreign nations within China forced the Qing dynasty to realize that only a reformatory movement can solve the problems. Earlier, the Chinese rulers showed utmost interest to keep aloof from the global affairs by fearing that foreign influence can limit China’s autonomy. So, the Qing Dynasty decided to initiate reformatory measures by implementing Self-Strengthening Movement by opening an independent office related to foreign affairs and a special regent. Still, Cixi was not in favor of foreign influence, but the change within Chinese political atmosphere forced her to accept Self-Strengthening Movement. So, it is evident that the political change resulted in the acceptance of Self-Strengthening Movement by Cixi. Gradually, the ruling class in China came to know that alienation from the global arena cannot help their economy. Besides, it is evident that peace treaties with the Western forces can help China to be within the global trading. So, the ruling class in China decided to be cordial with the foreign forces. One can see that this is not a rapid change because the conflict between the foreign traders and the ruling class in China was a usual happening in China. Anne Shen Chao stated that, “Encouraged by the Empress Dowager, Cixi, and supported to a limited degree by foreign diplomats at the capital, Prince Gong  and a few progressively minded metropolitan officials joined provincially based “self-strengtheners” such as Zeng, Zuo and Li to improve China’s military and naval technology.”7 To be specific, the newly formed office in China to bring forth innovation within the economic context aimed to transform the society as a whole. Still, the Empress was totally against the foreign influence within the society. For instance, she knew that foreign influence in her kingdom can dethrone her. On the other side, she was not ready to resist this influence because the foreign forces made use of their influence within the Chinese ruling class. For instance, they forced the Empress to accept a popular person as the regent. So, the Empress did not try to resist because she knew that any negative move can affect her status in the society. Within this scenario, she was forced to accept the Self-Strengthening Movement as the policy of her kingdom. Sino-Japanese War (1895) Similarly, the Sino-Japanese War deeply influenced the political and military strategies of Qing Dynasty, especially Cixi’s outlook on Chinese military. Barbara Bennett Peterson stated that, “Her losses were repeated in China’s defeat in the first Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 A.D., when China was forced to cede Taiwan (Formosa), the Pescadore islands, and the Liaodong peninsula (southern Manchuria) to Taiwan.”8 For instance, the Chinese military was totally defeated by the Japanese side. This unexpected defeat helped the Qing dynasty to reconsider their traditional ideas on military strength and warfare. To be specific, the rulers of Qing Dynasty came to know that their ill-equipped military cannot withstand any foreign attack and China must adopt modernity without any failure. Besides, China’s failure to meet the needs of their military forces ended up in unexpected political uprisings and the end result was the total destruction of dynasty rule in China. Within this scenario, Cixi came to know that her decision to keep China away from foreign influence was not effective. Jung Chang stated that, “One thing that helped crucially was a large new source of income: Customs revenues from the growing trade with the West, as a result of Cixi’s open-door policy.”9 So, she decided to change her mind and it eventually led the Qing dynasty to accept modernity. From a different angle of view, the Sino-Japanese War proved that China cannot withstand any sort of foreign invasion. To be specific, military supremacy is important to gain monopoly over relationship between governments. Within this context, China did not consider Japan as an imminent threat because the Chinese rulers were not aware of the fact that Japan did strengthen their military. For instance, the Japanese rulers provided ample importance to their military and renovated their military forces by adding more ships and other things related to modern warfare. On the other side, the Chinese military followed traditional methods and this limited the scope of innovation. Mark Peterson stated that, “In 1895 the dowager empress Cixi (1835–1908) diverted Chinas entire navy budget to the building of a stone boat—a picnic pavilion—to decorate the pond of the summer palace, arguing that it was a part of the navy.”10 Besides, the Sino-Japanese War forced the Chinese rulers to thin because they were helpless while dealing with the innovative military potential of Japan. After the war, Cixi and others came to realize that their defeat is interconnected with their military policies. So, Cixi took an important decision to modernize the military by discarding traditional methods and by accepting modernity. One can see that this decision transformed the military monopoly within the South Eastern area of Asia. Thereafter, China moved towards modernity because the Empress allowed the society to accept the same without any hesitation. So, it is evident that Cixi’s aim was to maintain her supremacy within her society. But she knew that mere supremacy upon her people cannot help her to keep her nation safe from external aggressions. But her change in attitude and temperament helped the whole nation to move towards modernity. Summing up, within the scenario of Chinese political and military history, Empress Dowager Cixi’s initiative to modernize the society resulted in everlasting effect. But Cixi’s negative attitude towards modernity during her reign proves that she was not ready to go beyond the limits of traditionalism. She did not try to connect China with the outer world because she was afraid of foreign influence in China. But the unexpected defeat in Sino-Japanese War forced her to change her attitude towards modernity because she did not expect the same. In short, Cixi’s change in attitude helped the Chinese society to go beyond the limits of traditionalism, to enjoy the benefits of modernity, and to be in touch with the outer world in general. Bibliography Chao, Anne Shen. Chen Duxius Early Years: The Importance of Personal Connections in the Social and Intellectual Transformation of China 1895—1920. Texas: ProQuest, 2009. Chang, Jung. Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China. London: Random House, 2013. Hong, Fan. Footbinding, Feminism and Freedom: The Liberation of Womens Bodies in Modern China. Oxon: Routledge, 2013. Lin, Xiaoqing Diana. Peking University: Chinese Scholarship and Intellectuals, 1898-1937. Albany: SUNY Press, 2012. McCannon, John. Barrons AP World History. New York: Barrons Educational Series, 2010. Peterson, Barbara Bennett. Notable Women of China. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2000. Peterson, Mark. Brief History: Brief History of Korea. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Smith, Bonnie G. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History: 4 Volume Set. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Woo, X. L. Empress Dowager Cixi: Chinas Last Dynasty and the Long Reign of a Formitable Concubine: Legends and Lives During the Declining Days of the Qing Dynasty. N.p: Algora Publishing, 2002. West, Barbara A. Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Read More