The Economy of Late Qing and the First Modernization Steps - China Culture
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3/4/2014 The Economy of Late Qing and the First Modernization Steps - China culture http://history.cultural-china.com/en/183History5512.html 1/3 Home | News | Books | Feature | Rss Scenery Traditions Kaleidoscope Arts History History in Photos Historical Figures Historical Events Archeology Classics Anecdotes Literature Humanistic Spirit Historical Viewpoints Classic Movies & Stars Antique Appreciation Learn Chinese Characters Q & A on Traditions China Overview Feature E-book Appreciation of Poems Greeting Card WallPaper History -> Historical Viewpoints The Economy of Late Qing and the First Modernization Steps Baojia System - System Invented in the Song Dynasty The baojia system (保甲制 度) w as an invention of Wang Anshi of the Song Dynasty, w ho created... Sui Dynasty (581 AD - 618 AD) - A Short-lived Chinese Dynasty By the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties , China had undergone disunity and chaos for... What Does Beijing Mean? Beijing is made up of the Chinese characters 北京. 北 (bei) means north and 京 (jing) is... The economical impact of the Opium Wars and the penetration of the Western powers in the Chinese trade system was mainly seen in currency problems. The huge amount of opium import could not be balanced by an equal amount of exports of Chinese goods. According to the treaties, China had to pay tens of millions of silver Dollars as war damage reparations to the Western powers. China's trade balance was critically endangered by these facts, and moreover by an inflation of the silver currency against the gold standard that was adopted by the Western countries. Especially the poor classes of China's society felt the inflation of the silver bars and the copper-zink coins. The results of the Taiping Rebellions added further impediments to the development of Chinese industry, trade and commerce. The imperialism theory of Lenin only sees imperialism as exploitation of the occupied territories. Although this component can not be overseen and deeply contributed to the discrediting of the western powers and to the rise of nationalism, another component of imperialism can not be neglected. The occupation of economically and politically "backward" countries laid the foundation for a modern administration and infrastructure. The last point was also seen by Chinese mandarins that partially had contact with western diplomats during the treaty negotiations. They are actors of a phenomenon later called Self-strengthening Movement (Ziqiang Yundong 自强运动) or "Foreign Affairs" (=Westernization) Movement (Yangwu Yundong 洋务运动). The most important persons are Zeng Guofan 曾国藩, Li Hongzhang 李鸿章, Zuo Zongtang 左宗棠, and Zhang Zhidong 张之洞; only few people at the court participated in the open and reform-oriented politics of these men, among them Prince Gong (Yixin) 恭亲王奕. During the wars against the many rebellions, these new men had developed a modern army that replaced the Manchu banner organisation. Their target was, to "control the barbarians by barbarians" (Yi yi zhi yi 以夷治夷.). But much more important were the economical investions of the reformers: factories, arsenals, shipyards, ironworks and steelyards, railways, minging industry, telegraph lines, weaving mills, and financial institutes. Academies were established, and Chinese students went abroad to study Western technique and science. Unfortunately, the main focus of investment was the military industry, and not the producing industry that would have helped to win more capital. But there are also successful examples of private entrepreneurs like Tang Tingshu or students that made their degree abroad like Yong Wing. From 1900 on, after China had lost her potential for own investions, Western and Japanese entrepreneurs founded factories, banks, manufacturies and mines on Chinese territory. They did not only exploit Chinese soil, resources, and manpower, but also helped to create modern industries with the need for labor force: the large cities of Hanyang (Wuhan), Shanghai, or Tianjin began to develop an industrial urban character. The provinces at the coast where foreign capital was invested, profited much more during this time than the interior parts of China. Share This Topic 1 2 3 4 5
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Transcript of The Economy of Late Qing and the First Modernization Steps - China Culture
3/4/2014 The Economy of Late Qing and the First Modernization Steps - China culture
http://history.cultural-china.com/en/183History5512.html 1/3
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History -> Historical Viewpoints
The Economy of Late Qing and the First Modernization Steps
Baojia System - SystemInvented in the Song Dynasty
The baojia system (保甲制
度) w as an invention of
Wang Anshi of the Song
Dynasty, w ho created...
Sui Dynasty (581 AD - 618 AD) -A Short-lived Chinese Dynasty
By the end of the Northern
and Southern Dynasties ,
China had undergone
disunity and chaos for...
What Does Beijing Mean?
Beijing is made up of the
Chinese characters 北京.
北 (bei) means north and
京 (jing) is...
The economical impact of the Opium Wars and the penetration of the Western powers in the Chinese trade system
was mainly seen in currency problems. The huge amount of opium import could not be balanced by an equal amount
of exports of Chinese goods. According to the treaties, China had to pay tens of millions of silver Dollars as war
damage reparations to the Western powers. China's trade balance was critically endangered by these facts, and
moreover by an inflation of the silver currency against the gold standard that was adopted by the Western countries.
Especially the poor classes of China's society felt the inflation of the silver bars and the copper-zink coins.
The results of the Taiping Rebellions added further impediments to the development of Chinese industry, trade and
commerce. The imperialism theory of Lenin only sees imperialism as exploitation of the occupied territories. Although
this component can not be overseen and deeply contributed to the discrediting of the western powers and to the rise
of nationalism, another component of imperialism can not be neglected. The occupation of economically and politically
"backward" countries laid the foundation for a modern administration and infrastructure. The last point was also seen
by Chinese mandarins that partially had contact with western diplomats during the treaty negotiations. They are actors
of a phenomenon later called Self-strengthening Movement (Ziqiang Yundong 自强运动) or "Foreign Affairs"
(=Westernization) Movement (Yangwu Yundong 洋务运动).
The most important persons are Zeng Guofan 曾国藩, Li Hongzhang 李鸿章, Zuo Zongtang 左宗棠, and Zhang
Zhidong 张之洞; only few people at the court participated in the open and reform-oriented politics of these men,
among them Prince Gong (Yixin) 恭亲王奕.
During the wars against the many rebellions, these new men had developed a modern army that replaced the Manchu
banner organisation. Their target was, to "control the barbarians by barbarians" (Yi yi zhi yi 以夷治夷.). But much
more important were the economical investions of the reformers: factories, arsenals, shipyards, ironworks and
steelyards, railways, minging industry, telegraph lines, weaving mills, and financial institutes. Academies were
established, and Chinese students went abroad to study Western technique and science.
Unfortunately, the main focus of investment was the military industry, and not the producing industry that would have
helped to win more capital. But there are also successful examples of private entrepreneurs like Tang Tingshu or
students that made their degree abroad like Yong Wing. From 1900 on, after China had lost her potential for own
investions, Western and Japanese entrepreneurs founded factories, banks, manufacturies and mines on Chinese
territory. They did not only exploit Chinese soil, resources, and manpower, but also helped to create modern
industries with the need for labor force: the large cities of Hanyang (Wuhan), Shanghai, or Tianjin began to develop
an industrial urban character. The provinces at the coast where foreign capital was invested, profited much more
during this time than the interior parts of China.
Share This Topic
1 2 3 4 5
3/4/2014 The Economy of Late Qing and the First Modernization Steps - China culture
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during this time than the interior parts of China.
Foreign companies were able to sell their industrial goods much cheaper than the traditional Chinese agricultural
producers; likewise, foreign shipping companies could transport goods for a much cheaper price than the Chinese
shippers. The challenges of the many rebellions and external wars with their huge reparation sums imposed a heavy
burdon upon the Chinese economy. The tax system was not modern enough to produce enough liquidity, and foreign
loans could not help the Qing government to resolve the problem of state bankruptcy.
Most people at the Qing court did not see that a modernization of the whole governmental and economical structure
would be helpful - if it would be performable in such a vast empire! Instead, conservative circles in Beijing refrained
from making foreign politics and instead left this field to the mighty governors of the provinces and the foreign
entrepreneurs and institutions. Although China was no foreign colony, the 19th century was an age of colonialisation
with all bad aspects of this kind of exploitation. In the hearts of Chinese, the arrogant attitude of the Western powers
and Western residents created a mixed sentiment of hatred and inferiority complex. These feelings should later be
compensated with an exaggerated nationalist proud after the foundation of the People's Republic.
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