China Revision Notes
, Pre course Background
• Called itself the middle kingdom (zhongguo ): saw themselves as the centre of the world believing everything
revolved around them – arrogance
• Society was unchanged for 1000s of years; largely based on the teaching of Confucius
– The best way to learn was through mediation
– Society based on legalism – everyone had a role in society, politically and socially; if people didn’t respect and accept the
authority they were severely punished
• The royal family, dynasty, ruled
– 15 imperial dynasties
– Mandate of heaven – the divine right of rule, meant if things were going well the rulers would still have the right to rule, but
if things were going poorly (e.g. Natural disasters and unrest) it was a sign that there was the need for a new dynasty; belief
in fate and Quietism
– It was a force that both causes and justifies change; if a rebel challenged the existing system and succeeded then it showed
that he was the inheritor of the mandate of heaven
– Hierarchical society - extreme obedience; people were expected to obey whoever was above them; lack of individualism
• Strengths of the dynasties
– Very advanced education system (first to have national exams); technologically advanced – invented gun powder; had a
credible system for employing civil servants; confident in their own economy meaning they were anti-foreign declining trade
• By 1800 they were beginning to fall behind the West
– Rapid progress due to the industrial revolution; building an empires in the Americas, Africa and Asia
– China is declining economically, politically and socially
, The Boxer Rising 1900
Causes
• Severe suffering in China
– 1898; drought which followed a massive flood in China (centred in Shandong). Cadres didn’t respond quickly
thus famine
– Local officials were corrupt didn’t build dykes; government was preoccupied with reforms and foreign
invasion
– 2 million were directly affected
• Inspired by the White Lotus Rebellion (1776-1804) which was inspired by Buddhism and found a
supernatural solution to a very real problem
• Clash of Christianity and local culture especially following the Treaty of Tianjin 1860 – gave
missionaries free movement and Christians extra rights and protection
– Rumours of what missionaries were doing inspired bottom up revolution
– Very separated communities: environment where violence was regularly used
• Blamed all their suffering on the foreign devils and their increasing control and influence in China
• They believed in the supernatural and that the foreigners were disrupting the magical balance
– Railways disrupted the dragons; telegraphs were a source of poison
– If you followed spells you became invulnerable with an infinite amount of power
– Very genuine belief in magic
, The Boxer Rising 1900
Events
• Righteous Harmonious Fists: “revitalise the failing of the Qing Dynasty”
– No single leader; chaotic and unorganised
– Mainly illiterate young men (very few actual documents) from the countryside who suffered during the
floods
– Believed in martial arts and feared the unknown which caused hatred
• Mainly attacked Christians and anything foreign; far more Chinese Christians than missionaries
killed
• 1900 15 miles of railway destroyed
• Empress Dowager Cixi declares her support on 21st June 1900 and so formally declares was on
the West
• 1000s of people attacked legislates in Beijing
– Weren’t taken seriously until they started fighting foreigner. Women and children were starved in the
legislates
• Multilateral force of 9 nations was sent in on the 4th August. Took only 10 days (20 000 troops, ½
Japanese)
• The Qing Court fled to Xi’an, leaving Li Hongzhang to negotiate peace
, Pre course Background
• Called itself the middle kingdom (zhongguo ): saw themselves as the centre of the world believing everything
revolved around them – arrogance
• Society was unchanged for 1000s of years; largely based on the teaching of Confucius
– The best way to learn was through mediation
– Society based on legalism – everyone had a role in society, politically and socially; if people didn’t respect and accept the
authority they were severely punished
• The royal family, dynasty, ruled
– 15 imperial dynasties
– Mandate of heaven – the divine right of rule, meant if things were going well the rulers would still have the right to rule, but
if things were going poorly (e.g. Natural disasters and unrest) it was a sign that there was the need for a new dynasty; belief
in fate and Quietism
– It was a force that both causes and justifies change; if a rebel challenged the existing system and succeeded then it showed
that he was the inheritor of the mandate of heaven
– Hierarchical society - extreme obedience; people were expected to obey whoever was above them; lack of individualism
• Strengths of the dynasties
– Very advanced education system (first to have national exams); technologically advanced – invented gun powder; had a
credible system for employing civil servants; confident in their own economy meaning they were anti-foreign declining trade
• By 1800 they were beginning to fall behind the West
– Rapid progress due to the industrial revolution; building an empires in the Americas, Africa and Asia
– China is declining economically, politically and socially
, The Boxer Rising 1900
Causes
• Severe suffering in China
– 1898; drought which followed a massive flood in China (centred in Shandong). Cadres didn’t respond quickly
thus famine
– Local officials were corrupt didn’t build dykes; government was preoccupied with reforms and foreign
invasion
– 2 million were directly affected
• Inspired by the White Lotus Rebellion (1776-1804) which was inspired by Buddhism and found a
supernatural solution to a very real problem
• Clash of Christianity and local culture especially following the Treaty of Tianjin 1860 – gave
missionaries free movement and Christians extra rights and protection
– Rumours of what missionaries were doing inspired bottom up revolution
– Very separated communities: environment where violence was regularly used
• Blamed all their suffering on the foreign devils and their increasing control and influence in China
• They believed in the supernatural and that the foreigners were disrupting the magical balance
– Railways disrupted the dragons; telegraphs were a source of poison
– If you followed spells you became invulnerable with an infinite amount of power
– Very genuine belief in magic
, The Boxer Rising 1900
Events
• Righteous Harmonious Fists: “revitalise the failing of the Qing Dynasty”
– No single leader; chaotic and unorganised
– Mainly illiterate young men (very few actual documents) from the countryside who suffered during the
floods
– Believed in martial arts and feared the unknown which caused hatred
• Mainly attacked Christians and anything foreign; far more Chinese Christians than missionaries
killed
• 1900 15 miles of railway destroyed
• Empress Dowager Cixi declares her support on 21st June 1900 and so formally declares was on
the West
• 1000s of people attacked legislates in Beijing
– Weren’t taken seriously until they started fighting foreigner. Women and children were starved in the
legislates
• Multilateral force of 9 nations was sent in on the 4th August. Took only 10 days (20 000 troops, ½
Japanese)
• The Qing Court fled to Xi’an, leaving Li Hongzhang to negotiate peace
