CHAPTER 26: QING EMPIREPages 629-639Primary Sources: Letter to Queen Victoria and Memorandum (pgs. 338-345)

FALL OF THE MING, RISE OF THE QING Ming are in power, but are declining Nurhaci combines several Manchu tribes under his control

Creates Banner Armies 17th century: Brings Manchuria and some non-Manchu people

under his rule Remains a vassal of Chine Ming rule, but harasses Chinese living

north of the Great Wall Manchu elite adopt Chinese ways and court ceremonies,

bureaucracy organized along Chinese lines Get help entering China (Ming official asks Manchus for help in

1644 to put down rebellion, finds Manchus are a greater threat) Manchus exploit political divisions and social unrest, capture

Beijing within a year. Takes two decades to put down areas of Ming and rebel resistance

RULE OF THE QING Prove to be able to rule China Forces submission of nomads to the west Required tribute from Vietnam, Burma Rule are larger than any dynasty other than the Tang Retain political system of Ming Add Confucian rituals not already observed to the court calendar Want Ming scholar-officials to continue in office Pardon some of those involved in resistance Pair Chinese and Manchus in high posts, Chinese officials dominate

local posts Retain exam system, have sons educated in Chinese classics Emperors styled as “Sons of Heaven” use traditional Confucian

virtues to stake claim as legitimate rulers of China Early emperors known as patrons of the arts Emperor Kangxi known as Confucian scholar (employ scholars to

create encyclopedias of Chinese learning)

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY Long standing virtues continue (respect for rank, acceptance of hierarchy) from writings

of Zhu Xi Extended family remains core unit of social order among elites, guilds and secret

societies cause suspicion Women confined to household, men dominate by choosing brides of lower social status,

possible rise in female infanticide Lower class women work in field, sell items at market Married women hope for backing from father and brother after going to live with

husband Taxes and labor demands are lowered Tax free tenure offered to those willing to settle lands left during rebellions 10% of budget spent on repairing dikes, canals, roadways, irrigation Peasants encouraged to plant new crops (those with high demand) and grow 2-3 crops

per year Unable to control landlords, who gain land by calling in loans or buying out peasants Workers must work for what is offered, or will be taken on the land and job given to

someone else Signs of the Elite: sedan chairs, wear silk and fur, some men grow out finger nails Economic improvements: regional diversification (tea), new financing (influx of silver) Compradors: wealthy new group of merchants, specialize in import-export trade on

Southern coast

BEGINNINGS OF QING DECLINE By 18th century it appears Qing are in decline

Bureaucratic problems: Exam system suffers cheating and favoritism, sons of high officials ensured of positions, posts could be bought, poor scholars could be bribed to take tests for others, examiners could be paid off

Few of the merchants and landlord’s sons had received Confucian educations

High positions seen as a way to influence positions or enhance family fortunes

Diversion of state funds to individual families (money for army and navy falls)

Reduction in spending on public works Neglecting of dikes leads to flooding (Shandong peninsula) Mass migrations due to food shortages and landlord demands Bandits become major problem in districts

Chinese scholars are hopeful dynastic cycle will continue

BRITISH INVOLVMENT Manchus treat Europeans like any other outsider:

“Barbarians” Europeans are more China’s equal in sophistication and

complexity European nations might be smaller, but had better

organization and technology (Scientific/Industrial Revolutions) (Critical in later wars with China)

British had exported goods (silk, porcelain, tea, etc.) from China but were forced to give up silver in exchange

British find that Opium from India could be a solution to this trade issue. (India’s Opium was much more potent)

OPIUM Early 19th century the British are

selling avg. of 4500 chests (133 lbs. Each) to merchants in S. China.

By 1839: 40,000 chests British reverse balance of trade in

their favor China realizes Opium traffic is a

threat to economy and social order (silver is leaving the country causing economic problems, Opium dens develop, drug use causes problems)

Qing emperors try to forbid the traffic, but it’s hard to enforce

Attempts to stop the trade in 1820’s and 1830’s fail

OPIUM WAR Lin Zexu given orders to stop the trade (orders European trading areas in

Canton blockaded, warehouses searched, Opium confiscated and destroyed)

War breaks out in 1839, when the British are outraged by Lin’s attempts. Claim free trade and property rights are violated.

Chinese junks routed by British gun ships, defeated by British expeditionary forces, Qing emperor sues for peace and forces Lin into exile

Wars force China to open itself to foreign trade and diplomats Europeans gain access to five other ports, given land to build warehouses

and living quarters By 1890’s 90 ports of call were available to 300,000 European traders,

missionaries, and diplomats Opium flows unchecked into China British oversee China’s trade and customs (ensure no protective tariffs,

favor European countries) China forced to accept European ambassadors (Europeans seen as spies,

shows European nations on equal footing with China)

TAIPING REBELLION Taiping Rebellion (1850s-1860s)

Massive rebellion that sweeps through much of South China Threatened to overthrow Qing Dynasty Hong Xiuquan: leader of rebellion, mentally unstable, semi-

Christianized First rebellion to pose a serious alternative to Qing Dynasty and

Confucian civilization Offer: sweeping programs for reform, land redistribution,

liberation of women, attack Confucian elite, smash ancestral tablets and shrines, propose simple script, mass literacy

Attacks on scholar-gentry leads Qing officials to raise military forces to stop rebellions

Zeng Guofan- raises military force, carry out reforms to rid bureaucracy of corruption and revive the economy

Self Strengthening Movement: attempt to challenge the West. Encourage Western investment in railroad, westernize the army

Brings end to rebellion

OTHER REBELLIONS Manchus resist far reaching reforms The leaders who do want reform are met with resistance by

members of the imperial household and scholar-gentry who want to keep the old order.

Cixi- ultraconservative empress 1898 crushes serious move toward reform Nephew (emperor) imprisoned in Forbidden City Advocates for reform are executed or driven from China Defies westerners by redirecting funds for warships to building a marble

boat in a lake in imperial gardens Boxer Rebellion

Members of Qing household secretly support outbursts aimed at expelling foreigners from China

Breaks out in 1898, put down by imperialist powers in 1901 Failure of rebellion leads to even more European control over China

FALL OF THE QING By late 19th early 20th century, secret societies have inspired local

uprisings against the Qing Triads, Society of Elders and Brothers Efforts fail because of lack of coordination and resources Important for efforts of resistance Sons of some scholar-gentry and merchants are active in secret societies

(European educated, want more than overthrow, want reform) Sun Yat-Sen: well known advocate for reform

Revolutionaries of the rising middle class are hostile to foreign involvement, condemn Manchus for failing to control foreigners.

Cut of Queues (braided ponytail) in defiance of Manchu order Join uprising of secret societies, plot assassinations, sabotage

1905: Civil service exams given for the last time, solutions can no longer be found in Confucianism, ended 2500 year pattern

Revolution of 1911 Secret societies uprisings, student demonstrations, mutiny among the troops

because of opposition to government’s reliance on Western power for railway loans

Provincial leaders refuse to put down the rebellion Manchus forced to abdicate Puyi: last emperor of China deposed in 1912

LETTER TO QUEEN VICTORIA How does Lin attempt to convince

Queen Victoria that she should force the British to halt the sale of opium?

How does Lin’s argument reflect the viewpoint of China? How does China view Europe and itself?

MEMORANDUM Who/what do you think Zeng blames

the most for the rebellion? What does Zeng recommend to end

China’s problems with insubordination?