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Topic 17: Asia in the age of European expansion (From the Opium War to 1911)

Teaching Flow

Objectives

|Knowledge |1. To know how China and Japan responded to Western challenges |

| |2. To understand the similarities and differences between the reforms in |

| |China and in Japan (Causes, Content, Results) |

| |3. To have an overview of the Powers’ expansion in China |

|Skills |1. To compare the similarities of and differences between historical events |

| |2. To use charts to master complicated historical events |

| |3. To make reasonable inference based on historical facts |

|Attitude |1. To evaluate Sino-Japanese relationship from an objective perspective |

| |2. To reflect on the importance of modernization on the development of modern China |

| |

Topic 17: Asia in the age of European expansion (From the Opium War to 1911)

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Why was the Qing Empire able to make its neighbouring countries to become its tributary states? Explain your answer with reference to Source A and using your own knowledge.

Suggested answer: Source A shows that China had a vast territory, and was a self-sufficient nation with itself as its centre. Its neighbouring countries were small, and were reliant on China’s protection economically and militarily. As a result, as a gesture of good will, the small neighbouring states made tributes to China, resulting in China’s sense of superiority.

Task 2: Challenges and Responses

Study Sources B and C, and then answer the question below.

Source B

The Source below describes Sino-British relations in the mid 19th century

The Source below describes Sino-British relationship in the mid-19th century.

Source C

The Source below describes the internal and external problems that the Tokugawa Shogunate faced in the mid-19th century.

China and Britain came into conflict as a result of problems in trade. War between the two countries ensued when the Qing dynasty banned the opium trade. China was defeated and signed the Treaty of Nanjing with Britain, under which Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain. The treaty marked the beginning of unequal treaties between the Qing dynasty and foreign powers by which China had to cede territories and pay indemnities.

|The Tokugawa family, which headed the government of Japan at that time, had to give way to Western demands and accept |

|unequal treaties under military threats of the USA. As a result, many local lords (known as “daimyo”) and warriors (known |

|as “samurai”) became deeply discontented with the Tokugawa Shogunate. They renewed their support to the emperor and |

|demanded reforms. The army of the Tokugawa government (known as “Bakufu”) was finally defeated and it was forced to return|

|its power to the emperor. |

What external challenges did China and Japan face in the mid-19th century? How different were the responses of the two countries to such challenges?

Suggested answer:

| |China |Japan |

|Challenges (Threats)|Britain demanded trading in China, and imported |The USA, using military threats, demanded Japan to open its |

| |opium into China. |ports. |

|Responses |War occurred between China and Britain. |Under US military threats, the Tokugawa Shogunate was |

| | |willing to open Japan, which caused resentment of the |

| | |samurai class, who defeated Shogunate troops and supported |

| | |restoration of the Emperor’s power. |

Task 3: Reform Measures

When China and Japan were facing the military expansion of the Western countries, they both carried out reforms in the areas of political institution, military, education, and financial institution.

Study Sources D and E, and then answer the questions below.

Source D

The table below shows some reforms carried out in China.

|1862 setting up of Tongwenguan (China’s first translation school) |

|1879 setting up of Telegraph Bureau |

|1888 setting up of the Beiyang Fleet |

|4. 1905 abolition of the civil service examination |

|5. 1908 setting up of the Bank of Great Qing |

|1. 1872 setting up modern schools |

|2. 1873 setting up new armies |

|3. 1877 setting up of University of Tokyo |

|4. 1882 setting up the Central bank |

|5. 1889 promulgation of the Meiji Constitution |

Source E

The table below shows a list of reforms carried out in Japan.

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With reference to Sources D and E, identify one similarity and one difference between the China’s reforms and Japan’s reforms.

Suggested answer:

|Similarity |e.g. Both countries set up new armies (or other possible answers) |

|Difference |e.g. Japan already promulgated its Constitution in 1889, while China did not implement any constitution even |

| |by 1908 (or other possible answers) |

Task 4: Ideas of Westernisation

Group Discussion: Discuss the questions below with reference to Sources F and G.

Source F Source G

Meiji Emperor of Japan Empress Dowager Cixi of China

Source:

Source: )

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Topic 17: Asia in the age of European expansion (From the Opium War to 1911)

To know more (2)

|After its defeat in the two Opium Wars, China carried out a series of reforms, the Self-Strengthening Movement, such |

|as setting up the Zongli Yamen (i.e. an institute to deal with foreign affairs), the Tongwenguan (i.e. a foreign |

|languages school), and a series of educational, economic and military reforms. It even set up the Beiyang Fleet in |

|1888. Later on, the whole nation was alarmed by China’s defeat in the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, and demands for more|

|thorough reforms followed. Kang Youwei was the first person to propose such reforms, which, known as the Hundred |

|Days’ Reform, were foiled by the Empress Dowager Cixi , and a different series of reform was conducted under her |

|dominance in the years which followed. |

| |

1. Who do you think manifests Western influences, as viewed from the costume of the two people in the pictures above? Explain your answer with reference to Sources F and G.

Suggested answer:

The costume of the Meiji Emperor was clearly a western-style formal dress different from Japanese court dress, while Cixi was in traditional Qing costume.

2. Apart from the costume, do you think there are other areas that manifest “Westernisation”?

Suggested answer:

Armament

Parliamentary System

Traffic & Transport

Westernisation

School Curriculum

Costume

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Industrial Development

Task 5: Opinions advocating reforms in China and Japan

Culture is reflected in clothing style. However, westernisation is not limited to changes of clothing style. The two passages below are opinions of Chinese and Japanese thinkers who pointed out the reforms needed by their nations.

Answer the questions below with reference to Sources H and I.

Source H

1. This was what Fukuzawa Yukichi(nges of clothing style. The two passages below are opinions of Chinese and Japanese thinkers who pointed out the reforms needed by their nations.

Answer the questions below with reference to Sources H and I.

Source H

This was what Fukuzawa Yukichi(福澤諭吉), the enlightened Japanese thinker said in 1871 in Encouraging Learning(勸學篇):

Source I

In 1902, Liang Qichao(梁啟超) published “On the New Citizen”(新民說), he said:

Look at the progress of the West. Their various types of electric and steam engines are always new and changing as a result of their competition against one another for improvement. At the same time, economics becomes increasingly popular, and once political and commercial changes occur, the school system, the form of writings, government measures and meetings of assemblies are changed in an even more refined and boundless way.

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“So there is no intention to strengthen our country today. If there is such intention, wide references must be made to the way in which various nations and countries established themselves and we choose and take their strengths in order to complement our weaknesses. Commentators at present know that we must take the strengths of others to complement our weaknesses in politics, learning, arts and skills, but they do not know that virtue, wisdom and ability of the people are really the biggest source of politics, learning, arts and skills. ” On the New Citizen

“One of the most lacking in our citizens is civic virtue. What is civic virtue? Thanks to civic virtue, people form into groups and nations are nations…Hence, civic virtue is the source of all virtues. Qualities that are beneficial to the populace are good whereas those that do not are wicked.” On Civic Virtue

Topic 17: Asia in the age of European expansion (From the Opium War to 1911)

We cannot wait without hesitation for the civilization of our neighbours in order to make a concerted effort to revive Asia. Let us separate ourselves from their group and ally with Western civilization. Even the way we receive China and Korea should not be especially courteous simply because of their status as our neighbours. We must act in accordance with how the Westerners receive them.

1. According to Sources H and I, in what ways are the content of the reforms of China and Japan similar?

Suggested answer:

Both China and Japan learnt from experience of other countries especially the Western countries when carrying out their reforms, and the scope of their reforms covered politics, education and technology.

2. According to Source I, what factors did Liang Qichao think were essential to the success of reforms? Did China possess such factors? Explain your answer.

Suggested answer:

Liang Qichao believed that in addition to reforming politics, learning and skills, the most important was to change people’s thoughts, the most important of which being civic virtue, which the Chinese lacked. Civic virtue is the most important of all virtues, and what an individual does must be beneficial to the people.

Task 6: Expansion of various countries in Asia

After the Opium War, the powers used force on China under various pretexts and forced China to accept the new political order the western power set up in Asia by making China sign unequal treaties, cede territories and pay indemnities.

Answer all questions with reference to Sources J and K.

Source J

In “Emerging from Asia”(脫亞論) of 1884, Fukuzawa (福澤諭吉) said:

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1881. Russia acquired a considerable amount of land in Ili. By 1899, Russia had gradually turned Manchuria into its sphere of influence.

1884. After the Sino-French War, Vietnam became a French protectorate and was totally moved out of the Qing dynasty’s influence.

1886. Britain occupied China’s tributary state Burma.

1894 Japan defeated China in the 1894 Sino-Japanese War and controlled China’s tributary state Korea. China was also forced to cede the Liaodong Peninsula, Lushun (Port Arthur), Dalian and Taiwan to Japan.

1902 Fearing the expansion of Russia, Britain formed an alliance with Japan. Japan’s international status was raised by defeating China and allying with Britain.

1904 The conflict between Japan and Russia over the Northeastern Provinces (known as Manchuria) finally resulted in war in 1904, in which. Japan was victorious. Since then, the Northeastern Provinces became Japan’s sphere of influence.

Source K

The table below shows the invasion of the powers in China.

1. What is the attitude of the writer of Source J towards China? Would he be glad to see the situation in Source K? Explain your answer with reference to Sources J and K.

Suggested answer:

The writer of Source J obviously would be glad to see the situation in Source K. He thought that Japan need not be courteous with its neighbours such as Japan and Korea, but instead should treat them in the way that the western countries treated China. Therefore, he would be happy to see Japan invade China.

Topic 17: Asia in the age of European expansion (From the Opium War to 1911)

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2. With reference to Source K, fill in the benefits that various countries acquired in China and the years of acquisition.

Suggested answer:

|Countries |Year |Benefits acquired from China |

|Russia |1881 |Acquired a considerable amount of land in Ili of Xinjiang |

| |1899 |Turned Manchuria into its sphere of influence |

|Britain |1896 |Occupied China’s tributary state Burma |

|France |1884 |After the Sino-French War, Vietnam became a French protectorate and was totally moved out of the Qing|

| | |dynasty’s influence. |

|Japan |1894 |Controlled China’s tributary state Korea and forced to cede the Liaodong Peninsula, Lushun (Port |

| | |Arthur), Dalian and Taiwan to Japan. |

| | |After the Russo-Japanese War, the Northeastern Provinces became Japan’s sphere of influence. |

| |1905 | |

3. According to Sources J and K, which country do you think posed the greatest threat on China? Explain your answer.

Suggested answer:

Japan posed the greatest threat on China. According to Source K, Britain and France only invaded China’s tributary states and did not threaten China’s own security. Russia also annexed China’s border territories only. Compared to Britain, France and Russia, Japan’s expansion in China kept intensifying. Source J already reflects Japanese ambition in China, and according to Source K, it annexed Korea and Taiwan after the Sino-Japanese War, and turned Manchuria into its sphere of influence. Its invasion of China was more active than the other three countries.

Extended activity

Look for information from the Internet or the library, and then answer the following question in form of an essay:

Compare the reforms of China and Japan in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries (you may discuss from the perspectives of the background, content, outcome and influences of the reforms).

Topic 17: Asia in the age of European expansion (From the Opium War to 1911)

Conclusion

When faced with the expansion of Western powers to Asia, China was forced by military force to open its doors to trade and diplomatic relationships. Small parts of China were ceded away as colonies, but much more extensive areas came under the influence of different foreign powers. The humiliation of failure to reform and defeat in war brought about the collapse of the government in 1911. Japan, on the other hand, was able to rebuild centralized authority and carry out Westernization reforms. The various Japanese institutional reforms came earlier than China and were more complete. In the Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War, Japan was able to defeat China and Russia respectively. Japan became a strong and powerful empire while the Qing government was overthrown.

Summary Chart

China

Japan

Two Opium Wars

Taiping Rebellion

Reforms by Qing Government

Reforms by Meiji Government

New translation schools, western armies,

building railways etc.

New schools, new army, finance system, constitution etc.

Scramble for Concessions

cramble for Concessions

Russo-Japanese War

1911 Revolution

Became a world power

Sino-Japanese War

China and Japan from the 19th to the early 20th century

Threatened by Britain

Threatened by USA

Failure of Hundred Days Reform

Failure of Late Qing Reform

Shogunate forced to open ports

Samurai restored power of

Emperor

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