A report on First Sino-Japanese War and Self-Strengthening Movement
The war demonstrated the failure of the Qing dynasty's attempts to modernize its military and fend off threats to its sovereignty, especially when compared with Japan's successful Meiji Restoration.
- First Sino-Japanese WarThe considerable successes of the movement came to an abrupt end with China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895.
- Self-Strengthening Movement4 related topics with Alpha
Li Hongzhang
3 linksChinese politician, general and diplomat of the late Qing dynasty.
Chinese politician, general and diplomat of the late Qing dynasty.
Although he was best known in the West for his generally pro-modern stance and importance as a negotiator, Li antagonised the British with his support of Russia as a foil against Japanese expansionism in Manchuria and fell from favour with the Chinese after their defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War.
He was given the concurrent appointments as Viceroy of Zhili Province and Beiyang Trade Minister (北洋通商大臣) to oversee various issues in Zhili, Shandong and Fengtian provinces, including trade, tariffs, diplomacy, coastal defence, and modernisation.
Empress Dowager Cixi
3 linksChinese noblewoman, concubine and later regent who effectively controlled the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty for 47 years, from 1861 until her death in 1908.
Chinese noblewoman, concubine and later regent who effectively controlled the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty for 47 years, from 1861 until her death in 1908.
Although Cixi refused to adopt Western models of government, she supported technological and military reforms and the Self-Strengthening Movement.
In 1894, the First Sino-Japanese War broke out over Korea whose age-old allegiance to Beijing was wavering.
Qing dynasty
2 linksManchu-led conquest dynasty and the last imperial dynasty of China.
Manchu-led conquest dynasty and the last imperial dynasty of China.
The Tongzhi Restoration of the 1860s brought vigorous reforms and the introduction of foreign military technology in the Self-Strengthening Movement.
Defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1895 led to loss of suzerainty over Korea and cession of Taiwan to Japan.
Beiyang Fleet
2 linksOne of the four modernized Chinese navies in the late Qing dynasty.
One of the four modernized Chinese navies in the late Qing dynasty.
Among the four, the Beiyang Fleet was particularly sponsored by Li Hongzhang, one of the most trusted vassals of Empress Dowager Cixi and the principal patron of the "self-strengthening movement" in northern China in his capacity as the Viceroy of Zhili and the Minister of Beiyang Commerce (北洋通商大臣).
Due to Li's influence in the imperial court, the Beiyang Fleet garnered much greater resources than the other Chinese fleets and soon became the dominant navy in Asia before the onset of the 1894–1895 First Sino-Japanese War.