INTS210

MODERN CHINESE HISTORY

Lecture 1
Introduction
Themes of Chinese History


Teaching Staff
Edwin Lowe
Department of International Studies
Office:W6A228
email:Edwin.Lowe@mq.edu.au
Phone: 9850 7023
Consultation hours:
Tuesday and Thursday 1100-1200

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Text
Jonathan Spence, The Search for Modern
China, 3rd ed, Norton 2012.
Unit guide reading schedule
Tutorial Readings
Spence
Primary documents - ilearn
Recommended readings


Tutorials & Group Discussion
Set readings scheduled in unit guide
Read before attending
Group discussions of readings
Tutorial questions

Tutorial Classes begin THIS WEEK

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Penalties

READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE


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Library
Books on shelves !
History, philosophy, politics etc
Reserve (recommended readings and
resources)

Journals
On shelves
Electronic subscriptions > online

Why do this unit?
Fundamental in understanding recent and
contemporary China.
Government
Political philosophy
Society and social dynamics
Forces of change

Why History?
Using the past as a mirror to the present
"With a bronze mirror, one can see whether he is
properly attired; with history as a mirror, one can
understand the rise and fall of a nation; with men as a
mirror, one can see whether he is right or wrong"
Emperor Taizong 643CE
Continuing Influence of Chinese history and culture in
modern period
Interpreting China through understanding China
Patterns of History
Patterns of Change
Its place in the world
How it might react and change

Objectives
to gain some understanding of the events of
Chinese history over the past century and a half in
the context of Chinas long history;
to understand the driving forces of Chinese history
in the modern period;
to appreciate Chinas present in terms of what has
happened in the past;
to appreciate different models of interpreting
Chinese history;
to understand the Chinese world and cultural
nuances through the understanding of view historic
and contemporary China

L: Lien Chan (Chairman of the KMT)
R: Hu Jintao (General Secretary of the CPC)
[Photo: cnsphoto] http://english.cri.cn/2946/2007/04/28/48@221423.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Chinese_Communist_Party.svg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Naval_Jack_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg

Flag of CPC Flag of KMT

Modern China
modern Chinese history
What does this mean?
1644 2010?

Dynastic history?
Ming, Qing, the Republic, the Peoples Republic

Development of Modern China
When did modern China begin?
1644? 1840? 1911? 1949? 1976? 1992?

Do these mean the same thing?

China and Modernity
to understand the driving forces of Chinese
history in the modern period

on modernity and its driving forces



Is there a juncture where pre-modern
(traditional) China changes into modernity?

How do we delineate traditional China and
modern China?

Contact with the West? 1840?


China in the mid Qing Dynasty
Pre-eminent civilisation, technologically and
economically for most of human history
Most technologically advanced civilisation for two
thousand years
66% of world population; 80% of economic production
in 1750

Yet defeated by British in Opium War 1840 and
dominated by foreign powers in late 1800s
What happened?
Only regaining status now in 21st Century
How has that happened?


Pre-requisites
HIST116 / INTS102 China in World History
CHN157 Contemporary China

Chinese history
Chinese philosophy
Confucianism
European philosophy & politics
J.J. Rousseau, Adam Smith, David Hume, John
Stuart Mill, Thomas Huxley, G.F Hegel, Karl Marx,
Pytor Kropotkin, Lenin
Economic history


Themes in Chinese History
Spence Ming Dynasty 1368 -1644
largest and most sophisticated state in the world
population greater than all of Europe combined
massive and efficient bureaucracy with millenium
of tradition
held together intellectually by common texts on
history, philosophy and ethics
Fundamental assumptions
Themes and trends up to 1800

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL
DEVELOPMENT

Isolation and Interaction

Unification and Fragmentation

Syncreticism and Sinification

Socio-political Order

Political Change


GEOGRAPHY
Critical influence on:
Culture
Philosophy
History

All contribute to the distinctiveness of Sinic
Culture Latin: Sina = China
Also Korea, Japan, Vietnam
Sinosphere




Culture and the World View
Cycles of intense and restricted cultural
exchange ,incremental cultural shift unique
culture
contrast cultural exchange in Western
Eurasia > vast cultural shifts
Sinocentric world view


The Centre
Centre + Periphery
Central theme in the Chinese world view
China = Zhongguo = Middle Kingdom
China as a cultural nation
3000 years bp to present
China as a Westphalian state
recent concept late 1800s


Relatively homogenous ethnically
Han Chinese (with some genetic variation) in
the centre cultural heartland
United by common cultural system
United by common written language system
Civilisation in the centre + surrounding Sinic
cultures eg Viet, Korean, Japanese
Middle Kingdom mentality, Centre of the
world


The Periphery
Barbarians (non-Sinitic cultures) on the
periphery: Mongols, Manchus, Ugihurs,
Kazakhs, Tajiks, Tibetans etc
Chinese citizens today
Long history of interaction with the periphery
International relations
tributary relations
Problems with contact with Westphalian west
Continuous system until 20
th
Century

Qin Empire (First Emperor) 221BCE Great
Wall Xiongnu (Huns)
Barbarians occupy northern China many times
(Jurchen, Khitans etc)
Fragmentation
Conquered China and establish major dynasties
(Mongols and Manchus)
Cycle of invasion, driving out, re-invigoration
Great Wall rebuilt and extended many times Ming
wall

INTERACTION
Interaction by design Imperial expansion,
trade, diplomacy

Interaction by conquest forced openness

Cosmopolitanism, cultural development and
vigour, imperial strength


Cyclical swing from isolation to interaction (and
unification to fragmentation)


Greatest dynasties with significant cultural, economic
interaction.
Han Central Asia, Persia, Rome
Tang Silk Road, India, Central Asia
Song loss of northern China
Yuan Mongol empire
Early Ming sea trade Middle East, India, SE Asia
Qing Manchu empire, conquest Central Asia, (Xinjiang), Tibet,
Taiwan
Syncretic cultural development
Confucianism, Daoism, Zoroastrianism
Sinification process
Ideas (Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Marxism, capitalism)
Peoples (Viet, Tai, Mongol, Manchu etc)

ISOLATION
Isolation by geography
Development of cultural distinctiveness
Philosophy, traditions, value systems, world view,
political systems.

Isolation by design
Reaction against barbarians
Introspection, xenophobia, ignorance
Weakness, inability to adapt to challenges


Internal Geography
How does geography affect internal politics?

The great rivers and mountains
Economic consequences
Political consequences


Northern China

Loess plains. Fertile. Heavy silt, flooding.
Also deserts, Himalayas, tundra
Dry, cold. Extreme temperatures
Harsh agricultural climate
Barbarian Invasions
Relatively isolated
Political centre

Southern China
Temperate to tropical weather
High rainfall
High agricultural production
Surpluses & Cash crops - tea
Sea trade & communications
Rich strong regional power
Social structure & political power concentrated in
clan structured society

North & South Divide
Disparities of wealth
Disparities of power
Tensions Regional vs central power


External Divisions
Rivers and mountains natural defence
barriers
-against barbarians
Emperors and court flee to the south
Loss of the north to barbarians
Division of the empire.
Long historical tradition to the present day

Internal Divisions
Rivers and mountains natural defence
barriers
disgruntled peasants, bandits, rebels,
religious cults.
Heaven is high and the Emperor is far
Long tradition of rebellion originating from the
south or periphery.
Strong central power, unified
Weak central power, fragmentation
Many dynastic upheavals


Distinctive (unique) dynamics of
Chinese cultural and historical development

Dynastic Cycles
Cyclical view of history

INTS210
Traditional China
The late Ming Dynasty

Foundations of Traditional China
Confucianism
Socio-political order
Unity of socio-political systems
Social order
Political Ideology
System of government
System of law

Confucius
Kong Fuzi Master Kong 551 479 BCE
The Analects Lun Yu
Advocated a return to the past in social system,
social structure, rituals of the Zhou age
Search for restoring social order through social
system
Duke of Zhou ideal example
Continuous intellectual tradition
Cultural Revolution 1970s Criticise Confucius
Hu Jintao 1990s Harmonious Society


Ethical system of socio-political order
Emphasis on social order through flow-on
effect of self regulated ethical behaviour of
the individual
Cultivation of self through ethical thought and
practise.
Education paramount to cultivation
Advocated education without class distinction
- meritocracy


Mencius
Mengzi (372 289 BCE)
The Second Sage
Developed ethical and political Confucian
doctrine
Human nature inherently good
Benevolence needs to be cultivated by
education and practise
Benevolence
Individuals
governments



Ethical Doctrine
Social stability and harmony through personal
behaviour and interpersonal relationships
Emphasis on society as a whole, not the
individual


Key Concepts
Social order through individual self regulation
and cultivation.
Junzi (gentleman) xiaoren (petty man)
Social order through internalised regulation (self), not
external regulation (laws)

Establish social order by education and
cultivation of the Five Cardinal Virtues and the
proper observance of the Five Human
Relationships.


Five Cardinal Virtues

Benevolence (Ren)
Righteousness (Yi )
Propriety rituals / etiquette (Li )
Wisdom (Zhi )
Trustworthiness (Xin)


Five Human Relationships

Ruler and minister
Husband and Wife
Father and Son
Brother and Brother
Friend and Friend


Confucian Socio-Political
Order
Social order through an individual in relation to society
Social order based on the family as basic unit
Social order as extension of the family
Establish social order by education and cultivation of the
Five Cardinal Virtues and the proper observance of the
Five Human Relationships.
Harmony in society through the correct reciprocal
conduct of social relationships and reciprocal obligations
Social order by diffusion from fundamental human
relationships

Fundamental system of Chinese social and
political order
Stratified and well defined but interdependent
society
Ruler, scholars, peasant, artisans, merchants
Social and political mobility (in theory)
Imperial Civil Service >Bureaucracy of scholar /
literati class
Competitive entrance exams
meritocracy


Confucian Canonical Texts
The Four Books
The Analects (Confucius)
Mencius
Doctrine of the Mean
The Great Learning
The Five Classics
Classic of Changes (I Ching)
Classic of Poetry
Classic of Rites
Classic of History
Spring and Autumn Annals
Standard syllabus for education to 20
th
C.


Social Doctrine
(From The Great Learning) The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious
virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to
order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate
their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their
persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they
first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their
thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension
of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge
being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere,
their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons
were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were
regulated. Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed.
Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil
and happy.

From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider
the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.
Political Implications?


Political Doctrine
Political order through Confucian values
Administration and rule through Confucian
ethical framework
Mutual expectations of ruler and subjects
Benevolent but autocratic & government in
exchange for loyalty and obedience


Mencius said: He was appointed to preside over the
sacrifices, and all the spirits were pleased with them:
that indicated his acceptance by Heaven. He was
placed in charge of public affairs, and they were well
administered and the people were at peace: that
indicated his acceptance by the people. Heaven thus
gave him the empire; the people thus gave him the
empire. That is why I said, the Emperor cannot give
the empire to another. This is what is meant in the
Great Declaration recorded in the Book of History
where it is said: Heaven sees as my people see,
Heaven hears as my people hear. (From Mencius)
Political Implications?

Mandate of Heaven
Mutual obligation of the Emperor to the people
Rule in benevolence and virtue
Mandate can be lost!
Neglect of government, squandering of resources,
concubines etc-, failure of dykes, irrigations, famine
Signs and portents
People have the Right to Rebel
Traditional Chinese historiography
Cycles of history, dynastic cycles
Small changes 30 years
Big changes 100 years, 500 years
Self prophesising political dynamic?



http://www.2001iahr.iwhr.com/iahr/images/024.jpg
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/focus/xinsrc_2248f5f830444849ad2bd2f3
87cd1627_flood.jpg
Mandate of Heaven
Signs and Portents

Dynastic Cycles
Loss of Mandate of Heaven
Establishment of new dynasty with Mandate
Vigour > stagnation > decline > interregnum >> repeat
Qin unification>>> Han (reunification) 400 yrs)
Three Kingdoms > Jin >16 Dynasties> Northern & Southern Dynasties
(northern barbarians)
Sui reunification Tang (350 yrs)
5 Dyn + 10 Kingdoms > Liao (northern barbarians)
Song (Northern + Southern) (300 yrs)
Yuan (Mongol conquest) (100 yrs)
Ming reunification (300 yrs)
Qing (Manchu conquest) (250 yrs)
Republic 1911 1949 present
Warlords 1917-19271949
Japanese invasion 19191937-1945
Peoples Republic 1949 - present

Political Change
Invasion & Conquest (Mongols, Manchus)
Rebels
Aristocrats (Sui, Tang)
Religious leaders & peasant leaders (Han, Song,
Ming, Taiping, Communists)
Tradition of underclass revolt
Millenarian & Messianic cults
Syncretic Daoist & Buddhist sects

Bodhisattva Maitreya the Buddha to come
Marks epoch end of famine, disease death, war
Popular with peasants, underclasses and poor
Daoist Yellow Turbans 184 205 CE
3 Messianic pre- Maitreyan Buddhist rebellions 515-517
7 Maitreyan rebellions between 610 1351 (est. Ming
Dynasty) & 1799
Taiping Rebellion 1850 1864 Jesus younger brother
Boxer rebellion 1899

Li Hongzhi same birthday as Sakyamuni
Buddha
Falun gong = Falun Dafa
Epoch Times newspaper
New Tang Dynasty TV
L. Ron Hubbard



Ming 1368-1644
White Lotus sect - Peasant rebellion
Restoration of Han Chinese and Confucian
socio-political order
Rebuild Great Wall, move capital to far north
Intellectual and physical retreat to centre
Emphasis on agricultural economy and
Confucian scholarship, not trade and science
Conservative, traditional, xenophobic (later
dynasty)
Very bad timing why?


Ming to 1590
Ming height of aesthetic, intellectual and
scientific achievement
Worlds greatest GDP
Greatest military and maritime power
complex economic system
Agricultural, small business, trade (spices, arts) to
Horn of Africa
Zheng He
Contact with West
Portuguese
Jesuits
Tributary status



Ming China in the World
Maritime trade & expansion of early Ming
tribute. Voyages of Admiral Zheng He
The Jesuits and European science
Science, technology and industrialisation

Ming Maritime Expeditions
Ming re-established Chinese power from
Mongol rule
Re-establishment of Chinese institutional and
state power, consolidation of rule
Loss of Central Asia & trade
Expand tributary system
Expand trade


Zheng He (13711435)
Born Ma He
Ming court enuch
Ma Sanbao (Hajji
Mahmud Shams)
Adviser to Yongle
Emperor
Seven Voyages 1405 -
1433
1421: The Year China
Discovered the World -
Gavin Menzies




Pacified pirate activity in SE Asia
Established Chinese Muslim trading colonies in
SE Asia (Malacca, Borneo, Malaya, Java,
Philippines)
Established trade relations and tribute relations
with 30 states from SE Asia, Indian Ocean,
Persian Gulf, Red Sea, East Africa
Diplomatic and military action

30 ambassadors to
court
Silver, porcelain, silk,
tea etc
Ivory, ostriches,
giraffes


End of Voyages
Resurgence of Mongol power
Increasing resources to Mongol threat,
strengthening military garrisons and strength,
rebuilding of Great Wall
Move capital from Nanjing to Beijing, lavish
new Forbidden City
Hai Jin (Sea Ban) 1424

Legacies
Chinese trade dominant in SE Asia 1600s

Chinese introspection
Loss of Central Asian exchange
Loss of maritime exchange
Rise of European mercantile power
Renaissance

Ming - European Contact
First Chinese contact with Europeans since
Marco Polo
First direct and meaningful contact and
transmission of ideas and technology with W.
Europe

The Jesuits
Society of Jesus
Counter Reformation
Religious and intellectual and scientific
scholarship
"finding God in all things
Schools and universities as ministry
Evangelism in the New World, China and Japan


Arrival in China
Portuguese colony Macau ca 1550s
1579 Michele Ruggieri & Matteo Ricci
Cultural resonance and mutual tolerance
Create Sino-Christian civilisation
Sinification of Jesuits
Chinese dress, Chinese linguistic expertise
and scholarship


Syncretic scholarship
Cultural resonance
Christian essence at the core of classical
Chinese philosophy
Ricci Confucianism (scholars)
Rites, Shang Di & monotheism
Ruggieri Daoism & Buddhism (ordinary
people)
Logos & the Dao God in all things


http://www.marcopolovoyages.com/Beijing_1481_Presentation/images/slide0008_image011.
jpg
Jesuit tombstone ca
1707 (Kangxi 6
th

year) Guangzhou
2007

Expansion of Mission
Ricci called for "men of talent, since we are
dealing here with a people both intelligent
and learned".
Transmission of Chinese classics
Transmission of Western Science
Astronomy, mathematics
Acceptance at Ming and Qing courts

Transmission of Chinese
Culture
Ricci & Xu Guangqi - Confucian classics to
Latin
Philippe Couplet and Prospero Intorcetta
Confucius Sinarum Philosophus
Studies and texts on Chinese language &
government
Significant impact on European thinkers of
the period.
A state run by philosophers, rather than inherited
royalty
An ethical system not based on religion
A writing system which represented ideas rather
than words


Transmission of European
Culture
Astronomy and mathematics revolution in
Europe (from Arab sources), introduced to
China
Also cartography and geography
Accepted as foreign literatii to late Ming court
Translated European works of astronomy and
mathematics, conducted astronomic
observations for court, carried out
cartographic work
Transmitted knowledge of Chinese science
and technology to Europe



China in the early Qing
Pre-eminent civilisation, technologically and
economically for most of human history
Most technologically advanced civilisation for two
thousand years
66% of world population; 80% of economic production
in 1750

Yet defeated by British in Opium War 1840 and
dominated by European powers in late 1800s
Only regaining status now in 21
st
Century

What happened?

Fall of the Ming
Dynastic cycle
1587: A Year of No Significance. Ray Huang
Macro history contrast Fairbank
Wanli Emperor (r. 1578 1620)
Absent from court from 1591
Civil service neglected
50% of posts unfilled by 1610, from court to local districts

Stagnation
Civil service
Court eunuchs
Army

Border wars> Mongols, Japanese
Financial crisis
Decline of silver (currency standard) from America
Decline of export trade
Inflation copper/silver currency ratio
Over taxation
Dysfunctional government
Collapse of dykes and irrigation canals
Shaanxi earthquake 1556
830 000 casualties

New World crops> sweet potatoes, corn
Over population
Little Ice Age c.1600
Famine
Plague
Poor, landless, hungry > where to turn?
Banditry, Messianic & Millenarian religious cults