Liu Hung-Chang and China's Early Modernization by Samuel C. Chu Kwang-Ching Liu

Author:Samuel C. Chu, Kwang-Ching Liu [Samuel C. Chu, Kwang-Ching Liu]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Ethnic Studies, General, Regional Studies
ISBN: 9781315484679
Google: aMcYDQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2016-09-16T04:30:19+00:00

Li’s pre-1870 view of Japan

Li’s interest in Japan and Korea predated his personal involvement in Japanese and Korean affairs, which began immediately after his appointment as governor-general of Chihli in 1870. It was his interest in Western weapons during the campaign against the Taipings that first attracted Li’s attention to what Japan—and Russia—were doing to learn and adopt Western science and technology for military self-strengthening. In May 1863, Li wrote a letter to Tseng Kuo-fan from Shanghai, where he had been sent to direct operations against the Taipings. Impressed by the effectiveness of Western artillery, Li told his mentor: “In the past, neither Russia nor Japan was versed in artillery techniques; they therefore became increasingly weak. However, because their monarchs and officials humbled themselves and sought the secret skills of the British and the French, they have gradually learned to make, as well as use, firearms, cannon, and steamships. They therefore can rival Britain and France.”2 In a letter to the Tsungli Yamen in the spring of 1864, Li again praised Japan’s energetic efforts at military self-strengthening. He coupled his praise with a warning to China. Recalling that the contemporary Japanese were descendants of the Japanese pirates of the Ming period, he predicted that the Japanese would attach themselves to China if China stood on its own and maintained its independence, but would turn to the West if China failed to maintain its independence. Li stressed that if China were to cope successfully with the Western threat, it was absolutely necessary to do what Japan was doing—to acquire machine-making tools and have young men of distinguished lineage devote themselves to industrial work. To provide the needed incentive, Li proposed the creation of a new category within the existing government examination system for candidates who specialized in technology.3 His proposal was rejected by the conservative Manchu court.

In a period when it was common for Ch’ing officials and literati to view Japan with disdain and prejudice and regard it chiefly as a potential source of trouble for China, Li did not express, at least not outwardly, such views or feelings. Instead, he praised Japan as a model for China to emulate in military self-strengthening. Although it is not likely that Li fully trusted the Japanese, he seems to have entertained some vague hope for Sino-Japanese cooperation in China’s struggle against Western aggression.

As for Korea, there is little in his voluminous writings that provides clear indications of, or direct clues to, what Li’s attitude was toward the peninsular kingdom in this period. Li had no reason to question Korea’s loyalty as China’s closest and most important tributary. His strategic concept for the defense of China, in which Korea occupied a vital position, was yet to be developed.

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