Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1890-1912)
Reasons for Take-over
The reasons that the Qing Dynasty came to power was because of the Manchus from Manchuria. They invaded China in the 1600's. The invasion proved to be very successful because the government of the Ming Dynasty was weak. The invasion was also successful because the Ming Dynasty weakened during and after the Fall of Beijing. Li Zicheng and peasants invaded Beijing and took over. The Ming Emperor committed suicide. The Chinese Armies were not strong. It is also because there were many peasant rebellions that occurred.
Pu Yi
Pu Yi was born on February 7, 1906 and died on October 17, 1967. He was the last Emperor of China and the 12th Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He came to the throne at the age of two years and ten months. He had two brothers, Pujie and Puren. Pu Yi did not see his real mother for six years. On March 1, 1932, Pu Yi became the ruler of Manchukuo by the Japanese. He also had five wives. At the end of World War II Pu Yi was captured by the Soviet Red Army. He died in Beijing because of complications of kidney cancer and heart disease during the Cultural Revolution in 1967. His body was cremated. His ashes were placed at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769 and died on May 5, 1821. He was a French military and political leader. He was a general during the French Revolution. He was born in Corsica. Napoleon made a Coup d’Etat and crowned himself Emperor. Napoleon was exiled to Elba and escaped. He ruled France for 100 more days before his final defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815. He was exiled to St. Helena and died there. Napoleon established the Napoleonic Code. He married two women. A physician chosen by Napoleon’s army said that he died of stomach cancer. In the later half of the 20th century, scientists say he died of arsenic poisoning. He was buried on the banks of the Seine River in France.
Accomplishments
Technology
Colored glazes developed such as copper red. Also, agriculture and farming improved. There were new fertilizers produced. Before the First Opium War, China needed to make more arsenal and military equipment. Dockyards and arsenals were made. Schools for mechanics were established. Ships were constructed.
Economic
Crops from the New World such as tobacco, yellow corn, and potatoes were introduced to China. Qing porcelain, textiles, sugar, paper, tea, and steel was exported around the world. The territory of China doubled from 1,532,800 sq. mi. to 4,278,000 sq. mi. New laws of finances was created to stop the exchange rates of coins. Trade was now done by sea.
Social
Since the Manchus of Manchuria were the start of the Qing Dynasty, there are many races involved. The Qing Dynasty abolished the Imperial Examination and built universities. Instead of focusing of Confucian readings, Math and Science was studied. The Ching-Hsi or Chinese Opera also came into existence. It is not widely performed in China. Foot binding is a custom practised by females in China. It literally means bound feet. At around the age of six, a young girl's foot is wrapped in tight bandages so they do not grow normally. Instead, the foot will break and become deformed. At an older age, there are risks of developing paralysis and various diseases. Foot binding is only for the wealthy and became popular during the late Qing Dynasty. It is common for women to be foot bound except the poor because they have to work in the fields and do hard labour.
Government
Because of accepting other races and religions, the Emperors during the Qing Dynasty powered over Tibet, Mongolia, and Turkestan. The Han Chinese were allowed equal positions in the government with the Manchus of Manchuria.
Religion/Philosophy
During the Qing Dynasty, Neo-Confucianism became popular. Neo-Confucianism is a mixture of Taoist cosmology and Buddhist spirituality and using some of Confucian ideas about society and government. Neo-Confucianism was also practised in Japan and Korea. Zhu Xi was a very famous Chinese Neo-Confucian. The Qing Dynasty accepted various religions. They supported the Buddhists of Tibet and the Muslims of Turkestan.
Pilgrim flask, porcelain with underglaze blue and iron-red decoration
Qing Dynasty Coin
Ching-hsi (Peking Opera)
Tobacco
Yellow Corn
Potatoes
Foot Binding
Zhu Xi, a famous Neo-Confucian
Reasons for Fall
Dr. Sun Yat Sen who led the China to become a Republic
Yuan Shikai, a politician, general, and anti-Qing
The Qing Dynasty fell because of many rebellions, the government, and Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Due to the increase of trade, Britain viewed China as an easy target for opium trade. However, China underestimated Britain’s power resulting in the First Opium War. The Chinese were defeated and had to sign the Treaty of Nanjing. They had to give Hong Kong to the British, pay money, and open five ports for trade. Rebellions led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty. They include the Boxer, Tientsin, Nien, Muslim and Taiping rebellion. Dr. Sun Yat Sen was also a cause. He was anti-Qing. Dr. Sun Yat Sen attended an American School in Hawaii and knew that other countries around the world were much more advanced than China. He thought that in order for China to become as advanced as the other countries, China would have to become a republic. The Manchus, who were ruling the Qing Dynasty did not want change. Dr. Sun Yat Sen tried 10 attempts to start a rebellion but there was not success. In 1911, the economy in China reached a difficult situation. The government asked the people to pay a lot of taxes. A retired Manchu general named Yuan Shikai was also anti-Qing. He convinced Pu Yi, the Manchu emperor to form a republic. Pu Yi stepped down from the throne and decided that the form of government in China shall be a Constitutional Republic. The Qing Dynasty came to an end. China is now called the Republic of China.
Works Cited
"Ch'ing Dynasty." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica 2007 Ultimate Reference Suite . Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2008.
http://bethany.mca.org.tw/secondary/g7/dynasty-project/Qing/Qing.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qing_Dynasty#Fall_of_the_dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puyi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon
http://europeanhistory.about.com/library/readyref/blpersonnapoleonbonaparte.htm
http://www.chinaorbit.com/china-culture/chinese-history/qing-dynasty-china.html
http://www.ccds.charlotte.nc.us/History/China/save/maidt/Maidt.html
http://faculty.washington.edu/mkalton/NeoConfucianism.htm
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