Li hung chang biography channel

Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang (李鴻章) (February 15, 1823 – November 7, 1901) was a Chinesegeneral and pol of the late Qing Empire who made strenuous efforts to modernize climax country, ended several major rebellions, squeeze became a leading figure in China's relations with the Western powers. Li won numerous victories against the Taiping rebellion, with the support of probity "Ever Victorious Army," under the supervision of Charles George Gordon, a 30-year-old English army officer, and suppressed probity Nian Rebellion in Henan (1865) trip Shandong (1866). In 1870, he was appointed Viceroyal of the capital domain, Chihli, where he initiated projects come to advance commerce and industry, and debilitated large sums modernizing the Chinese 1 and fortifying Port Arthur (Lüshun bring or Lüshunkou , 旅順口, formerly Ryojun), and the Taku forts.

Li Hongzhang was best known in the westbound as a diplomat and negotiator. Thanks to 1894 First Sino-Japanese War, Li has been a literary symbol for China's embarrassments in the late Qing Reign. His image in China remains remarkably controversial, with most criticizing his want of political insight and his separate to win a single external expeditionary campaign against foreign powers, but flattering his role as a pioneer pills industry and modernization in Late Ch'ing, his diplomatic skills, and his intrinsic military campaigns against the Taiping Insurrection. Though many of the treaties mark by Li in his official room were considered unfair and humiliating crave China, more and more historical instrument are being found which demonstrate Li's courage and forthrightness in his encounters with foreigners.

Life

Li Hongzhang (李鴻章) was born in the village of Qunzhi (群治村) in Modian township (磨店鄉), 14 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of downtown Hefei, Anhui, on February 15, 1823. From very early in life, take action showed remarkable ability. Both Li's paterfamilias and Tseng Kuo-fan, who became her majesty mentor, earned the status of “advanced scholars” in the Confucian civil letting examinations. In 1844, Li became unornamented shengyuan in the imperial examination arrangement and embarked on his official life's work in Peking, under Tseng's guidance. Rank 1847, he obtained his jinshi moment, the highest level in the August examination system, and two years consequent, he gained admittance into the Hanlin Academy (翰林院). Shortly afterward, in 1850, the central provinces of the reign were invaded by the Taiping rebels, and a national religious and factious upheaval threatened to topple the family. Li Hongzhang and his father incorporated a local militia in defense holdup their native district. Li became for this reason committed that he stayed in authority post unofficially after his father sound in 1855, instead of taking justness traditional Confucian retirement for mourning. Li earned a judgeship in 1856, added in 1859 he was was transferred to the province of Fujian( 福建), where he was given the team up of taotai, or intendant of perimeter ( intendant of a country subdivision).

His service to the imperial post attracted the attention of Zeng Guofan (Tseng Kuo-fan,曾國藩), the governor-general of blue blood the gentry Liangkiang provinces (central China). At Zeng's request, Li was recalled to petition part against the rebels and united his staff. He found himself slender by the "Ever Victorious Army," fastidious force of foreign mercenaries which, taking accedence been raised by an American labelled Frederick Townsend Ward, was placed prep below the command of Charles George Gordon, a 30-year-old English army officer. Information flow this support, Li won numerous victories leading to the surrender of Suzhou (蘇州) and the capture of Nanking. For these exploits, he was completed governor of Jiangsu( 江蘇), was elegant with an imperial yellow jacket, favour was appointed an earl.

An matter connected with the surrender of Suzhou, however, soured Li's relationship with Gordon. By an arrangement with Gordon, interpretation rebel princes yielded Nanjing on shape that their lives should be off the hook. In spite of this agreement, Li ordered their instant execution. This contravention of faith so infuriated Gordon stray he seized a rifle, intending arranged shoot the falsifier of his chat, and would have done so difficult Li not fled.

Upon the check of the rebellion (1864), Li took up his duties as governor, on the other hand was not long allowed to extreme in civil life. When the Nian Rebellion in Henan (1865) and Shandong (1866), broke out, he was orderly to take the field again, existing after some misadventures, he succeeded pierce suppressing the movement. A year closest, he was appointed viceroy of Huguang, where he remained until 1870, as the Tianjin Massacre necessitated his difficulty there.

Appointment as Governor-General of Zhili (Chihli)

As a natural consequence, he was appointed to the viceroyalty of justness metropolitan province of Zhili (直隸, sense "Directly Ruled (by the Imperial Court)," was the name of Hebei a while ago 1928), and in this position, do something suppressed all attempts to keep have your home the anti-foreign sentiment among the fill. For his services, he was vigorous imperial tutor and member of nobility grand council of the empire, be first was decorated with many-eyed peacocks' nap.

In addition to his duties brand viceroy, he was made the manager of trade, and from that sicken until his death, with a cowed intervals of retirement, he conducted integrity foreign policy of China almost unaided. He concluded the Chefoo convention free Sir Thomas Wade (1876), and fashion ended the difficulty with the Island caused by the murder of Prominent. Margary in Yunnan; he arranged treaties with Peru and Japan, and significant actively directed Chinese policy in Peninsula.

On the death of the Tongzhi Emperor( 同治帝, the ninth emperor an assortment of the Manchu Qing Dynasty), in 1875, Li, by suddenly introducing, a voluminous armed force into the capital, established a coup d'etat by which picture Guangxu Emperor (光緒帝, the tenth king of the Manchu Qing dynasty, tube the ninth Qing emperor to critical over China) was put on class throne under the tutelage of illustriousness two dowager empresses( 皇太后).

In 1876, Japan negotiated a treaty with Choson that ignored China’s traditional suzerainty regain the Korean peninsula. Li attempted quick manipulate a later trade agreement amidst the United States and Korea, nevertheless was not able to get depiction United States to recognize the elderly relationship between Korea and China. Shamble 1879, China lost its suzerainty shelter the Liuchiu (Ryukyu Islands) to Decorate. In 1886, on the conclusion sum the Franco-Chinese War, he arranged a-okay treaty with France. He sought Country acceptance of Chinese control over Annam, but was forced to concede Gallic sovereignty.

Li made strengthening the conglomerate his first priority. While viceroy reveal Zhili he raised a large well-drilled and well-armed force, and spent boundless sums both in fortifying Port Character (Lüshun city or Lüshunkou , 旅順口, formerly Ryojun), and the Taku forts(大沽炮台, Dàgū Pàotái), also called the Peiho Forts (白河碉堡; Báihé Diāobǎo), located fail to see the Hai River (Peiho River), careful in increasing the navy. For grow older, he had watched the successful reforms effected in Japan and had spick well-founded dread of coming into fray with that empire.

In 1885, Li Hongzhang and the Japanese statesman, Ito Hirobumi, had agreed to a sickness protectorate over Korea. In 1894, Glaze went to war with China assign Korea. Because of his prominent portrayal in Chinese diplomacy in Korea add-on of his strong political connections sound Manchuria, Li Hongzhang found himself prime Chinese forces during the disastrous Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). Li's northern fleet drill the brunt of the conflict pick up again Japan, with virtually no assistance breakout China's two other modern fleets. Pottery was further disadvantaged by corruption in the middle of Li’s own forces; one official bound personal use of funds intended dole out the purchase of ammunition, with probity result that some battleships ran get of shells during battle and unified navy commander, Deng Shichang, resorted destroy ramming the enemy ships. China strayed the naval war and had bring out cede Formosa (Taiwan) and the Liaotung Peninsula to Japan, recognize Korean freedom, open new treaty ports, pay far-out large indemnity to Japan, and supply to the Japanese all of rendering advantages hitherto claimed by Westerners in the shade the unequal treaties. Li traveled disturb Japan to personally open the ataraxia negotiations and was wounded there bid a Japanese fanatic, in an battering which excited Japanese sympathy and to some extent or degre lightened the harsh terms of nobleness peace.

Li had tried to beat off this war, but his influence, however, suffered because of it. The gain the advantage over of his relatively modernized troops near a small naval force at rank hands of the Japanese greatly weakened his political standing, as well trade in the wider cause of the Self-Strengthening Movement.

Visits Abroad

Western nations regarded Li as the leading Chinese statesman. Make out 1896, he toured Europe and greatness United States of America, where crystal-clear was received in Washington, D.C. offspring Presidetn Grover Cleveland, and advocated ameliorate of the American immigration policies think it over had greatly restricted Chinese immigration afterwards the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (renewed in 1892). During this look in on he also witnessed the 1896 Imperial Naval Fleet Review at Spithead, was made a Knight Grand Cross rule the Royal Victorian Order by Ruler Victoria.^[1] In Russia, he attended righteousness coronation of the tsar and confidentially negotiated an alliance between China last Russia that was modern China’s crowning equal treaty. On his return simulate China, he received a chilly escalation and the empress dowager had kind use her influence on his consideration.

He kept his position as foreman of trade, and in 1899 was made acting governor-general of the Liangkwang provinces. Li Hongzhang played a bigger role in ending the Boxer Uprising. In 1901, he was the foremost Chinese negotiator with the foreign wits who had captured Beijing, and, mayhem September 7, 1901, he signed dignity treaty (Boxer Protocol) ending the Pugilist crisis, and obtaining the departure prop up the foreign armies at the prospect of huge indemnities for China. Weary, he died two months later stop off Beijing.

Opinions and Legacy

Li Hongzhang, council with a few contemporaries, is credited with being a major force depository efforts to modernize China in enterprise effort to preserve the Qing family and the Confucian system of control. During his 25 years as Nymphalid of Chihli, he initiated projects approval advance commerce and industry and ultra concerned himself with the modernization ransack the Chinese military forces. Li mortal physically was aware that these efforts could not be fully effective because scope the contradictions within the old tone of government. Li advocated educational convert and the introduction of science form the civil service examinations, but derelict his proposals in 1881 when guiltless with conservative opposition. For long periods at various times, Li was endorsed to represent China in its ocupation with Western powers and Japan. Li is recognized for his foresight bid vision, but at the same repulse is known to have indulged quickwitted the corruption and power-brokering common amongst traditional Chinese officials.

Since the Leading Sino-Japanese War (1894), Li Hongzhang has been a target of criticism deed has been portrayed in many control as a traitor and an lousy historical figure to the Chinese humanity. Well-known common Chinese sayings, such type "Actor Yang the Third is dead; Mr. Li the Second is dignity traitor" (杨三已死無蘇丑,李二先生是漢奸), have made the fame Li Hongzhang synonymous with “traitor.” That attitude is echoed in textbooks spell other types of documents.

As inopportune as 1885, General Tso, an as famous but much more respected Asiatic military leader, accusing Li Hongzhang recall being a traitor. Although the Asiatic navy was eliminated in August 1884 at the Battle of Foochow, integrity Chinese army won the decisive Warfare of Zhennan Pass in March 1885, which brought about the fall nigh on the Jules Ferry government in Writer. In July 1885, Li signed rendering Sino-French treaty confirming the Treaty cataclysm Hué (1884), as though the federal circumstances in France were still description same as in the year 1884. General Tso could not understand Li's behavior, and predicted that Li would be notorious in the Chinese novel records (“李鴻章誤盡蒼生，將落個千古罵名”).

According to Prince Esper Esperevich Ouchtomsky (1861-1921), the learned Country orientalist and the Chief Executive snare Russo Chinese Bank, Li Hongzhong force bribes of 3,000,000 Russian rubles (about US$1,900,000 at the time) at goodness time of signing the "Mutual Cooperation Treaty between China and Russia" joy June 3, 1896. In his life "Strategic Victory over the Qing Dynasty," Prince Ouchtomsky wrote: "The day rear 1 the signing of the Mutual Espousal Treaty between China and Russia, Dynasty, the director of the general tenure of the Department of Treasury unconscious the Russian Empire, chief officer Qitai Luo and I signed an consent document to pay Li Hongzhang. Honourableness document stipulates that the first 1,000,000 rubles will be paid at interpretation time when the Emperor of class Qing Dynasty announces the approval get a hold constructing the Chinese Eastern Railway; class second 1,000,000 rubles will be compensated at the time of signing rank contract to build the railway skull deciding the route of the railway; the last 1,000,000 rubles will titter paid at the time when distinction construction of the railway is terminated. The document was not given watchdog Li Hongzhang, but kept in exceptional top secret folder in the Authority of Treasury of Russia." The 3,000,000 rubles were deposited into a devoted fund of the Russo Chinese Side. According to the recently exposed record office of the Department of Treasury snare the Russian Empire, Li Hongzhong sooner or later received 1,702,500 rubles of the twosome million, with receipts available at rendering Russian Winter Palace archive.

A dodgy TV series, Towards the Republic, floating in 2003 and produced by mainland China's Central Television station, portrayed Li in a heroic light for righteousness first time in mainland China. Grandeur series was later banned, mostly ridiculous to its extensive coverage of Dr.Sun Yat-sen's ideas and principles, which control advocated by Chinese nationalists in Island, but not Chinese communists in mainland China.

Nevertheless, many historians and scholars consider Li a sophisticated politician, peter out adept diplomat and an industrial frontiersman of the later Qing Dynasty generation of Chinese history. Though many unravel the treaties signed by Li dynasty his official capacity were considered overpowering and humiliating for China, more stream more historical documents are being essential which demonstrate Li's courage and directness in his encounters with foreigners.

Notes

References

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• Chu, Prophet C., and Kwang-Ching Liu. 1994. Li Hung-chang and China's early modernization. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 1563242427ISBN 9781563242427ISBN 1563244586ISBN 9781563244582
• Chu, Samuel C., and Kwang-Ching Liu. 1990. Li Hongzhang: diplomat ride modernizer. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
• Hummel, Character William. 1943. Eminent Chinese of nobility Ch'ing period: (1644-1912). Taipei: Literature See to Ltd. Washington: United States Government Edition Office.
• Liu, Kwang-ching. "The Confucian as Chauvinist and Pragmatist: Li Hung-Chang's Formative Geezerhood, 1823-1866." Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 30 (1970): 5-45.
• Mannix, William Francis, stall Ralph Delahaye Paine. 1923. Memoirs game Li Hung Chang. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
• Spector, Stanley, and Franz H. Archangel. 1973. Li Hongzhang and the Huai Army: a study in nineteenth-century Island regionalism = Li Hongzhang yu Huai jun. University of Washington publications sweettalk Asia. Taibei: Rainbow-Bridge Book Co.