Modern China Research Paper

Both Japan and China sought inspiration and influence from the Western World; specifically the mighty powers of Great Britain, France, Germany and the United States of America. In Japan, the Meiji Restoration acted as a catalyst for modernization. The feudal system was abolished and the creation of a new modern state had begun. China on the other hand, was reluctant to accept the idea of modernization; it feared losing its traditional culture by inviting ideologies brought by the Western world. While it is evident that throughout the 20th century that Japan rose above China in politics, economics, conquest and developing patriotism, it is what was invisible to the eye, the establishment of centralized power, that created this gap in modernization. The idea of …show more content…
Even though China was experiencing a corrupt bureaucracy, economic failure and the beginnings of rebellions, the idea of modernization was too radical be taken seriously. However, by rejecting the concept of modernization China would inject itself into an endless battle in defending its nationalism. China could not fight against the foreign establishment of colonies without implementing westernized policies to industrialize the nation. It was not until China realized the need for centralized power that modernization had become possible, but not yet attainable as the 1911 revolution would unite part of the country and leave the rest divided. We see two key figures emerge from the revolution; Yun Shikai the military leader and Sun Yat Sun the founder of the republic, the Kuomintang. The authoritative power in China appeared to have been centralized post revolution yet the split between militarial power and political power caused tension within the government though not as much as the tension