Zeng Guofan

In the 19th century, since the trade’s well development between Taiwan and Mainland China, many land owners and merchants became a powerful force in local society. Among others, Wufeng Lins was a well-known prominent family in Taichung city. The power of the politics, the army, the agriculture, and the trade had been made the Lins family flourished for more than a hundred years. The Lins also owned a large portion of lands in Taiwan, especially in the central regions. Historically, they even had more authority than the local government at the pinnacle time, due to their great local power and trade network. The article “Strongmen: The Lins and Rural Violence, 1839-1859,” the author Johanna Menzel Meskill was mainly discussed the social type and how the Lins got the power and rise. Economic strain and the different cultural value’s feuding led to a disordered society. Clan vendettas and the clear demarcation between different surname groups were the major factor to cause conflicts in the late 18th century and the early 19th century. The unstable society, plus the local government’s negligence and weakness, were also allowed “Strongmen” to rise. Such as the new arrival, the Lins family. In the article, Meskill narrated some Lin family members’ relation, and their characteristics and events that contributed the family of becoming “Strongmen”. Especially for Lin Wen-ch’a, Meskill had stressed Wen-ch’a from his childhood personalities and contributions in his later life…

There is no question that, throughout the history of China, there exists a trend of corruption which never quite seems to vanish, no matter what the Chairman at the time has tried in terms of combatting it. The issue came into primary focus in 1989 with anti-government demonstrations that forced the leadership to wage war against corruption, for fear of losing legitimacy as a party. And yet, corruption has not significantly decreased. With Xi Jinping’s announcement in 2012 that he would be…

Hong Xiuquan and his followers were able to capture many cities, but ultimately were defeated by the Qing Dynasty because his behaviours after proclaiming his dynasty made him lose the right to become a ruler. In 1860, the Taipings attempted to gain strength by taking Shanghai, but were defeated by the “Ever-Victorious Army” who were led and trained by western leaders. After deciding that Hong was a threat to business they allied with the Qing armies to fight with the Taipings. Because of his…

drastically. Dapend grew up in the village of Chiqiao located in northern China in Shanxi province. Dapeng 's writings were never published and without Harrison 's discovery Liu Dapeng may have faded away in history unrecognized. Through the analysis of Dapeng’s writings the reader is able to better understand China’s path to modernization and its inability to reach this path through the lens of a poor teacher also has failed to achieve prosperity. This primary account of Dapeng 's life Harrison…

have been the big wakeup call to the Qing dynasty. A rebellion led by the self proclaimed brother of Jesus was able to form an army of 20,000 troops unnoticed and then take over Nan Jing and hold power for approximately ten years should have been the last straw when it came for starting reform. But instead, content with their reliance on the European powers for what they thought would be indefinite military help as long as they had access to their trading ports, the Qing did nothing. Despite the…

One official of Qing Court reasoned that the practice of foreign military drill and enlargement of military supply were imperative, and the whole systems of both naval and military should change . As Jonathan Spence shows, the troops and officers of New Army accepted the drill, the khaki uniforms and the modern weaponry from both European and Japanese troops . Since 1850s, Zeng Guofan had already started to form a locally recruited army, which concentrated on the military efficiency and moral…

uprisings, the Qing government launched a series of reform initiatives in order to equalize China’s status with the West and to revitalize state power and economic wealth. It tried to accomplish something similar to what the Meiji Restoration accomplished in Japan – modernize their country in response to humiliating defeats against the West. The first and most notable revival effort was known as the Self-Strengthening Movement (1861-94). This military and political reform movement was a push to…

during Cixi’s time in power was that she began to reinforce Han governmental officials. Comparable to all emperors of the Qing Dynasty, Cixi had strong alert concerning Han officials, in particular the officials who controlled the military. However, considering the complete royal court, those Manchu royally princes and court ministers were incompetent, and superior with self-importance. Accordingly, in terms of employing of officials, Cixi was suspicious of Han and Manchu people and implemented…