Self Strengthening Movement 1894 vs Self Strengthening Movement 1894 vs. The Meiji Restoration 1868: Successful or a failure? Jabriel AlSuhaimi Jabriel AlSuhaimi

Introduction: China and Japan Both China and Japan went through major changes. China had the Self Strengthening Movement, while Japan had the Meiji Restoration. Both were different and were based differently. China on the one hand went backwards and based their changes on traditional Chinese values and Confucian ideas. The Japanese on the other hand went forward and used the influence the Europeans had on them and created a new, forward looking Japan with the aim of a rich nation with a strong army (“Enrich the country, strengthen the military”). What made the difference in the transformation of both countries were the attitudes they presented throughout their transformations. Jabriel AlSuhaimi

Contrasts: The people of the Reform Japan China The reformists changed Japan for Japan and didn’t use the nation as a stepping stone for their own success, fame and wealth. The reformists were already part of what was known as a high class, the Samurai class. All understood that European ideas was the way forward. The reformists were corrupt and usually used the gains of the nations for themselves. The men of the Self-Strengthening movement were scholars that weren’t exactly from any social class like Zuo Zongtang. Only Feng Guifen understood that the foreign ways were the way forward. “Use the barbarians to control the barbarians” Jabriel AlSuhaimi

Contrasts: Attitudes Japan China The leaders understood each other’s ideas and together brought forward a change. Focused on new ways and ideas to bring the country forward. Supported the influence of European ideas in Japan. It changed the country politically, economically, socially and militarily. Loyalty to the Emperor was vital and Shintoism became valued more the Buddhism. Finance was available and was used well by the reformists The leaders were divided on what way China should change. Focused on Confucian values Were against any sort of European ideas or intervention Lacked finance because of the corrupt leaders. Jabriel AlSuhaimi

Contrasts: The Foreigners Japan China “Use the barbarians to control the barbarians” All the reformists understood that foreign involvement and ideas was a way forward. Confucianism and building from within. Because of the effects of the Anglo-Opium wars and opium itself, China would rather build its country with traditional values. Only Feng Guifen supported the idea of using western ideas. Jabriel AlSuhaimi

Contrasts: Opposition to the leaders Japan China Little to no threatening opposition. Did not have the Europeans against them. Had many opposition groups. Still tried to fight the Europeans’ power and authority. Civil War. Jabriel AlSuhaimi

Similarities It could be said that even though the Chinese didn’t fully believe in Western ideas, both countries knew that to move forward they needed to conform to Western influence. Both believed in there own traditions, and that traditions should be maintained, even though the extents of keeping those traditions were different. Both armies improved greatly and became more modern. The Japanese army was a model of the German Army and the Chinese sent a few officers to Germany to learn about army tactics. Both countries understood that before the reforms, their countries’ were in a bad shape and that it needed change. Both countries considered their changes as restorations: The Japanese: Meiji The Chinese: Tongzhi Jabriel AlSuhaimi

Conclusion: The Successes of Japan If you were judging by which restoration or period of change was more successful to the development of the country, it would have to be the Meiji Restoration. The changes the Japanese took propelled the country into a world power and by the 1900s was considered a formidable power. The restoration also helped Japan lessen the chances of foreign intervention because of its “helplessness” and instead brought the economy of Japan to a new point. Japan’s industry evolved fast and proved to be successful like the inclusion of a modern postal system and the use of railways. The social changes that Japan underwent were also vital to the successes of the country. The change in clothes, laws and way of life changed the future of Japan. Especially the change in education which began to include western ideas and subjects like English, Mathematics, and Science. Politically, Japan changed as well, the government became centralized and it got rid of the dictatorship-like government of the Tokugawa. The military was modernized and became a power that was feared in Asia and then the world after Japan defeated Russia in the Ruso-Japanese war. Jabriel AlSuhaimi

Conclusion: Failures of China Even though China’s restoration process occurred around 20 years after Japan’s restoration, the Chinese refused to take Japan as an example for its own country, it was handicapped by the fact that it still thought it was the highest of all people in the world, especially in the region. Firstly, China failed to adopt western ideas into its new government, the leaders would rather have old Confucian laws that were based on calligraphy, philosophy, literature and art. Even though it did try to modernize the army. It failed to do so to the extent the Japanese had, and thus failed to win the war against the Japanese during the Sino-Japanese war. Also because of the corruption and the lack of organization between the leaders, the changes never actually took place. All the leaders of the Self-Strengthening movement were clashed with ideas and in the end the ideas were never implemented. Yet not all the failures were because of China’s lack of judgment. China also underwent a brutal civil war and also had many opposition groups against it, which made it incapable of actually changing thoroughly. Jabriel AlSuhaimi