Dynasties of ChinaQing dynastyQing dynasty lineage
Tongzhi · Reign 1861—1875
He ascended the throne at the age of six, and the curtains were drawn on the two palaces. During his reign, he pacified the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and established Westernization. It was known in history as "Tongzhi Zhongxing".
Zai Chun was the only grown-up son of Emperor Xianfeng, and his biological mother was Yehenala, the imperial concubine Yi, later known as Cixitaihou. Emperor Xianfeng died of illness in Rehe in 1861. Six-year-old Zai Chun ascended the throne, assisted by eight ministers, and the reign name was planned to be "Qixiang". In the same year, the Queen Mother of the two palaces and Prince Gong Yi Xin launched the Xinyou Coup, executed Su Shun and others, and changed the Yuan Dynasty to Tongzhi. The pattern of the two palaces listening to politics behind the curtain and Yi Xin discussing politics began.
During the Tongzhi period, the Qing government re-appointed Han governors such as Ceng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, and Zuo Zongtang. They captured Tianjing in 1864, then pacified the Nian army, and sent troops to Shaanxi and Gansu. The situation was once stable. The central government took the Prime Minister's Office as the hub, and local governors took "self-improvement" as their call to action, established military-industrial enterprises, new schools, and sent overseas students. This was known in history as the "Tongzhi Zhongxing." In 1873, Zai Chun took office. However, he was greedy for pleasure and insisted on rebuilding the Old Summer Palace. However, Yi Xin and other ministers strongly advised him to stop the construction. Zai Chun died of illness at the beginning of 1875. He was only nineteen years old and had no children. He was succeeded by his cousin Zai Dan.
During Zaichun's fourteen-year reign, most of the time, the empress dowagers of the two palaces managed the affairs behind the curtain. The achievements of "Tongzhi Zhongxing" were mainly attributed to Cixitaihou, Yi Xin, Ceng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang and others. During this period, the Qing dynasty quelled civil strife and launched the Westernization Movement with the goal of self-improvement. However, the reforms were limited to the artifact level, and the power of local governors was also increasing. Zaichun's time in charge was very short and he failed to make any achievements.
PoliticsXinyou coup
After the death of Emperor Xianfeng, the queen mothers of the two palaces and the eight ministers competed for power. When the coffin returned to Beijing, Cixitaihou, together with Ciantaihou and Prince Gong Yixin, launched a coup. Su Shun was executed, and Shi Zaiyuan and Duanhua committed suicide. The reign name was changed from Qixiang to Tongzhi, and the two palaces listened behind the curtain.
Science & technologyAnqing Ordnance Institute
After the Hunan Army captured Anqing, Ceng Guofan set up the Ordnance Institute in Anqing and hired Xu Shou, Hua Hengfang and others to trial-produce guns, ammunition and steam engines entirely by the Chinese. Later, China's first self-made wooden steamship "Huanghu" was built in Nanjing.
CultureFounded Jingshi Tongwen Museum
Yi Xin and others set up the Capital Tongwen School, which initially trained English, French, and Russian translators. Later, they added the Astronomy and Arithmetic School and hired foreign teachers to teach Western learning. It was the first new government-run school in China.
Lasting legacyIn 1902, Tongwen Museum was merged into the Capital University, the predecessor of Peking University.
MilitaryFall of Tianjing
Hong Xiuquan died of illness in June. In July, Zeng Guoquan's troops of the Hunan Army dug tunnels to blow down the city wall, broke into Tianjing, and burned and massacred. The Taiping Rebellion failed. After that, the Qing army successively put down the uprisings of the Nian Army and the Hui people in the northwest.
Science & technologyFounded Jiangnan Manufacturing Administration
Ceng Guofan and Li Hongzhang founded the Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing Administration in Shanghai to manufacture guns, ammunition and ships. In 1868, the first warship "Tianji" was built. In the same year, a translation center was set up to systematically translate Western science and technology books.
Lasting legacyIts shipbuilding part later developed independently, now Jiangnan Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd., with 1865 as the year of its founding.
Science & technologyEstablished Fuzhou Shipping Administration
Zuo Zongtang, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, established the Fuzhou Shipping Bureau. Shen Baozhen was appointed as the Shipping Minister. He hired Frenchmen such as Japan and Italy to supervise the technology. At the same time, he opened a shipping school to cultivate shipbuilding and driving talents.
Lasting legacyThe shipbuilding site in Mawei, Fuzhou now houses the China Shipbuilding Culture Museum; the shipbuilding school trained modern celebrities such as Yan Fu, Deng Shichang, and Sa Zhenbing.
DiplomacyTianjin lesson plans
There is a widespread rumor among the people in Tianjin that the church abducted and mutilated young children in the nursery. The French consul shot and wounded someone during a conflict with the people and was later killed. The people burned the church and killed 20 foreigners including nuns and priests. Ceng Guofan was ordered to investigate and prosecute, and dozens of people were executed or exiled. He was accused by public opinion of being a foreigner.
CultureThe first batch of young children studying in the United States
With the initiative of Rong Hong and the support of Ceng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, the first batch of thirty children set out from Shanghai to study in the United States. By 1875, a total of four batches of one hundred and twenty people were sent. In 1881, the study abroad plan failed midway and the young children were recalled, among whom Zhan Tianyou, Tang Shaoyi and others came out.
EconomyEstablishment of steamship investment promotion bureau
Li Hongzhang's petition approved the establishment of a steamship investment promotion bureau, recruiting merchant stocks, government supervision of commercial offices, operating coastal and Yangtze River shipping, and competing with foreign shipping companies for profits. This marked the expansion of the Westernization Movement from "seeking strength" to "seeking wealth."
Lasting legacyChina Merchants continues to this day as China Merchants Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is one of the oldest national enterprises in China.
PoliticsPro-government and early death
In 1873, Zai Chun took charge of the government and allowed them to bow instead of kneel when meeting ministers from various countries. He insisted on rebuilding the Old Summer Palace, but work was stopped in 1874 due to lack of financial resources and opposition from ministers. He died of illness in early 1875. The Qing palace pulse case was recorded as smallpox, and there was also a theory of syphilis among the people.
Niu Hulu, Emperor Xianfeng and Empress. Together with Cixitaihou, he launched the Xinyou coup and listened to the government behind the curtain. He had a generous personality and rarely interfered with specific government affairs. He died suddenly of illness in 1881.
After the Xinyou coup, he was awarded the title of political king. He led the military aircraft, presided over the Prime Minister's Yamen, and promoted the establishment of Tongwen Guan and Westernization in the central government. He was a core figure in the Tongzhi ZTE. In 1865, he was dismissed from the title of political king by Cixitaihou.
In 1864, he led the Hunan army to conquer Tianjing and was granted the title of First-Class Yiyong Marquis. After the war, he abolished the Hunan Army, advocated the establishment of Westernization, established the Anqing Ordnance Institute, participated in the preparation of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, and petitioned to send young children to study in the United States. In 1870, he handled the Tianjin religious case and his reputation was damaged.
A native of Hefei, Anhui, and a disciple of Ceng Guofan, he formed the Huai Army, fought against the Taiping Army in Shanghai, and later suppressed the Nian Army. In 1870, he served as Governor of Zhili and Minister of Commerce of Beiyang. He presided over the establishment of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Administration, the Steamship Investment Promotion Bureau, etc., and gradually became the leader of the Westernization Movement.
A native of Xiangshan, Guangdong, he graduated from Yale University in 1854 and was the first Chinese student to graduate from an American university. He suggested to Ceng Guofan to send young children to study abroad, and personally led the young children studying in the United States to the United States.