Hundred Days' Reform - Beginning

Beginning

Guangxu (1875–1908), ordered a series of reforms aimed at making sweeping social and institutional changes. This was in response to weaknesses exposed by China's defeat by Japan in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894-5, not long after the First and Second Opium Wars; this blow came as a major shock to the Chinese, because Japan had been regarded as a tributary state, was much smaller than China, and was regarded as inferior. China also fought France in the Sino-French War. moreover, the defeat of China by Japan led to a scramble for 'privileges' in China by other foreign powers, notably the German Empire and Russia, further awakening the stubborn conservatives. Before the First Sino Japanese War, China engaged in technological modernization only, buying modern weapons, ships, artillery, and building modern arsenals to produce these weapons, and only giving their soldiers modern weapons without institutional reform, and while refusing to reform the government or civil society according to western standards, unlike Japan, who adopted western style government with a Parliament and completely reoganized the army on western lines.

With the help of certain senior officials of the Qing court, who were supporters of reform, Kang Youwei was permitted to speak with the Emperor, and his suggestions were enacted. Some of Kang's students were also given minor but strategic posts in the capital to assist with the reforms. Some essential preconditions of reform were:

• Modernizing the traditional exam system
• Elimination of sinecures (positions that provide little or no work but give a salary)
• Creation of a modern education system (studying math and science instead of focusing mainly on Confucian texts, etc.)
• Change the government from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy with democracy.
• Apply principles of capitalism to strengthen the economy.
• Completely change the military buildup to strengthen the military.
• Rapidly industrialize all of China through manufacturing, commerce, and capitalism.

The reformers declared that China needed more than "self-strengthening" and that innovation must be accompanied by institutional and ideological change.

The reason that conservatives like Prince Duan opposed the reformers, was that they suspected foreigners were behind the plot. He wanted to expel foreigners completely from China.

The conservatives were far from being opposed to modern technology. The conservatives brought in the Chinese Muslim Kansu Braves army to Beijing on their side, and it was armed with modern repeater rifles and artillery. Prince Tuan, who helped crush the hundred days reform, himself commanded modernized Manchu Bannermen Divisions.