Li hong zhang biography

Li Hongzhang 李鴻章
In office 1871 – 1895
Preceded by	Zeng Guofan
Succeeded by	Wang Wenzhao
In office 1900 – 1901
Preceded by	Yu Lu
Succeeded by	Yuan Shikai
Born	February 15 1823(1823-02-15) Hefei, Anhui, China
Died	November 7 1901 (aged 78) Beijing, China

Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang (李鴻章) (February 15, 1823 – November 7, 1901) was a Chinesegeneral person in charge statesman of the late Dynasty Empire who made strenuous efforts to modernize his country, introverted several major rebellions, and became a leading figure in China's relations with the Western capabilities.

Li won numerous victories admit the Taiping rebellion, with honourableness support of the "Ever Winning Army," under the command show consideration for Charles George Gordon, a 30-year-old English army officer, and unreleased the Nian Rebellion in Henan (1865) and Shandong (1866). Girder 1870, he was appointed Viceroyal of the capital province, Chihli, where he initiated projects show advance commerce and industry, gleam spent large sums modernizing leadership Chinese navy and fortifying Acquiesce Arthur (Lüshun city or Lüshunkou , 旅順口, formerly Ryojun), extremity the Taku forts.

Li Hongzhang was best known in class west as a diplomat skull negotiator. Since 1894 First Sino-Japanese War, Li has been splendid literary symbol for China's embarrassments in the late Qing Tribe. His image in China remainder largely controversial, with most ill-humoured his lack of political astuteness and his failure to come in a single external military push against foreign powers, but civil his role as a frontiersman of industry and modernization consign Late Qing, his diplomatic faculties, and his internal military campaigns against the Taiping Rebellion.

Despite the fact that many of the treaties unmixed by Li in his authentic capacity were considered unfair fairy story humiliating for China, more avoid more historical documents are entity found which demonstrate Li's have the nerve and forthrightness in his encounters with foreigners.

Life

Li Hongzhang (李鴻章) was born in the close by of Qunzhi (群治村) in Modian township (磨店鄉), 14 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of downtown Hefei, Anhui, on February 15, 1823.

From very early in believable, he showed remarkable ability. Both Li's father and Tseng Kuo-fan, who became his mentor, fair the status of “advanced scholars” in the Confucian civil instigate examinations. In 1844, Li became a shengyuan in the dignified examination system and embarked identify his official career in Peking, under Tseng's guidance.

In 1847, he obtained his jinshi class, the highest level in grandeur Imperial examination system, and flash years later, he gained permission to enter into the Hanlin Academy (翰林院). Shortly afterward, in 1850, rendering central provinces of the hegemony were invaded by the Taiping rebels, and a national idealistic and political upheaval threatened adopt topple the dynasty.

Li Hongzhang and his father organized well-organized local militia in defense flash their native district. Li became so committed that he stayed in his post unofficially care his father died in 1855, instead of taking the stock Confucian retirement for mourning. Li earned a judgeship in 1856, and in 1859 he was was transferred to the state of Fujian( 福建), where put your feet up was given the rank break into taotai, or intendant of order ( intendant of a land subdivision).

His service to description imperial cause attracted the attend to of Zeng Guofan (Tseng Kuo-fan,曾國藩), the governor-general of the Liangkiang provinces (central China). At Zeng's request, Li was recalled hold down take part against the rebels and joined his staff. Without fear found himself supported by probity "Ever Victorious Army," a insensitively of foreign mercenaries which, securing been raised by an Land named Frederick Townsend Ward, was placed under the command be alarmed about Charles George Gordon, a 30-year-old English army officer.

With that support, Li won numerous victories leading to the surrender hill Suzhou (蘇州) and the identify of Nanjing. For these concerns, he was made governor marketplace Jiangsu( 江蘇), was decorated walkout an imperial yellow jacket, abide was appointed an earl.

An incident connected with the give up of Suzhou, however, soured Li's relationship with Gordon.

By entail arrangement with Gordon, the riot princes yielded Nanjing on advocate that their lives should credit to spared. In spite of that agreement, Li ordered their intention execution. This breach of trust so infuriated Gordon that fiasco seized a rifle, intending analysis shoot the falsifier of rulership word, and would have make sure of so had Li not down in the dumps.

Upon the suppression of honourableness rebellion (1864), Li took stop up his duties as governor, nevertheless was not long allowed pact remain in civil life. During the time that the Nian Rebellion in Henan (1865) and Shandong (1866), povertystricken out, he was ordered tender take the field again, innermost after some misadventures, he succeeded in suppressing the movement.

Marvellous year later, he was adapted viceroy of Huguang, where noteworthy remained until 1870, when picture Tianjin Massacre necessitated his cut there.

Appointment as Governor-General staff Zhili (Chihli)

As a natural upshot, he was appointed to interpretation viceroyalty of the metropolitan fast of Zhili (直隸, meaning "Directly Ruled (by the Imperial Court)," was the name of Hopeh before 1928), and in that position, he suppressed all attempts to keep alive the anti-foreign sentiment among the people.

Make his services, he was imposture imperial tutor and member make acquainted the grand council of representation empire, and was decorated give up many-eyed peacocks' feathers.

In adjoining to his duties as vicereine, he was made the executive of trade, and from saunter time until his death, colleague a few intervals of waste, he conducted the foreign custom of China almost single-handedly.

Proceed concluded the Chefoo convention operate Sir Thomas Wade (1876), add-on thus ended the difficulty get a feel for the British caused by primacy murder of Mr. Margary bill Yunnan; he arranged treaties second-hand goods Peru and Japan, and forbidden actively directed Chinese policy inferior Korea.

On the death line of attack the Tongzhi Emperor( 同治帝, nobleness ninth emperor of the Tungusic Qing Dynasty), in 1875, Li, by suddenly introducing, a hefty armed force into the ready, effected a coup d'etat wedge which the Guangxu Emperor (光緒帝, the tenth emperor of rendering Manchu Qing dynasty, and ethics ninth Qing emperor to edict over China) was put overshadow the throne under the charge of the two dowager empresses( 皇太后).

In 1876, Japan negotiated a treaty with Korea ditch ignored China’s traditional suzerainty work the Korean peninsula. Li attempted to manipulate a later appointment agreement between the United States and Korea, but was weep able to get the Leagued States to recognize the shoulder relationship between Korea and Spouse. In 1879, China lost tight suzerainty over the Liuchiu (Ryukyu Islands) to Japan.

In 1886, on the conclusion of say publicly Franco-Chinese War, he arranged expert treaty with France. He necessary French acceptance of Chinese grab hold of over Annam, but was minimum to concede French sovereignty.

Li made strengthening the empire top first priority. While viceroy conjure Zhili he raised a full well-drilled and well-armed force, see spent vast sums both in bad taste fortifying Port Arthur (Lüshun sweep or Lüshunkou , 旅順口, before Ryojun), and the Taku forts(大沽炮台, Dàgū Pàotái), also called rank Peiho Forts (白河碉堡; Báihé Diāobǎo), located by the Hai Streamlet (Peiho River), and in escalating the navy.

For years, sharp-tasting had watched the successful reforms effected in Japan and locked away a well-founded dread of bud into conflict with that conglomerate.

In 1885, Li Hongzhang pole the Japanese statesman, Ito Hirobumi, had agreed to a bedlam protectorate over Korea. In 1894, Japan went to war fitting China over Korea. Because well his prominent role in Sinitic diplomacy in Korea and conduct operations his strong political connections thump Manchuria, Li Hongzhang found human being leading Chinese forces during significance disastrous Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895).

Li's northern fleet bore the shock of the conflict with Glaze, with virtually no assistance deviate China's two other modern fleets. China was further disadvantaged saturate corruption among Li’s own forces; one official made personal occupy of funds intended for primacy purchase of ammunition, with character result that some battleships ran out of shells during combat and one navy commander, Deng Shichang, resorted to ramming depiction enemy ships.

China lost illustriousness naval war and had preempt cede Formosa (Taiwan) and nobleness Liaotung Peninsula to Japan, recall Korean independence, open new pulsation ports, pay a large atonement to Japan, and grant run the Japanese all of honourableness advantages hitherto claimed by Westerners under the unequal treaties. Li traveled to Japan to by oneself open the peace negotiations charge was wounded there by keen Japanese fanatic, in an methodology which excited Japanese sympathy boss somewhat lightened the harsh cost of the peace.

Li abstruse tried to avoid this bloodshed, but his influence, nonetheless, reception because of it. The be victorious over of his relatively modernized horde and a small naval operating at the hands of grandeur Japanese greatly undermined his civil standing, as well as magnanimity wider cause of the Self-Strengthening Movement.

Visits Abroad

Western nations said Li as the leading Asian statesman.

In 1896, he toured Europe and the United States of America, where he was received in Washington, D.C. encourage Presidetn Grover Cleveland, and advocated reform of the American in-migration policies that had greatly fixed Chinese immigration after the Asian Exclusion Act of 1882 (renewed in 1892). During this come again he also witnessed the 1896 Royal Naval Fleet Review at the same height Spithead, was made a Horse Grand Cross of the Imperial Victorian Order by Queen Victoria.^[1] In Russia, he attended primacy coronation of the tsar direct secretly negotiated an alliance halfway China and Russia that was modern China’s first equal sympathy.

On his return to Dishware, he received a chilly thanks and the empress dowager challenging to use her influence have a hold over his behalf.

He kept queen position as superintendent of go backward, and in 1899 was plain acting governor-general of the Liangkwang provinces. Li Hongzhang played spruce major role in ending honourableness Boxer Rebellion.

In 1901, of course was the principal Chinese intermediary with the foreign powers who had captured Beijing, and, exoneration September 7, 1901, he subscribed the treaty (Boxer Protocol) immortal the Boxer crisis, and abiding the departure of the bizarre armies at the price delightful huge indemnities for China. Debilitated, he died two months succeeding in Beijing.

Opinions and Legacy

Li Hongzhang, along with a scarcely any contemporaries, is credited with make the first move a major force behind efforts to modernize China in forceful effort to preserve the Dynasty dynasty and the Confucian organization of government. During his 25 years as Viceroy of Chihli, he initiated projects to get behind commerce and industry and largely concerned himself with the improvement of the Chinese military bolstering.

Li himself was aware stroll these efforts could not live fully effective because of loftiness contradictions within the old usage of government. Li advocated illuminating reform and the introduction check science into the civil unit examinations, but dropped his technique in 1881 when faced give up your job conservative opposition. For long periods at various times, Li was empowered to represent China teeny weeny its dealings with Western capabilities and Japan.

Li is acknowledged for his foresight and sight, but at the same crux is known to have privileged in the corruption and power-brokering common among traditional Chinese ministry.

Since the First Sino-Japanese Enmity (1894), Li Hongzhang has bent a target of criticism ray has been portrayed in innumerable ways as a traitor nearby an infamous historical figure hint at the Chinese people.

Well-known popular Chinese sayings, such as "Actor Yang the Third is dead; Mr. Li the Second abridge the traitor" (杨三已死無蘇丑,李二先生是漢奸), have prefab the name Li Hongzhang identical with “traitor.” This attitude decline echoed in textbooks and overpower types of documents.

As inauspicious as 1885, General Tso, high-rise equally famous but much restore respected Chinese military leader, accusatory Li Hongzhang of being orderly traitor.

Although the Chinese 1 was eliminated in August 1884 at the Battle of Foochow, the Chinese army won influence decisive Battle of Zhennan Decipher in March 1885, which disarmed about the fall of honourableness Jules Ferry government in Author. In July 1885, Li autographed the Sino-French treaty confirming significance Treaty of Hué (1884), kind though the political circumstances conduct yourself France were still the very much as in the year 1884.

General Tso could not keep an eye on Li's behavior, and predicted turn Li would be notorious fit in the Chinese history records (“李鴻章誤盡蒼生，將落個千古罵名”).

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According to Prince Esper Esperevich Ouchtomsky (1861-1921), the knowledgeable Russian orientalist and the Principal Executive of Russo Chinese Rut, Li Hongzhong accepted bribes deal in 3,000,000 Russian rubles (about US$1,900,000 at the time) at ethics time of signing the "Mutual Defense Treaty between China come first Russia" on June 3, 1896.

In his memoir "Strategic Achievement over the Qing Dynasty," King Ouchtomsky wrote: "The day funds the signing of the Communal Defense Treaty between China submit Russia, Romanov, the director invite the general office of ethics Department of Treasury of greatness Russian Empire, chief officer Qitai Luo and I signed apartment building agreement document to pay Li Hongzhang.

The document stipulates lapse the first 1,000,000 rubles option be paid at the sicken when the Emperor of high-mindedness Qing Dynasty announces the merriment of constructing the Chinese Adapt Railway; the second 1,000,000 rubles will be paid at goodness time of signing the occupational to build the railway perch deciding the route of greatness railway; the last 1,000,000 rubles will be paid at excellence time when the construction decay the railway is finished.

Position document was not given jump in before Li Hongzhang, but kept up-to-date a top secret folder spiky the Department of Treasury exercise Russia." The 3,000,000 rubles were deposited into a dedicated subsidize countersign of the Russo Chinese Periphery. According to the recently made manifest records of the Department depose Treasury of the Russian Control, Li Hongzhong eventually received 1,702,500 rubles of the three trillion, with receipts available at excellence Russian Winter Palace archive.

A controversial TV series, Towards leadership Republic, released in 2003 pivotal produced by mainland China's Vital Television station, portrayed Li condemn a heroic light for say publicly first time in mainland Cock. The series was later prohibited, mostly due to its lenghty coverage of Dr.Sun Yat-sen's essence and principles, which are advocated by Chinese nationalists in China, but not Chinese communists bargain mainland China.

Nevertheless, many historians and scholars consider Li exceptional sophisticated politician, an adept deputy and an industrial pioneer avail yourself of the later Qing Dynasty stage of Chinese history. Though assorted of the treaties signed infant Li in his official warrant were considered unfair and devastating for China, more and spare historical documents are being misjudge which demonstrate Li's courage delighted forthrightness in his encounters append foreigners.

Political offices
Preceded by: Zeng Guofan	Acting Viceroy of Liangjiang 1865–1866	Succeeded by: Zeng Guofan
Preceded by: Guan Wen	Viceroy of Huguang 1867–1870	Succeeded by: Li Hanzhang
Preceded by: Zeng Guofan	Viceroy of Zhili put forward Minister of Beiyang (1st time) 1871—1895	Succeeded by: Wang Wenzhao
Preceded by: Tan Zhonglin	Viceroy of Liangguang 1899─1900	Succeeded by: Tao Mo
Preceded by: Yu Lu	Viceroy of Zhili challenging Minister of Beiyang (2nd time) 1900—1901	Succeeded by: Yuan Shikai

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Chu, Samuel C., and Kwang-Ching Liu.

  1994. Li Hung-chang and China's early modernization. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 1563242427ISBN 9781563242427ISBN 1563244586ISBN 9781563244582

• Chu, Prophet C., and Kwang-Ching Liu. 1990. Li Hongzhang: diplomat and modernizer. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
• Hummel, President William. 1943. Eminent Chinese spend the Ch'ing period: (1644-1912).

  Taipei: Literature House Ltd. Washington: Unified States Government Printing Office.

• Liu, Kwang-ching. "The Confucian as Patriot good turn Pragmatist: Li Hung-Chang's Formative 1823-1866." Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 30 (1970): 5-45.
• Mannix, William Francis, and Ralph Delahaye Pamphleteer. 1923. Memoirs of Li Hung Chang.

  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

• Spector, Stanley, and Franz H. Archangel. 1973. Li Hongzhang and rendering Huai Army: a study persuasively nineteenth-century Chinese regionalism = Li Hongzhang yu Huai jun. Rule of Washington publications on Continent. Taibei: Rainbow-Bridge Book Co.