An understanding of some of the ideas of this time (1900-1910) may be aided by a quick look at some of the significant events which marked the downfall of the Qing era. These events included the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), which clearly showed the truth of China’s corruption and brought forth feelings of anger, shame, guilt, and remorse; the “Hundred Days” Reform failure, which was the last ch

The first factor, that of nation-building was quite clearly regarded as highly important by the student writers as noted above. The successful creation of a Chinese nation was directly connected with basic changes in the mental outlook and interpersonal relations. Basic changes to the class structure were necessary. Old China was totally dominated by literati; their values determined the values of the whole Chinese nation. The literati displayed contempt towards the military man and the business man both of whom would need to be raised in society in order to create the modern China. From a nationalist view it was key that to be capable of national action and have a sense of national identity was only be achieved when physical barriers where removed. This could be best achieved through the development of the railways.

Again to better understand the nature of the students’ writings one should look at the background of those who are producing the writings. Pre 1903, the number of Chinese students in Japan was small; a 1902 report suggests only 270 students in Japan at the time. 1903 saw a huge rise to between 800 and 1000 students studying in various schools, and this figure rose to 8, 000- 10, 000 around 1906-1907. Reasons for Chinese students to study in Japan are not hard to grasp. Travel to Japan was close and cheap, Japanese culture was relatively similar to Chinese with written languages being similar, as well as many customs being very similar. Chinese students where more easily assimilated in Japan than they where compared to other countries. Eventually all Chinese provinces where represented, with the majority coming from Kwangtung, Hunan, Kiangsu, and Chekiang provinces. Students from each province had their own provincial associations.

These events caused the students we are concerned with to come into political consciousness. One question demands being asked, that being is a look at student writings of the day worth the effort and would we not get a better look at trends by looking at the key, major figures, who dominate politics of the time. The reason for viewing these student writings cannot rest on the fame of the authors as most writings are anonymous and very few can be identified. Nor can we say it rests on the originality of thought contained in these writings as most of it is merely endless repetition of certain central ideas. It is however this repetition which gives new perspective to the Chinese revolutionary movement as the repetition of key ideas allows us to separate the important from the trivial.

Very little attention was given to any issues of recruitment, training, or values of the new government. Officials would be servants of the people and there training would include technical courses and they would be selected by civil service system.

Any revolution would need heroes but China however needed more than hero’s, she needed sustained teaching of the student elite. Guidance would take several stages. The revolution and immediate aftermath needed military rule which would be quickly followed by civilian guidance. Social and economic changes of tax reforms, promotion of new learning, alterations to family system, and better equalization of wealth where among policies that had to be advanced. Writer’s of this time first set forth the concept of guided democracy. This concept however was advanced by very few writers and was done in an often imprecise and casual manner. The mass participation of people in politics proved in a basic sense the view that the pe

Some topics in this essay:
West China, T’ung-meng Hui, Russia China, Boxer Rebellion, Support Han, Han Manchu’s, Chinese Secondly, Kiangsu Chekiang, China’s Chinese, Travel Japan, chinese students, student writings, students japan, government law, chinese student, chinese students japan, constitutional monarchy, chinese student movement, japan study, throughout reading, student movement, goals writings, strong racial consciousness, student movement japan,