History UsefulNotes / QingDynasty

Domestically, the core of the Qing Dynasty was formed by two ethnicities, the Jurchens and Mongols, with additional appeasements for the latter. The two groups would enjoy overwhelming privileges in the Qing while sidelining a majority portion of the population, that being the Han ethnic group. The Qing would discriminate against the majority Han population, limiting their participation in government and even private enterprises. Authoritarian measures enacted during the Ming would be carried over, only to be intensified during the Qing. The Imperial family gripped onto power jealously, and the slightest hints of dissent was quashed, often without hard evidence. The Qing was also infamous for their literary inquisition (文字獄), or speech crimes directed against the majority Han 'offenders', where Qing officials would prosecute the accused based on deliberate extraction of texts from different written sources regardless of subject, which also included answers to the Imperial examination. In short, if Qing authorities wanted you guilty, you were guilty. As a result, the Han distanced themselves from government affairs and pursued other ventures, and Qing authorities were content as long as the Han remained pacified. This attitude also affected the Imperial Examination system, once an instrument of Chinese social, cultural & political unity, waned significantly in its influence over the populace, and literacy amongst the Chinese dropped remarkably. This indifference of the governed to the government was a phenomenon observed by many Western travelers, where they noted the population at large was oblivious to who ruled the country. As the population gradually became more difficult to be incensed during Dynastic crisis, the Qing Eight Banners also fell into a state of decline. This was not helped by the numerous rebellions suffered by the Qing during its lifespan, and while it managed to survive all of them (save for the Xinhai Revolution of 1911), the Dynasty was weakened after each one. This was one of many reasons that contributed to the Qing's eventual downfall.

That Empress' name was Cixi (pronounced 'Tsih-shee'), and if there was ever a real life DragonLady, Cixi was it. Originally a concubine to the late Emperor Xianfeng, [[TheManBehindTheMan Cixi stayed in power as regent]] [[LongRunners for 48 years]], originally [[HasTwoMommies in non-romantic union with fellow Empress C'ian]]. This regency covered the 'rule' of multiple Emperors. One was her son, who resisted her iron grasp by [[BookDumb refusing to study]], sneaking out to brothels, and finally dying of smallpox without having had the courtesy to sire a son. Lacking a traditional heir, the two Empresses named Cixi's young nephew[[labelnote:*]]son of her sister, who married Xianfeng's brother Prince Chun[[/labelnote]] as the new Emperor. While all this was distracting everyone, however, modernisation was definitely not happening.\\

Finally the new Guangxu Emperor reached his majority and started trying to get things moving on his own. With the assistance of a man named Kang Youwei, they came up with a plan to massively shake up the social structure of China. This is known as the Hundred Days Reform. However, a lot of people currently in power didn't particularly appreciate having their jobs cut out from under them. Also, there was a plot underfoot to trick the Emperor into [[ReadTheFinePrint signing away control of China to Japan]]. Kang Youwei, hoping to get more people on his side, appointed a man named Yuan Shikai as leader of his forces. Yuan Shikai proceeded to tell Cixi exactly what was going on. Kang Youwei [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere ran to Hong Kong]] to escape Cixi, and Guangxu abdicated and was put under house arrest for the remainder of his life--until Cixi apparently had him ''poisoned'' as she was dying to ensure he wouldn't outlive her. ''Harsh'', Cixi. Harsh. Or it might have been Yuan Shikai who did murdered Guangxu, out of fear that he'd be executed for treason if the emperor regained power. What's certain is ''somebody'' poisoned Guangxu with a ''massive'' dose of arsenic.\\

Finally the new Guangxu Emperor reached his majority and started trying to get things moving on his own. With the assistance of a man named Kang Youwei, they came up with a plan to massively shake up the social structure of China. This is known as the Hundred Days Reform. However, a lot of people currently in power didn't particularly appreciate having their jobs cut out from under them. Also, there was a plot underfoot to trick the Emperor into [[ReadTheFinePrint signing away control of China to Japan]]. Kang Youwei, hoping to get more people on his side, appointed a man named Yuan Shikai as leader of his forces. Yuan Shikai proceeded to tell Cixi exactly what was going on. Kang Youwei [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere ran to Hong Kong]] to escape Cixi, and Guangxu abdicated and was put under house arrest for the remainder of his life--until Cixi apparently had him ''poisoned'' as she was dying to ensure he wouldn't outlive her. ''Harsh'', Cixi. Harsh.\\

Domestically, the core of the Qing Dynasty was formed by two ethnicities, the Jurchens and Mongols, with additional appeasements for the latter. The two groups would enjoy overwhelming privileges in the Qing while sidelining a majority portion of the population, that being the Han ethnic group. The Qing would discriminate against the majority Han population, limiting their participation in government and even private enterprises. Authoritarian measures enacted during the Ming would be carried over, only intensified during the Qing. The Imperial family gripped onto power jealously, and the slightest hints of dissent was quashed, often without hard evidence. The Qing was also infamous for their literary inquisition (文字獄), or speech crimes directed against the majority Han 'offenders', where Qing officials would prosecute the accused based on deliberate extraction of texts from different written sources regardless of subject, which also included answers to the Imperial examination. In short, if Qing authorities wanted you guilty, you were guilty. As a result, the Han distanced themselves from government affairs and pursued other ventures, and Qing authorities were content as long as the Han remained pacified. This attitude also affected the Imperial Examination system, once an instrument of Chinese social, cultural & political unity, waned significantly in its influence over the populace, and literacy amongst the Chinese dropped remarkably. This indifference of the governed to the government was a phenomenon observed by many Western travelers, where they noted the population at large was oblivious to who ruled the country. As the population gradually became more difficult to be incensed during Dynastic crisis, the Qing Eight Banners also fell into a state of decline. This was not helped by the numerous rebellions suffered by the Qing during its lifespan, and while it managed to survive all of them (save for the Xinhai Revolution of 1911), the Dynasty was weakened after each one. This was one of many reasons that contributed to the Qing's eventual downfall.

Domestically, the core of the Qing Dynasty was formed by two ethnicities, the Jurchens and Mongols, with additional appeasements for the latter. The two groups would enjoy overwhelming privileges in the Qing while sidelining a majority portion of the population, that being the Han ethnic group. The Qing would discriminate against the majority Han population, limiting their participation in government and even private enterprises. Authoritarian measures enacted during the Ming would be carried over, only intensified during the Qing. The Imperial family gripped onto power jealously, and the slightest hints of dissent was quashed, often without hard evidence. The Qing was also infamous for their literary inquisition (文字獄), or speech crimes directed against the majority Han 'offenders', where Qing officials would prosecute the accused based on deliberate extraction of texts from different written sources regardless of subject, which also included answers to the Imperial examination. In short, if Qing authorities wanted you guilty, you were guilty. As a result, the Han distanced themselves from government affairs and pursued other ventures, and Qing authorities were content as long as the Han remained pacified. This attitude also affected the Imperial Examination system, once an instrument of Chinese social, cultural and political unity, waned significantly in its influence over the populace, causing a sharp drop in literacy. This indifference of the governed to the government was a phenomenon observed by many Western travelers, where they noted the population at large was oblivious to who ruled the country. As the population gradually became more difficult to be incensed during Dynastic crisis, the Qing Eight Banners also fell into a state of decline. This was not helped by the numerous rebellions suffered by the Qing during its lifespan, and while it managed to survive all of them (save for the Xinhai Revolution of 1911), the Dynasty was weakened after each one. This was one of many reasons that contributed to the Qing's eventual downfall.

Domestically, the core of the Qing Dynasty was formed by two ethnicities, the Jurchens and Mongols, with additional appeasements for the latter. The two groups would enjoy overwhelming privileges in the Qing while sidelining a majority portion of the population, that being the Han ethnic group. The Qing would discriminate against the majority Han population, limiting their participation in government and even private enterprises. Authoritarian measures enacted during the Ming would be carried over, only intensified during the Qing. The Imperial family gripped onto power jealously, and the slightest hints of dissent was quashed, often without hard evidence. The Qing was also infamous for their literary inquisition (文字獄), or speech crimes directed against the majority Han 'offenders', where Qing officials would prosecute the accused based on deliberate extraction of texts from different written sources regardless of subject, which also included answers to the Imperial examination. In short, if Qing authorities wanted you guilty, you were guilty. As a result, the Han distanced themselves from government affairs and pursued other ventures, and Qing authorities were content as long as the Han remained pacified. This attitude also affected the Imperial Examination system, once an instrument of Chinese social, cultural and political unity, waned significantly in its influence over the populace. This indifference of the governed to the government was a phenomenon observed by Western travelers, where they noted the population at large was oblivious to who ruled the country. As the population gradually became more difficult to be incensed during Dynastic crisis, the Qing Eight Banners also fell into a state of decline. This was not helped by the numerous rebellions suffered by the Qing during its lifespan, and while it managed to survive all of them (save for the Xinhai Revolution of 1911), the Dynasty was weakened after each one. This was one of many reasons that contributed to the Qing's eventual downfall.