In the 19th century, China was the target of a process of domination suffered as a result of the imperialist actions of the capitalist powers of the time. In addition to harming China's political and economic integrity, the imperialist action in the country had other important consequences. Mainly from the second half of the nineteenth century, the Chinese government sought ways to remodel its institutions through the domain of knowledge from the Western world.
In this context, several Chinese military were sent to the West with the objective of mastering knowledge capable of strengthening the Chinese imperial authority. However, the military, influenced by this exchange of knowledge, ended up encouraging a reformist movement eager for deeper transformations. During this same period, the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War (1895) and the penalties imposed by the Treaty of Shimonoseki intensified the feeling for reforms within the Chinese empire.
The reformist issue was so urgent that within the empire itself there was an open dialogue for change. However, the directives of this change brought about a political division within the Chinese state. On the one hand, a group of reformers from the north supported the rise of Empress Cixi. Another group, led by K'ang Yu-wei, favored more radical reforms to be instituted by Emperor Guangxu, Cixi's nephew.
Trying to take advantage of this dispute, Guangxu decided to undertake a set of reforms in China. In June 1898, the emperor granted the Chinese population access to foreign works. Under the leadership of K’ang, a reformer who supported Guangxu, a set of reforms that would modernize the country's education, economy, and military cadres were implemented. In a short time, exactly 103 days, all these changes were undertaken.
The country's political organization was simplified with the aim of ending privileges and combating corrupt practices within the empire. Educational curricula were adapted under the inspiration of Western teaching standards. The economy gained liberal contours with the implementation of a plan focused on the development of different economic areas. Even the laws were modified in the mold of liberal legal principles.
The set of reforms did not have the expected effect. Traditions, problems and strong opposition to the movement prevented the consolidation of its proposals. In addition, Empress Cixi's allies organized a violent military backlash against the reformers. Even curbing the transformations, the Chinese imperial power could not veto the spread of nationalist and liberal movements. In 1901, the Boxers Revolt revived the quest for change.
Only ten years later, the situation in China has changed radically. The 1911 Revolution ended Chinese imperial power. Since then, actions of a liberal nature have turned China into a republic.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
By Rainer Sousa
Graduated in History
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUSA, Rainer Gonçalves. "The Hundred Days Reform"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/china/reforma-dos-cem-dias.htm. Accessed on July 27, 2021.
