U569  Modern Inner Mongolia
Lecture, Tuesday, Week 5

 

  1. Qing empire in the world system, c. 1800
    1. Tribute system
      1. Qing empire did not recognize other states as equals
      2. Tribute hosts:  north & west, Lifanyuan; south & east, Board of Rites
    2. To those from south and east, Qing was China
    3. Trade relations
      1. 1550 on, China a main destination of Mexican/Peruvian silver
      2. 18th century boom, followed by early 19th century depression
      3. Did opium outflow cause silver outflow?  Deflation?  Higher taxes?
    4. Weak state
      1. Gov't revenues very small for economy:  1-2% of GNP in 1900
        1. No new land tax assessments since 1710s
        2. Revenue 1795:  75 million taels, revenue 1900:  100 million
      2. Few officials in a hug country:  one county magistrate per 200,000
      3. Qing monetary system:  copper cash, silver bullion (tael=36 grams)
  2. Developments in the 19th century
    1. The great rebellions
      1. Taiping rebellion, c. 1851-1864 (more casualties than World War I)
      2. Nian rebellion, 1856-1868 (smugglers along the Grand Canal)
      3. Hui rebellions, 1862-1873 (Hui Chinese in NW China)
      4. Turkestan rebellion, 1864-1878 (Uyghurs, assisted by Khoqand)
    2. Foreign relations
      1. Opium war, 1840-2, treaty ports opened fro the 1st time
      2. 1860:  Britain and France win 2nd war, China sets up foreign relations
      3. Russia seizes trans-Amur territory, 1858, trans-Ussuri territory, 1860
      4. Resulting treaty system (or "unequal treaties")
        1. Tariffs administered by foreigners, limited to 5%
        2. Foreign trade exempt from internal tolls
        3. Extrality:  foreigners not subject to Qing jurisdiction
        4. Treaty ports, leases
  3. Reflections in Mongolia
    1. Russia:  acquired sphere of influence over all outside the wall by 1895
      1. 1860:  consulate in Da Khüriye; 1881:  trade in Khowd, Uliastai
    2. Hui rebellions:  1868 raided Ordos, Uliastai, Khowd (Da Khüriye walled)
    3. Catholic missionaries
      1. Jimabadorji's "Crystal Rosary" (1849):  Catholicism common, like Mohism
      2. 1874:  Catholic missionaries begin activity in Ordos (also in Josotu)
        1. Mongols allied with Qing, Chinese, in opposition
      3. 1891:  Jindandao ("Gold Pill Way") uprising, anti-foreign, anti-Mongol
        1. Sha-yang, mie-hu "Kill the foreigners, destroy the Mongols"
  4. Crisis of Late Qing
    1. Conflicts with Japan over Korea (tributary to Qing, part of China?)
      1. 1894-5:  Sino-Japanese war, China crushed, 200 million tael indemnity
      2. Feeding frenzy of railroad/sphere of influence concessions
      3. Colonial rivalries prevent out-right dismemberment
      4. 1896:  Russia gets right to Chinese Eastern Railway
      5. 1904-5:  Russo-Japanese war:  Liaoning, SE Inner Mongolia to Japan
    2. Qing, Chinese responses
      1. "Hundred Day's Reforms," 1989, temporary failure
      2. Boxer movement 1899-1900
        1. Anti-Christian attacks in German sphere, 1896-1899
        2. "Boxers":  spread over North China, into Ordos, Rehe area
        3. Defeated by 9 Powers, colossal indemnity, 450 million taels
        4. Northeast China occupied by Russia>>Russo-Japanese war
      3. From 1900 on, Chinese gov't paralyzed by financial debility
    3. 1901:  Cixi declares New Policies, fundamental change in Qing gov't