The Self-Strengthening Movement aimed to modernize China while preserving its core values. It focused on military and industrial advancements, adopting Western technology without embracing Western ideologies. This approach sought to strengthen China against foreign threats and restore its international standing.

The movement's strategy, guided by the ti-yong principle, emphasized practical applications of Western learning in military and industry. While it made progress in areas like weaponry and manufacturing, it struggled to address deeper societal and political issues, ultimately limiting its effectiveness in truly strengthening China.

Goals and Strategies of the Self-Strengthening Movement

Goals of Self-Strengthening Movement

• Strengthen China to resist foreign aggression and imperialism by
  • Modernizing military forces with Western weapons and training
  • Developing modern industries such as mining, textiles, and telegraphy
  • Reforming government institutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness
• Restore China's sovereignty and international status through
  • Regaining control over lost territories (Taiwan, Hong Kong)
  • Renegotiating unequal treaties with Western powers (Treaty of Nanjing)
• Preserve the Qing dynasty's rule and Confucian social order by
  • Maintaining the emperor's authority and legitimacy as the Son of Heaven
  • Upholding traditional Chinese values (filial piety) and hierarchy (scholar-gentry class)

Ti-yong principle in strategy

• "Ti-yong" principle: "Chinese learning as the essence, Western learning for practical use" involves
  • Selectively adopting Western technology and knowledge (firearms, steamships)
  • Preserving traditional Chinese culture, values (Confucianism), and political system (imperial rule)
• Influenced the movement's approach to modernization by
  • Focusing on practical applications of Western learning in
    • Military technology (artillery, naval warfare)
    • Industrial techniques (manufacturing, engineering)
  • Limiting adoption of Western political (democracy) and social ideas (individualism)
  • Emphasizing the maintenance of Chinese cultural identity and traditions

Military and industrial modernization

• Military modernization efforts included
  • Establishing modern arsenals and shipyards like
    • Jiangnan Arsenal in Shanghai for producing guns and ammunition
    • Fuzhou Navy Yard for building modern warships
  • Manufacturing modern weapons (rifles, cannons) and ships (ironclads)
  • Hiring foreign advisors (French, German) to train Chinese troops in Western tactics
• Industrial development focused on
  • Establishing state-owned enterprises in key sectors such as
    • Mining (coal, iron) to supply raw materials
    • Textiles (cotton, silk) to compete with Western imports
    • Telegraphy to improve communication networks
  • Encouraging private entrepreneurship and investment to stimulate economic growth
  • Importing Western machinery (steam engines) and technology (telegraphs) to boost productivity
• Infrastructure improvements aimed at
  • Building railroads to connect major cities and transport goods
  • Constructing telegraphs to enable rapid communication across vast distances
  • Modernizing transportation (steamships) and communication networks (postal service)

Western technology vs Chinese values

• Educational reforms sought to
  • Establish schools teaching Western subjects like
    • Tongwen Guan in Beijing for foreign languages and diplomacy
    • Shanghai Polytechnic Institute for science and engineering
  • Send Chinese students abroad (Japan, Europe, America) for study and cultural exchange
  • Translate Western books and materials into Chinese to disseminate knowledge
• Diplomatic initiatives included
  • Establishing the Zongli Yamen (Office of Foreign Affairs) to handle international relations
  • Training diplomats in Western languages (English, French) and protocols (treaty negotiations)
  • Participating in international conferences (Hague Peace Conference) and negotiations to assert China's interests
• Limitations of the ti-yong approach resulted in
  • Superficial adoption of Western technology without deeper understanding of underlying principles
  • Resistance to fundamental changes in political (absolutism) and social structures (gender roles)
  • Failure to address underlying weaknesses in the Qing government (corruption) and society (poverty)