In the early days of the Westernization Movement, the Westernization School took "self-improvement" as the slogan, and established new military industries in various provinces by introducing large machine production technology to strengthen military strength. Such as Anqing Inner Ordnance Institute (Anqing, Anhui, Zeng Guofan), Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau (Tianjin, Chonghou), Jiangnan Manufacturing General Administration (Shanghai, Li Hongzhang), Hanyang Arsenal (Hanyang, Hubei, Zhang Zhidong), Jinling Machinery Manufacturing Bureau (Nanjing, Li Hongzhang), Fuzhou Shipping Bureau (Fuzhou, left, Shen Baozhen) and An Machinery Bureau (Xi 'an, left). However, because the production management mode is bureaucratic and conservative, the products are only used by the government, regardless of the cost. Most of these military products are unprofitable, and few of them continue to invest to expand production. Westernization sent a large number of bureaucrats to Britain, France, Germany, the United States and other countries to purchase military equipment, and established four modern navies-Beiyang Navy, Nanyang Navy, Guangdong Navy and Fujian Navy. Among them, the armored ships Dingyuan and Zhenyuan purchased by Beiyang Navy were called "Far East Giant Ships", which were the ships with the largest tonnage and the strongest firepower in the Far East at that time, and a new military base was built in Lushun.
Because the former military industry spent a lot of money, but there was no obvious effect, and the raw materials needed by the military industry were in short supply, the Westernization School decided to develop a number of civilian industries to raise funds with the slogan of "seeking money". Many products of these civilian industries are market-oriented and have the characteristics of modern capitalist industries.
Kaiping Coal Mine (Kaiping, Hebei, Li Hongzhang), Hubei Weaving Layout (Wuchang, Hubei, Zhang Zhidong), Hanyang Iron Works (Hanyang, Hubei, Zhang Zhidong), Lanzhou Manufacturing Bureau (also known as Gansu Manufacturing Bureau, left), Lanzhou Machine Weaving Bureau (also known as Gansu Weaving Bureau) and other civilian industrial products have resisted the export of foreign capitalist countries to some extent.
The Westernization School has built more than 30 modern schools all over the country to train scientific, military and translation talents. Shi Jing Wentong Museum, a famous translation institution, was also established in 1862. Translate and publish western books and promote western learning; From 1872 to 1875, 30 young children are sent to study in the United States every year, and most of them become important people in China in the future.
The Westernization School laid the first telegraph line in China between Tianjin and Dagu Lake in 1879. Later 188 1 year, the general telegraph office was opened, and the telegraph line from Shanghai to Tianjin was laid.
The Westernization Movement brought China modern banking system, modern postal system, new education (new learning), new army (Manchu new army), new ideas (* * * and), railways, heavy industry (mine iron works) and other achievements that influenced later generations. It has brought China closer to the world in cultural exchanges, business contacts and science and technology. The institutions and systems established during the Westernization Movement can still be seen today, such as postal system, telecommunication system, railway system, China Merchants, Jiangnan Shipyard and Bank of Communications.
The Westernization School has made considerable achievements in resisting commodity export, promoting ideological emancipation and stimulating the development of Chinese national capitalism, which has certain positive significance.
Westernization Movement, Meiji Restoration and Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895
In the early period of Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, both China and Japan carried out a series of westernization reforms. China's Westernization Movement means that during the 30 years from the early 1960s to the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the Westernization School of the Qing Dynasty kept striving for self-improvement, pursued wealth and learned advanced western technology, so as to achieve the goal of Qiang Bing as a rich country. Meiji Restoration in Japan refers to various reforms in politics, military affairs and culture from 1868 to 1890, taking the west as an example, in order to overthrow the imperial regime established by the Tokugawa shogunate. China's failure and Japanese success are mainly due to China's incomplete reform.
First of all, the Westernization School and the protesters held different positions on their feudal regime. Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, representatives of the Westernization School, were feudal bureaucrats representing the Manchu government. The Japanese anti-Japanese faction, under the banner of the king, sought to overthrow the shogunate regime and respect the king. The Westernization School was not anti-feudal and loyal to the Qing Dynasty. The Japanese anti-feudal school completely overthrew the feudal system and implemented a constitutional monarchy. Secondly, the Westernization Movement relied on foreigners to run enterprises, which made it difficult for enterprises to develop. Japan not only introduced a large number of talents, but also cultivated its own talents in talent introduction and management. These practices of Meiji government are the correct ways and means for backward countries to strive for talent and technological independence. The technology of Westernization Movement depends on foreign invaders. Westernization mainly introduced talents and technology through military personnel, foreign government officials and capitalists who invaded China during the Opium War. Most of these foreigners don't really understand technology, and most of the instruments and equipment they sell are outdated and backward. In addition, many foreigners don't want China to be rich and powerful, and use the technology that China officials don't understand to extort money for personal gain, which doomed the failure of the Westernization Movement.
Besides, China only attaches importance to military reform, without making great efforts to develop industry or reform the political system and traditional culture. Japan, on the other hand, introduced western economic, political, military, cultural and educational systems in its modernization drive, such as "enriching Qiang Bing", "colonizing the industry" and "opening to the outside world", which led to China's military not inferior to Japan's, but it was finally defeated by Japan. In addition, the Westernization Movement in China was not supported by too many people, and the important officials in the DPRK, such as the conservatives, took a hostile attitude towards the Westernization Movement, which made the Westernization Movement very difficult. Meiji Restoration in Japan is a powerful faction composed of capitalists, businessmen, emerging landlords, famous families and samurai. Coupled with the slogan of supporting the emperor, it won the support of the national leadership and made the Meiji Restoration reform smoother.
In the early period of Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, China and Japan faced almost the same situation. With the full-scale aggression of western powers, in China, after the Opium War and the Eight-Nation Alliance War, a series of unequal treaties were concluded, which made China lose its sovereignty, and a large number of reparations, ceded land and territories were carved up. Japan was forced to switch on and off after 1853, and unequal treaties such as Japan-US friendship treaty and Japan-US friendship and trade treaty were subsequently concluded. The more unequal treaties Japan faces, the more it arouses nationalism, and it is eager to realize Qiang Bing as a rich country through reform and military aggression, thus abolishing the unequal treaties. In China, on the other hand, after two Opium Wars, people woke up from their dream of going to China and suffered a heavy psychological blow. Therefore, during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the low psychological quality of China's decision-makers was one of the key factors that led to the situation that China lost to Japan and won. In addition, due to China's vast territory, the impact of severe external stimulus varies from place to place, while Japan, with its long and narrow territory, can quickly unite. In religion, China's Confucianism also hindered social change, which led to the May 4th Movement more than 20 years later.