The Chinese Revolution

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A discussion of Kang Youwei, the famous Chinese scholar, writer, reformer and speaker. His early years, Buddhist meditations, success passing through the Qing examinations system and activism are considered. His exile following the 100 days of Reform to the Chinatowns of Canada and southeast Asia are described, including the founding of the Society to Protect the Emperor. It achieved, at least initially, much more popularity than Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement. Kang also lived in India and met Mahatma Gandhi and discussed the caste system and religion. After the 1911 Chinese revolution, Kang returned to China and failed in a coup to restore Pu Yi as emperor. After his death in 1927, his utopian The Book of Great Unity was published. It describes a world without rulers, races, religions, marriage or families.

Image: "Kang youwei.jpg" by 风之清扬 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 

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A discussion with Anthony Vernon about Daoism, Confucianism, Kang Youwei, the Boxer Rebellion and the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Image: "Boxer Prisoners Captured By 6th US Cavalry, Tientsin, China [1901] Underwood & Co [RESTORED]" by ralphrepo is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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A deep dive into anti-Christian riots in Tianjin in 1870. Stories of kidnapped, blinded and dead children are investigated. What are these new Christians up to? An official from the Forbidden City is sent to get to the truth. Who is to blame?

Image: "Old church, Tianjin" by caitriana is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

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This is the third part of the discussion with Lauren Schill about Cixi. We discuss her takeover from her adopted son the Emperor Guangxu following the 100 days of Reform and her role arming the Boxer Rebellion. Cixi and the Emperor flee to Xian and then return to Beijing. Cixi starts a charm offensive, institutes further reforms including for women's education and to end foot binding. She and the Emperor Guangxu die within a day of each other, him with high levels of arsenic. Within 3 years of her death, the Puyi Emperor abdicates and the Qing Dynasty ends. Qixi rules China for decades without ever stepping in the front part of the Forbidden City, which was off limits to women.

Image: "China - The Empress Dowager of China - Bà Từ Hi Thái hậu" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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This is the second part of the discussion about Cixi and we discuss her son Emperor Tongzhi's marriage, nighttime escapades, death from smallpox and Cixi's adoption of her nephew Emperor Guangxu and relegation of Prince Chun. Cixi deals with the Russians in Xinjiang, the French in Vietnam and the Japanese over Korea. The Dowager Empress builds up the Chinese navy, only to have it cut back by her successors. She is brought out of retirement again during the Sino-Japanese war and Emperor Guangxu signs a devastating peace treaty for China which begins a western scramble for further concessions.

Image: "China - The Empress Dowager of China - Bà Từ Hi Thái hậu" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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A discussion with Lauren Schill, Host of the Well Behaved Women podcast, about Empress Dowager Cixi. This is the first part of the discussion about Cixi and discuss her childhood, family background, as well as becoming a concubine and rising through the ranks. The coup that takes her to power follows the Second Opium War and her husband's death at the Imperial Hunting Lodge. Cixi and Cian rule from behind the silk curtain and begin modernization of China, while facing resistance from conservative forces.

Image: "China - The Empress Dowager of China - Bà Từ Hi Thái hậu" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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Meiji Japan learns from the West and builds its economy, its army and the Japanese Imperial Navy. Japan begins its own gunboat diplomacy and takes control of the Ryukyu Islands. It defeats China in the Sino-Japanese War and gains Penghu and Taiwan, as well as control over Korea. Russian and Japanese tensions build. Great Britain allies with Japan and the Japanese Imperial Navy launches a sneak attack on Port Arthur (Dalian). Japan destroys two Russian fleets and Teddy Roosevelt negotiates the peace treaty. Asian and Chinese nationalists take heart in the Asian victory over a European power.

Image: "Depiction of the Sino-Japanese War" by Rijksmuseum is marked with CC0 1.0 .

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Choshu rebels attack foreign ships and suffer the consequences. Choshu and Satsuma reach a secret alliance. The Bakufu plans a punitive expedition against Choshu but is out-maneuvered. The sudden death of the Emperor and a coup in the Imperial Court leads to Choshu receiving an amnesty. Choshu and Satsuma use the Imperial Pennants to defeat the Bakufu. The Tokugawa era ends in Japan with the final shoguns of Japan. The Meiji Restoration ends 265 years of Tokugawa rule in Japan.

Image: "DSC21873, Honmaru Palace, Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan" by jimg944 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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The Tokugawa shogunate in Japan prohibited ocean going vessels or travel between Japan and most countries. Japan rejected offers to commence trade with the West. Commodore Perry forced a first treaty on a reluctant Japan. The Samurai and country wanted to resist, but instead Japan began to open up and build a navy and build up a more western military. American desires for a new trade treaty uncover fractures among the Bakufu and with the Imperial Court.

Image: "Samurai" by Tekniska museet is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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