Opium+War+Science+and+Technology

Qing Dynasty Science and Technology The Opium Wars

The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty in Chinese history before the Peoples Republic of China. During the time of this dynasty, there were two wars known as the Opium Wars or the Anglo-Chinese Wars. These wars were fought over the narcotic substance opium being illegally brought into China. Europeans brought it after it was repeatedly outlawed because of the devastating effects it had on its people. During these wars, the modern technology of China was made up of less of its own inventions and more of western technology that was implanted there. In this article, I am going to tell you a little about how this technology ended up there and why.

Before the 1840’s in China, modern technology in China was dependant on the activity of European missionaries and Jesuit Patres. After cutting its links with the western world, the Qing Dynasty didn’t see modern technology again until European armies came in to China for the Opium Wars. It was during these wars that for the first time in years the Chinese had seen modern, western technology, and how powerful it had become with better battleships and cannons. It was at this point in time that the Qing Dynasty started to begin to western technology for its survival.

Lin Zexu, the Qing envoy sent to eliminate the opium trade with Europe, was insistent on using European guns. At the same time, well known Qing scholar Wei Yuan said that the Chinese should study and learn from the advanced technology of their enemies and use it against the foreign invaders. However, the Qing government would not agree with the public cries to use outside world technology. Because the Chinese government had held the dominant position in Asia for so long, they developed a false sense of superiority toward other nations. The Qing Dynasty government wouldn’t admit to backwardness or learn from foreigners. As a result, the first Opium War was lost in 1842.

Once the second Opium War was lost for the same reasons as the first, the Qing started to really take a serious look at modern, outside world technology and more importantly, weaponry. In 1861, it was proposed that the Qing learn foreign knowledge for making guns and warships. This proposal was supported by both the court and western bureaucrats. They suggested setting up a military industry, but were opposed by the conservatives, who thought little of the function of western machines. After a short while though, their opposition was blunted, and the government permitted the adoption of western technology to meet the Qing Dynasty’s urgent needs. According to the Qing government, the Qing, “used Chinese theories as a core, western technology as a reference” to improve themselves.

The Qing armies were still defeated by Japan in 1895 after the Sino-Japanese Wars. More foreign goods came into Qing China as a result. After 1898, there were policies encouraging invention and copying western machinery. This time, it was for real. Clearly, when there was no choice left, The Qing Dynasty had given in to modernization.

As with all other wars that the human race has seen so far, there is a basic rule that if one side has technology that superior to the others, then the side with the advanced technology will win every time. Because the Qing had failed recognize this, their military was one of very little strength and soon after the Sino-Japanese wars, the Qing were once again defeated in 1912 by a new enemy, this time to end the Chinese dynasties forever.

Qing Dynasty Questions

1. Who was the Qing scholar who thought that the Qing should study and learn from western technology?

2. When were the Chinese defeated once more by the Japanese?

3. When were policies put out encouraging western technology and invention?

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9706/hk97/past/opium.wars/link.first.opium.war.jpg