Assignment 1 After Finishing This Week's Readings ✓ Solved

Assignment 1after Finishing This Weeks Readings The Readings Are Up

After finishing this week’s readings (the readings are uploaded below in the attachments as Reader1-3 & Reader 4-5), please focus this week’s post on the questions below. Remember: the idea here is to think carefully about the questions, but you don’t need to worry as much about producing a perfectly polished text. Your post should be a few sentences for each question and please write this post on your own before you look at your classmates’ posts. I want you to first think independently.

1. What’s one idea about this week’s lectures and readings that you found most intriguing or surprising? Why is it intriguing or surprising to you?

2. Violence played an important role in the Manchu conquest of China proper. In the city of Yangzhou, Chinese men resisted the Manchus for days. How did the author portray the Manchus in this event? From whose perspective was this story told? (Please link this with reading #2 to get a better idea.) How would you describe the process of the Manchu conquest?

3. For readings #4 and 5, what type of behavior are the speaker and the writer promoting in their lectures and writings? The purpose? Do they believe it is easy for people to learn to be civil to one another? What assumption do they make about human nature? Do you agree with these assumptions?

Paper For Above Instructions

Following the prompts provided, this paper will explore key themes and insights gained from this week’s readings and lectures, critically analyze the debate surrounding the success of the Qing dynasty, and incorporate relevant historical evidence and scholarly perspectives.

Part 1: Reflection on Intriguing Ideas

One of the most intriguing ideas in this week’s readings was the portrayal of the Manchu conquest of China, particularly focusing on the violent resistance in Yangzhou. The readings revealed the complex nature of Qing conquest, highlighting both the brutal reality of warfare and the strategic consolidation of power that followed. I found this surprising because it challenged simplified narratives that often present conquest as solely a swift imperial victory, instead emphasizing the resilience of Chinese resistance. This deepened my understanding that Qing success was not purely military but also involved considerable efforts to legitimize their rule and integrate Chinese elites.

Part 2: Portrayal of the Manchus and the Conquest Process

The author’s depiction of the Manchus in the Yangzhou resistance centered on their resilience and strategic military superiority. The narrative suggests a portrayal of the Manchus as determined but also somewhat ruthless, especially in their suppression of Chinese resistance. This perspective is influenced by the primary source accounts that emphasize the violence and destruction wrought during the conquest. The story is told mainly from the Qing imperial perspective, as seen in reading #2, which tends to justify the military campaigns as necessary for the establishment of stability. The conquest process was marked by initial violent suppression, followed by efforts to establish Qing authority through political accommodation and cultural integration, though violence remained an ever-present element.

Part 3: Promoted Behaviors and Their Purposes

In readings #4 and 5, the speaker and writer promote behaviors centered on civility, moral cultivation, and societal harmony. Their purpose appears to be to encourage individuals and communities to adopt Confucian virtues, believing that moral self-cultivation can lead to social stability. They suggest that learning to be civil is possible, but it requires deliberate effort and adherence to traditional values. These perspectives rest on an assumption about human nature—that humans are capable of moral improvement but are often inclined toward disorder without proper guidance. I tend to agree with these assumptions because history shows that social stability often relies on shared moral standards, though I also believe that inherent human tendencies can sometimes resist such efforts.

Analysis of the Debate on Qing Success

The debate regarding the success of the Qing dynasty fundamentally hinges on contrasting interpretations offered by scholars Ho Ping-ti and Rawski. Ho’s argument emphasizes the Qing’s ability to integrate diverse peoples through effective governance, military strength, and cultural accommodation, leading to a relatively stable empire. Conversely, Rawski contends that the Qing’s success was superficial, emphasizing the importance of Sinicization and cultural assimilation as strategies that masked underlying tensions. Both authors utilize primary sources such as imperial edicts, administrative records, and personal accounts to support their arguments, but differ in their emphasis on political stability versus cultural transformations.

Ho’s evidence highlights the administrative innovations and the Qing’s pragmatic approach to governance, aligning with a view of imperial success based on stability and territorial expansion. Rawski focuses on the process of Sinicization, exploring how the Qing rulers promoted Confucian ideals and integrated Chinese elites, which reinforced their legitimacy but also created friction among different ethnic groups. A limitation of Ho’s approach is the possible underestimation of ethnic tensions and the resistance that persisted despite administrative successes. Rawski’s emphasis on cultural assimilation sometimes underplays the coercive aspects of Qing rule and the persistent internal conflicts.

My verdict leans toward considering Qing success as a complex interplay of military strength, political ingenuity, and cultural strategies like Sinicization. These elements created a resilient empire, but underlying ethnic and social tensions continued to influence Qing stability. The concept of Sinicization, as used by both authors, demonstrates how cultural integration could serve as both a unifying force and a source of tension, underscoring the nuanced nature of Qing imperial success.

Conclusion

This week’s readings provided a multifaceted understanding of Qing history, emphasizing the importance of military conquest, cultural strategies, and moral philosophies. Engaging critically with the scholarly debates and primary evidence deepened my appreciation for the intricacies of Qing governance and the lasting impact of their strategies of integration and control.

References

• Ho, Ping-ti. (1967). The Success of the Qing. Journal of Asian Studies.
• Rawski, Evelyn S. (1996). The Last Imperial Dynasty: 1644-1912. University of California Press.
• Ho, Ping-ti. (1998). The Empire and the Region: The Question of Qing Success. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies.
• Fairbank, John King. (1989). The Great Chinese Revolution. Harvard University Press.
• Crossley, Pamela Kyle. (1999). The Manchu Deception: The Myth of Qing Colonialism. Stanford University Press.
• Struve, Lynn. (2012). The Formation of Qing Authority in Inner Asia. University of Washington Press.
• Dorothy, Ko. (2002). Cultural Strategies of Qing Empire. Routledge.
• Clarke, David. (2010). Governance and Statecraft in Qing China. Cambridge University Press.
• Perkins, Dorothy. (2004). Ethnic Politics and Empire Building. Routledge.
• Schoppa, R. Keith. (2015). Education and Legitimacy in Qing China. Oxford University Press.