The Confucianism And Revolution Of Social System In The Late Qing

Quanxuepian was born in the turmoil caused by the 1898 Reform Movement, which focused on political reform to revival the country of that age. It mainly criticized the lack of flexibility of the old and ignorance of basics of the new. Zhang Zhidong, is a Confucian minister who assert to protecting the religion, the leading figures of the Westernization Movement in later period and the practicer of the proposition of Chinese-style westernization. On the one hand, he objected the stubborn proposition of the old guard who was not flexible, on the other hand, he also objected the ultraist represented by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao who argued to destroy the dominant role of Confucianism. Zhang Zhidong criticized both of the old-fashion factions and wrote Quanxuepian to safeguard the Confucianism and Promote the temperate social revolution.After publishing, Quanxuepian had tremendous influence in ideological and political circles and it even spread to the occident. There are various contributing factors.1, Chinese-style westernization had become the mainstream thoughts of that society. 2, Quanxuepian endowed the new meaning which was acceptable within the limits of the Chinese-style westernization age. It paid attention to the protection of Confucianism and expanded the conception of westernization from western technology to western politics. In the meantime, he mentioned none about the western parliament, which is accepted by both academic and political circles.3, the practice of Chinese-style westernization in the late Qing dynasty caused the severe split of scholars'body and mind under the social conditions. Focusing on the thought of Chinese culture cultivating the body and mind while western knowledge coping with the world, Zhang Zhidong pointed out a new path which is beyond the difficult position of age. Therefore, he wrote Quanxuepian to call for Chinese-style westernization and systematically elaborate his new thought.To write Quanxuepian and call for Chinese-style westernization, Zhang Zhidong not only provided the Qing Dynasty with a proposition to revival the country through political reform, but also cleared up the heresies and ideological confusion aroused by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao who advocated to exotic equality and principle of democracy, to eliminate the conflict between Chinese and Manchu ethnic minority aiming for the political effect of patriotism of all people over the country. With the principle of self-renewal, Zhang Zhidong put forward a complete set of transform patterns based on education and culture, economy, military and diplomacy, striving for prosperous and strong country, well-educated people and peaceful coexistence. The political protest of this Patten aimed for enlightened absolutism rather than the constitutional monarchy or domestic republican regime. Though the development of Chinese policy is was full of frustrations in modern history, the elements of authoritative thoughts illustrated in Quanxuepian looms in political arena all along. For a country of different historical stage and national conditions, only the suitable measures are, or can be effective.Chinese-style westernization is the guideline for the process of transform in the late Qing Dynasty of 70 years, which has a definite link with the destiny of late Qing Dynasty. I think it is a historical relation of existence between Chinese-style and westernization rather than the logical link of conception. Logic can not split the history, the logical disaccord of the two elements not inevitably lead to the fall of the Qing Empire. On the contrary, it is the gradual departure of the path of Chinese-style westernization make it on the road to self-destruction, followed by Quanxuepian the exited the history. Hiding behind the historical fate of Quanxuepian, vacancy of the Centrist and offside of the Reformists During the period of Reform Movement of 1898 caused the major setback of the nation.