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Construct New Country: Studies Of Liang Qichao’s Thought Of Modern State Construction (1911-1915)

Posted on:2015-03-19Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:Q YueFull Text:PDF
GTID:1266330428996271Subject:Political Theory
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Since the outbreak of the Opium War, China’ modern transformation had being in adrastic changing period. Especially, the revolution of1911accelerated the changingprocess. Soon, the Republic of China established, China entered a short constructingperiod. To the Changes of the theme of the times, Liang Qichao had a clearunderstanding. Therefore, he published a series of articles and speeches for expoundinghis ideas and opinions on the new country construction. By the end of1912, LiangQichao immediately participated in the political construction of the Republic of China.He had successively served as the minister of justice and minister of finance, andactively organized parties to join in parliament struggle. In this process, Liang Qichaohad published a series of articles to comment on the construction of the republic.Abundant Chinese and foreign political theory and direct participation in the republicpolitical practice, make Liang Qichao’s new country construction thought not onlysystematic, but also rich in content and practical value. Because of various of subjectiveand objective reasons, Liang Qichao’ claims had not been really practiced. However, hisbeneficial exploration to construct modern state, and some views, has the importantenlightenment significance for today still in the process of modernization.In this paper, Liang Qichao’ modern state construction thought between1911to1915is as the object of study. Through analysing the naissance of construction thought,the imagining to political establishment construction, the exploration to political subjectconstruction and construction path, perspects the theoretical basis, views andideological characteristics of Liang Qichao’ modern state construction thought, revealsthe complexity and tortuosity of China’ modern transformation. On this basis, combinedwith the actual situation of national development, rethinks the reasons of Liang Qichao’construction claim has not been practiced, reveals the complex interactive process ofthought and practice, politic and society, institution and moral, explores the enlightenment of Liang Qichao’ thought of the construction of the republic for modernchina.As everyone knows, Liang Qichao’s modern nation building thought getsinfluenced by Chinese and foreign theory. Overall, the traditional culture as the core ofChinese theory, the incomed western theory, and east theory influenced by westerntheory, constitute the main source of his thought. Specifically speaking, in the aspect ofChinese theory, traditional Confucianism that Confucius as the core, statecraftideological trend in the late Ming and early Qing, and improvement thought of late QingDynasty, had the biggest influence on Liang Qichao, which were reflected in LiangQichao’ related articles and comments. In the aspect of western theory, by learning fromKang Youwei, getting to know foreign missionaries and scholar-bureaucrat who hadwestern knowledge, Liang Qichao came into contact with western theory. He not onlygot the general political theory and ideaistic knowledge, but also had a preliminaryunderstanding of the political system and its operation in western countries. Especiallyduring the period of Qiang Xue Hui, by collecting and reading some westernnewspapers and translated books, Liang Qichao’ western knowledge Become richer.However, by the restrictions of the domestic objective conditions, Liang Qichao’western knowledge mostly was fragmentized before the times of Wu Xu, the breadthand depth of knowledge was thin. In the aspect of east theory, the thought of scholars inthe times of Min Zhi became the main media Liang Qichao accepted western theory,also was the major source of Liang Qichao’ modern state construction thought. Duringthis period, Liang Qichao read the works of Fu Ze Yu Ji, Zhong Cun Zheng Zhi, ZhongJiang Zhao Min, Fu Tian He Min, Jia Teng Hong Zhi, De Fu Su Feng etc.. He had theunderstanding and cognition of their doctrine.His concept to the development of thesociety, world and state had great changes. By reading these Japanese scholars’ works,Rousseau as the representative of the democratic theories and Bluntschli as therepresentative of the state theory, left a profound mark on Liang Qichao’ thought,became the important ideaistic basis on which he published political views later, alsohad a vivid expression in his views on politics in the period of the Republic of China.From the general plan of political construction, Liang Qichao’ modern stateconstruction thought mainly involves two aspects of political infrastructure constructionand political subject construction. In the aspect of political infrastructure construction,Liang Qichao advocated that tripartite power pattern of lawmaking, administration and judicature, advocated building a strong government as the core, rationally developedparty politics and parliamentary politics, scientificly planed state structure, strive tobuild a modern constitutional politics suit Chinese conditions. Liang Qichao believedthat, by the limit of Chinese condition, to get a result in constructing modern state,firstly we need build a strong government, which carried out protective policy, leadedother undertakings developing. Correctly understanding Liang Qichao’s stronggovernment, we need pay attention to the following points: First, the premise of stronggovernment is tripartite power pattern of lawmaking, administration and judicature.Only three powers maintain independent and coordinated each other, the government isstrong. Therefore, should rationally divide the power of parliament, cabinet and thegovernment, clear and definite the running process and mutual relationship of the threepowers through constitution. Second, strong government contains two meanings,achieving strong in the strength degree, maintaining virtuous in the moral attribute. Inshort, strong government must be strong good government. Third, building a stronggovernment is not accomplished at one stroke, which contains several steps and stages.Among them, the construction of a strong central government is preferential, which isthe core and premise to complete other construction.In the construction of political subject, Liang Qichao discussed the national statusand the cultivation of modern national before and after the Republic of China. In hisview, there is a big gap between the national before and after the Republic of China andmodern national in concept and capability. Specifically: On the concept, prominentpersonal tend, prevailing tribal thought, weak public concept, focus on ‘the present’ toomuch, and several incorrect republic concept, constituted the important characteristicsof the countrymen; On ability, lack of autonomy ability, ability to apply the collegialorgans and practice the party politics, became a common problem. In a word, then thecountrymen were still in the early stages of the modern transformation. Although theyhad some new ideas, and there was no lack of enlightened people accepted foreignwestern education among them, but overall, old ideas and old culture was still in mainposition, the concept of subjects of a feudal ruler was very common in countrymen atthat time. In the short term, the national condition is against for early republicanconstruction. In the long run, if we don’t change soon, the gappy shortcomings betweenthe national level and the national system will greatly block the process of China’smodern state construction, some severe cases even can lead to national division and domestic strife. Therefore, cultivating the modern national has become to urgent work.How to cultivate the modern national? Liang Qichao believes that, on the cultivatingcontent, interest, personality, and knowledge as the core, promoting national basicaccomplishment. In the way of cultivating, the conservation of government, thecultivating of education, and edifying of consensus as the means, playing the resultantforce from all kinds of social forces.Liang Qichao’s thought about the construction of modern state is rich and completein content, forming a unique system in the early period of the Republic of China. Inliang Qichao, elite and mass jointly promote the construction of modern state, tobecome a feature. Modern state first is national, national is the owner and builder of thestate. Elite and mass should undertake duty-bound responsibility in the construction ofmodern state as a the two major social group. However, the size and scope ofresponsibility are different. Specifically, as the country’s elite, intellectual class shouldplay a role of leading and reforming in the process of construction of modern state.Liang Qichao believed that the fate of a state often was held by a minority of people.The intellectual class mastered the hinge of departments of state. Intellectual class whoonly has corresponding quality and behavior including the excellent quality, superiorlearning, good fame and lofty moral, just may to undertake the important task ofconstruction. Mass who makes up the majority of national, should actively participate inthe construction of modern state and promote it. The way mass participates in nationalpolitics is mainly in the following three: Political voting, political electing and politicalexpressing. Because of the low quality and ability, it is necessary that developinguniversal compulsory education and social education for promoting the participationconsciousness and participation ability of the mass. In spite of Liang Qichao’s thoughtabout the construction of the modern state has prodigious rationality, but in thecomplicated situation both at home and abroad, didn’t get practice. There were manyreasons. This paper argues that we could understand mainly from the following twoaspects: in the aspect of subjectivity, Liang Qichao excessively trust and rely on YuanShikai, which results in the executive basic of construction scheme is not firm,accordingly provides convenience for Yuan Shikai’ despotism and monarchy; in theaspect of impersonality, the national lack of modern political accomplishment andexperience, the space of republican political practice limited, are the important obstaclesof the practice of Liang Qichao’ construction scheme. In the early years and later of the republic of China, Liang Qichao’s thought aboutthe construction of the modern state has failed to get practice. It may be a failure in thepolitical history. But it is progressive obviously in Chinese political thought evolution,its, having the important value and significance which is not allow to ignore. Its someinherent reasonable proposals and ideas, and the complex interactive relationship withearly political practice of the republic of China, have the vital significance for thepresent China still in a transition period. Specifically: First, Chinese political reformshould adhere to own road. China’s modern transformation needs a stable internationaland domestic environment, especially a stable unitive domestic political situation forsuccessful transformation. As one of the most important aspects of the nationalconstruction, political reform should absorb any achievement and experience. However,because of the special national conditions, It should become the basic stick that Chinaadheres to own road. Second, political construction keeps harmonious with socialconstruction. Political construction is not a separate project, must be in the wholenational construction. Especially should pay attention to the coordination of politicalconstruction and social construction. Politics not only come from society, but also effecton society. They only keep harmonious, the construction of modern state may besuccessful. Third, to adjust the relationship between elite and mass, exerting theirresultant force. Construction of the modern state is a national enterprise, not only elitemust play a leading role, but also pay attention to the participation and promoting ofmass. Fourth, the reformers should industriously possess great wisdom and strongperseverance. Reform as the way of realizing the modern transformation in China,wisdom and perseverance of reformers will deeply influence the reform.
Keywords/Search Tags:Liang Qichao, Construction of Modern State, Early Years of the Republicof China, Thought
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