Liang Shiyi In The Late Qing Dynasty

Liang Shiyi is a well known political figure in late Qing dynasty and early Republic. He initiates into the field of politics through Imperial Examination system at an early age. At the start, his official career was fraught with frustrations. Due to the turbulence of special economic course, his capability of pragmatic practice has been known publicly, attracting Shikai Yuan's attention. He then enters into Yuan's think-tank through the recommendation of a town fellow Shaoyi Tang, establishing close contact with North Warlords group. At that time, Qing government has begun to centralize railway management. With reliance on North Warlords group, Shiyi Liang has been assigned as a dispatcher of the 5th branch with Yu-chuan Pu, director general with railway ministry, left consultant, etc, with great power on railway. Besides, Shiyi Liang is keen on pragmatic study, brave to assume responsibility, and practical to make progress. Internally he unifies railway power and externally retracts rights by revising contract, making tremendous contribution to the development of railway in late Qing dynasty. Meanwhile, by taking the opportunity of redeeming JingHan railway, he suggests establishing Bank of Communications and serves as assistant manager with it, playing a positive role for the development of finance industry in modern times. However, due to Liang's support to Hongxian imperial system, as well as the influence of Lu case, in which he is suspected to betray the nation, he is despised and it almost ruins his life. As a result, the study of Shiyi Liang is seldom touched upon by historians. And there are many cases people take a part as a whole. Liang Shiyi's contribution to railway at late Qing dynasty, finance industry and others has been neglected for long. This paper intends to display his influence in diplomacy, railway, finance and other area through Shiyi Liang's review in late Qing dynasty, in the expectation of attaining more attention from the academic area and giving Liang a comprehensive and objective evaluation.This paper includes four major segments:The first segment deals with Liang Shiyi's family status and becoming an official. Influenced by both the open social environment in Canton and enlightening family atmosphere, he has formed pragmatic thoughts. During the period of lecturing and being an official, he puts his thoughts into action gradually. After he enters into Shikai Yuan's government, he has established close relationship with North Warlord group, which provides possibility for his personal ambition.The second part elaborates on his foreign affair in assisting Shaoyi Tang. The foreign activities not only demonstrate Shiyi Liang's diplomatic talent, but also hep him to build up close relationship with Shaoyi Tang, which facilitates his entering into traffic industry.The third part expounds Shiyi Liang's activity in railway industry in late Qing dynasty. This is the focus of this paper. Through his activities in centralizing railway power and retracting railway rights, it exhibits his contribution to railway development in late Qing dynasty, and analyzes the relationship between these activities and traffic system with him as the head.The fourth part focuses on Shiyi Liang's activities in finance industry. The description of his establishing Bank of Communications displays his contribution to finance industry in late Qing or even early Republic, and it also demonstrates the influence on him and the traffic system.