A Study On Zhou Shumo's Internal Reforms And Diplomatic Activities In Heilongjiang Province

Zhou Shumo was the second provincial governor of Heilongjiang Province in the Qing Dynasty. He was in office for four years, from March19th, 1908 to Feb5th, 1912. His term coincided with Heilongjiang's reformative era of the late Qing Dynasty, that reform lasted from the year 1907 to 1911.Once on the post, he initiated a series of bold reforms aiming at correcting the abuses of internal affairs in Heilongjiang Province. On the political front, he readjusted the local setup, set up necessary new offices, held corrupted officials accountable for their misconducts, appointed officials on terms of their merits. Economically, he emphasized cultivation by new immigrants, made some changes on the taxation of rice, wine and salt. He encouraged the developments of industrial and mineral industry as well as vocal schools. On the military front, he actively promoted new military standards, trained the new army, quelled the bandits. He took measures, including adding new border patrols to increase border defense. In terms of culture, education and public health,he actively founded four kinds of schools, including ordinary schools,normal schools, and vocal schools. To encourage the development of culture and education, he also built new libraries, launched a newspaper named the Official Newspaper of Heilongjiang Province, he set up the first western hospital under state sponsorship, he launched a campaign to exterminate plague. In addition, he promoted a state- wide ban on smoking.On foreign affairs, he negotiated with Russia many times, demanding the return of the sixty-four villages of the East River, defended the Manchuria, eventually Treaty on the Landmark of Manchuria between China and Russia was signed. All his deeds showed that he did his best to maintain the sovereignty of China, he was obviously a true patriot.After the Wuchang Uprising, the revolutionary situation in Heilongjiang Province got mature. Under such circumstances, he resigned the office under the excuse of poor health. Thus, his political life as chief administrator of Heilongjiang ended.Thou the ultimate goal of his reform activities aimed at maintaining the continual ruling of the Qing Dynasty, his reform had the object effects of having changed the backward outlook of Heilongjiang Province to some extent. His reforms objectively furthered the modernization of this province, politically, economically, culturally and educationally speaking, and etc. In all, his contribution to the development of Heilongjiang Province is undeletable in history.