Guangxu’s Views On Outside China

Influenced by the invasion of western culture, the Emperor Guangxu learned English and "New Books" for knowledges of western culture and its impact on Chinese culture. During these studies he gradually recognized the challenges from the advanced western culture to Chinese culture. As introspection Guangxu sharply pushed the institution system reform of Chinese traditional culture for hundred days in1898(Wu Hsu Reform) forward. Meanwhile, he accepted some notions from the Reformists Group besides the pragmatism of the Westernization Group, whose assertion is "Based on Traditional Chinese Values and Aided with Western Application".Influenced by the invasion of western militarism, Guangxu changed his foreign polices from conflict to negotiation which were failed for disagreement of the Empress Dowager Cixi. For example, he advocated war of Sino-French from1884to1885and Sino-Japanese from1894to1895but negotiation with11western powers at1901.However, Guangxu promoted classical diplomatic etiquette of the Qing dynasty combined with western modernization in order to defend for sovereignty since his reins of government. His aspiration for equal diplomacy was in accordance with people’s pursuit in modern times. To give explanatory and fully notes of Guangxu’s foreign ideas, some comparisons were taken between he and the Emperor Kangxi, the Empress Dowager Cixi as well as the Emperor Meiji. Conclusions could be drawn that Guangxu’s foreign polices were positive for development of modern China in spite of some intrinsic defects.