The Formation And Spreading: The National Humiliation Of Modern China Nationalism (1895-1925)

Since modern times, Chinese nationalism has been fluctuating along with wars of aggression, which became the unfailing depressed emotion haunting the Chinese people. Both military power and the introduction of Tessie theory, encouraged people in this period consciously or unconsciously to redefine the world, nation and even their own position. Because of the turmoil of the background, national construction process was basically accompanied with foreign imperial insult.The word "national humiliation" in this process almost became the theme of all kinds of statements and sports. "The world owned by Chinese and foreigners" took the place of "the world isolated by Chinese", thus national conception was reversed. The nation was owned by all our people, then everyone shall shoulder the responsibilities of the nation and become the subject of "revenge". And the way of revenge, also is no longer "the gentleman cultivates his morality, cultivate the world". From "satisfied with one’s position" to "think beyond one’s position", obviously "revenge" became the main duty for everyone.Since National humiliation was tested by Tessie theory already, following the path of Western development was irresistible. In the process of revenge, from technology, institution to culture, Chinese people were constantly adjusting, reflecting and even hating themselves. At the same time, the conception of "ashamed of our inferiority" aroused by worship of Western culture spread all over the place.Since competition already became a new morality, perceiving shame was no longer the intrinsic value judgment. So Tessie is the only way to promote national humiliation to become a problem urgently needing a all-round solution. Chinese people set Tessie as example, trying to break the traditional image so as to establish the new position in the world. At the same time, they desired to become the world’s leader. Strengthening of the "concept of national humiliation" made them wandering between national inferiority and national pride. "Revenge" became a deep heart knot as well as the basis for overthrowing everything.To the early 20th century, with the spreading of "the theory of being carved up and conquered", the activities of being humiliated began. Intuitive feelings of shame were over the country, extending to underclass. National humiliation formed into a kind of enduring awareness of unexpected development, and collide with the background in continuous retrospect.The worry in Chinese then changed into unwilling to be humiliated, prompting the internal reform to happen.Afterward,the revolution decided to use the slogan of overthrowing Manchu to gain support.However, the republican revolution had nothing to do with the decaying situation which arousing more and more conflict. Although the rememberance of national humiliation was getting its way, the core of learning the theories was missed and became a mere formality and died away quickly. Correspondently, the will appearing in those activities gradually developed into people’s power and formed into an effective emotional power.When those social backlash was against domestics instead of aboard, the change of social conflicts finally prompted national humiliation to turn to internal reflection which looked super strange.And finally it changed the trend of the politics of modern China.