The Debate Of Qing Dynasty’s Constitutionalism And Reflections Of Its Modernity

The Qing Dynasty was faced of a difficult situation in the 19 th century who had to try a variety of ways to get out of the straits.But its strategy was always slow.The leadership heated discussed in the British model and the German model selection when they realize the importance of the Constitution.This discussion was ultimately reflected the Chinese people’s awareness and understanding of constitutionalism in different sectors and position.Chinese traditional culture did not have the bases of ideological foundation of constitutional.In the debate,the Qing dynasty was not rational and cannot make the right choice.This paper hopes to explore the evolution of the late Qing government and by thinking of constitutional to get some of the inspiration and experience to Chinese contemporary constitutional at the age.The first chapter is preamble.Trying to do some groundwork for the full paper and make a foundation for essence.The second chapter describes thecharacteristics of British constitutional model and the German-Japanese constitutional to discuss the difficulties between two models, as well as the Qing government selection process for the two models. Why does Qing Dynasty choose the German-Japanese modelsA further reason of selecting German and Janpanese models is demonstrated in cha pter 3, "Hua Yi Debate" is the psychological barrier for Manchu archons. The debate greatly hampered the Manchu archons perception of constitutional government, it also had effect on advanced intellectuals at that time. Consequently, the entire government had a backward and slow understanding for the constitutional. Furthermore, worries a bout its own legitimacy in Manchu regime made the attitude of the Qing government t oward constitutionalism can not stick, which let the constitutionalism makes people lo se prestige, and let the Qing empire ruined its majesty.In the fourth chapter,through the reflection of the constitutionalism in the late Qing Dynasty, China’s traditional culture does not have the fundation of constitutionalism. Millions of intellectuals in the process of saving the nation were trying in vain to takin g the constitutionalism as a weapon to enrich the country and increase its military forc e, although they were failed to stick in frustration agin and agin, but still can not be su cceed. Trying to use Chinese culture which was lack of modern classical to carry pro ved of modern constitutional civilization, this way was not going to work. Finally, through the selfexamination of the deficiency in modernity of classical Chine se culture, we got some inspiration for constitution of constitutional government, whic h is important to remold the authority and faith of constitution, and oppose the Constit utional Instrumentalism.Constitutionalism not only cannot save the national, also redu ced to Orangum, and then let Chinese hundred years’ constitutionalism dream frequen tly frustrated. This items undoubtedly worthy of our reflection, and to be lessons in to day’s socialist constitutional construction.