"Full" and Nationalism

Author: Wang Chunxia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: Regarding the issue of "eliminating the Manchus" during the Xinhai Revolution, scholars both within and outside China had significant disagreements for a long period after the founding of the People's Republic. Since the reform and opening-up, domestic scholars have gained new insights into this issue, but there remains considerable diversity in their views. With the resurgence of nationalist thought on a global scale, people have developed new understandings of nationalism as an ideology. By leveraging new research findings from fields such as international political science and ethnic political science, this paper strives to provide a more comprehensive explanation of the issue using a broader range of historical materials. The paper is divided into five chapters:
Chapter 1 analyzes the theoretical origins of the "eliminating the Manchus" ideology among the revolutionary faction. It not only inherited the traditional Chinese concept of the "distinction between Xia and Yi," absorbed Western modern racial theories, but was also influenced by the theories and realities of single-nation states. As a result, the "eliminating the Manchus" ideology carried a strong racialist and romantic hue.
Chapter 2 introduces how the revolutionary faction re-shaped the history of the Han nation to establish a single Han Chinese state. This includes the origins and founding ancestor of the Han people, the glorious achievements of the Han in ethnic competition, the genealogy of Han national heroes, the history of Han traitors, and the splendid national culture of the Han—"national essence."
Chapter 3 conducts case studies of representative individuals, organizations, and publications that promoted "eliminating the Manchus." By examining these micro-level examples, the chapter aims to provide a more authentic understanding of the revolutionary faction's mindset and their level of awareness regarding the current situation and ethnic relations.
Chapter 4 examines the intense debates between the revolutionary faction and their opponents. The main adversaries of the revolutionaries were not only the monarchists but also the emerging constitutionalists and anarcho-socialists. During these debates, the revolutionaries' understanding of racial revolution evolved, gradually incorporating elements from their opponents and refining the meaning of "eliminating the Manchus."
Chapter 5 explores the role of the revolutionary faction's "eliminating the Manchus" ideology in the Xinhai Revolution from a practical perspective. Due to the underdeveloped ethnic consciousness and weak awareness of democratic politics among the lower classes, coupled with the revolutionaries' lack of proper guidance, the Xinhai Revolution was tinged with the colors of racialist struggle.
The conclusion of the paper analyzes the significance and shortcomings of "eliminating the Manchus." It points out that, on one hand, "eliminating the Manchus" contributed to the awakening of Han national consciousness, and as the dominant ethnic group in China, the Han people's awakening also benefited the rise of the Chinese nation. On the other hand, "eliminating the Manchus" attributed all domestic ethnic conflicts to China's fundamental contradictions, causing the revolution to deviate from its anti-imperialist and anti-feudal direction.