Rebirth of the Universe - The Modernization Process of Modern China

Author: Zou Mulu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Amidst the overwhelming winds and rains from all directions, under the setting sun of China, all the upright men of China rose in solidarity. For five or six generations, the finest sons and daughters of the Chinese nation gathered under the banners of nationalism and stateism. They courageously embarked on the long journey of modernization to awaken the sleeping, to rise the ancient civilized nation, and to revitalize the declining cultural nation. With their youth, blood, and lives, they demonstrated the firm will and determination of the Chinese people to advance towards modernization. This book tells the joys, sorrows, and tears of six generations of Chinese people in the turbulent historical tides following the outbreak of the Opium War. In 1840, amidst the smoke of war from the Opium War, modernization hurriedly approached from the distant shores of the Atlantic. People could not understand why these "foreign devils" who had previously bowed low before the Chinese government and even seemed subservient suddenly became so powerful? Almost all Chinese people had no idea that the things the "foreign devils" possessed were called industrial products, and the distinct characteristics they represented marked the beginning of world modernization. From this point on, the previously isolated flat world had truly become a sphere where people could interact and communicate; and all nations and ethnic groups, regardless of size, were integrated into a vast network. For the Chinese people, who had long possessed excellent cultural traditions and relatively advanced craftsmanship, learning a little advanced technology from the Westerners in the 1840s was not particularly difficult, even though the Chinese people had never fully recognized the importance of modernization. The reason for China's slow progress in modernization was due to serious social problems within China itself. The purpose of this book is not to explore modernization itself but to focus on the social analysis after China's slow start in modernization. We know that the foundation of a strong nation lies in its people, and the collective or individual vitality of the people comes from cohesive society. A mentally sound and responsive society, in turn, profoundly influences the psychology and behavior of every individual. A chaotic and disordered traditional society, disintegrated masses, rigid and dogmatic government, conservative and corrupt officials, and a large and floating population of unemployed—all these were unfavorable factors for China to embark on modernization. China's only advantage was its unified nation and centralized government, but after 1840, the nation was increasingly abandoned by its people due to the corruption and incompetence of officials at all levels of the central government. In the long-term opposition and struggle between the Chinese people and the central government, the overall strength of the entire nation was inappropriately wasted. In such a situation, from 1840 to 1949, the Chinese people almost lost the spiritual driving force to advance towards modernization in a completely disordered state.