Family of Centuries -- Yuan Shikai

Author: Hou Yijie
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: Yuan Shikai, born in Yuanzhai, Xiangcheng, Henan, styled Weiting (also written as Weiting or Weitingting), styled Rong’an. A native of Xiangcheng, Henan, he was adopted by his uncle as a child. Yuan Shikai grew up a life of leisure and comfort, indulging in his whims, and remained unruly even after starting school. He showed no interest in studying but developed the habits of a spoiled heir. However, he was passionate about martial arts and honed excellent horsemanship, which led him to abandon literature for martial arts. After failing the imperial examinations twice, he joined the Huai Army under its commander, Wu Changqing. In 1882, he accompanied Wu Changqing to Korea to suppress internal unrest and was later stationed there. In 1884, he played a crucial role in suppressing the "Jiaoshun Coup" in Korea and was highly praised by Li Hongzhang. In 1885, he was appointed as the Chief Commissioner for Diplomatic and Commercial Affairs in Korea. Before the First Sino-Japanese War, he requested to be transferred back to China. In 1895, he was ordered to Tianjin to organize the newly established army. In 1897, he was promoted to Governor of Zhili and remained in charge of military affairs. In 1900, he suppressed the Boxer Rebellion. In 1901, he was appointed as the acting Viceroy of Zhili and Commissioner-in-Chief of Beiyang. In 1907, he became a member of the Grand Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1909, he returned to Henan after being relieved of his post. In 1911, he was appointed as Viceroy of Hubei and later promoted to Imperial Commissioner. In 1912, with the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Nanjing Provisional Senate elected Yuan Shikai as the Provisional President of the Republic of China. In 1913, he orchestrated the assassination of Song Jiaoren. In 1914, he dissolved the National Assembly. In January 1916, he declared himself emperor, adopting the Hongxuan era. In March 1916, he was forced to abdicate. On June 6, 1916, he died amidst nationwide opposition. Yuan Shikai’s life was marked by controversy. He betrayed the reformists, the Qing court, and the Republic of China. Standing at a pivotal moment in history, he held immense power and could have been a hero who established a new nation and achieved glory. However, he prioritized personal gain over national interests. Although historians have generally held him in low regard, it cannot be denied that during the late Qing and early Republican era, he was at the center of the stage, and we cannot ignore him. In fact, during his tenure as a Qing court official in Shandong and Zhili, Yuan Shikai was a very progressive official and made numerous contributions. In the late Qing constitutional movement, he also played a role as an advocate. Modern Chinese historian Zhang Yuhuan has noted that his greatest flaw was his lack of foresight for the new era and his failure to establish a grand vision for the founding of the Republic of China. This book tells the story of Yuan Shikai’s life. It includes topics such as his rise from poverty to wealth, his adoption, the disintegration of his family, and the differences between him and his uncle. The book takes Yuan Shikai as the main thread, briefly narrating the evolution of the Yuan family over two centuries, integrating individuals, families, and the nation to reflect the political, economic, intellectual, cultural, ethical, and social changes of different eras. The Yuan family of Xiangcheng, Henan, was closely tied to the fate of the nation during the late Qing and early Republican period, primarily due to Yuan Shikai’s significant impact on modern Chinese history. The documented history of the Yuan family dates back to Yuan Shikai’s great-grandfather, Yuan Yaodong. For generations, the Yuan family followed the path of a poor Confucian scholar, diligently pursuing success in imperial examinations, with modest family circumstances and a livelihood based on farming and studying. By the Daoguang and Xianfeng reigns, the Yuan family had risen from poverty to become the wealthiest family in the county. By the late Qing, when Yuan Shikai abandoned literature for martial arts, he took a path different from his ancestors, yet it brought the Yuan family to prominence. Yuan Shikai rose to the rank of Viceroy of Zhili, member of the Grand Council, and Prime Minister of the Cabinet. During the Republic of China, he became president and even declared himself emperor, achieving a level of prominence far exceeding that of his two preceding generations.