Yuan Shikai

Author: Hou Yijie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Yuan Shikai faced many controversies in his life, betraying the reformists, the Qing court, and the Republic of China government one after another. Standing at a pivotal point in history, he held immense power and could have become a hero who established a nation and achieved merits. However, he was more concerned with personal gain than with the nation's welfare. Although historians have generally held a low opinion of Yuan Shikai and paid little interest to him, it cannot be denied that he was at the center of the stage during the late Qing and early Republican era, and we cannot ignore him. In fact, during his tenure as a high-ranking official in Shandong and Zhili, the Yuan family was known for its progressive and accomplished officials. He also played a role in the late Qing constitutional movement. Modern Chinese historian Zhang Yuhuan has stated that his greatest flaw was his lack of foresight for the new era and his failure to establish grand plans for the newly founded Republic of China. This book tells the story of Yuan Shikai, including his rise from poverty to wealth, his adoption into the Yuan family, the disintegration of his family, and the differences between him and his uncle. Focusing on Yuan Shikai as the main thread, the book briefly narrates 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 late Qing and early Republican China, primarily due to the significant impact of Yuan Shikai in 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 adhered to Confucianism, pursuing the path of ordinary poor scholars dedicated to imperial examinations, tirelessly striving for fame and recognition. Their family life was quite difficult, with farming and studying as their main occupations. By the Daoguang and Xianfeng eras, the Yuan family had risen from poverty to become the wealthiest family in the county. In the late Qing period, Yuan Shikai abandoned his literary studies for military service, taking a path different from his ancestors, but it brought the Yuan family to prominence. He rose to the positions of Viceroy of Zhili, Grand Secretary, and Premier of the Imperial 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.