Essay Sample on Hsieh Fucheng: Scholar and Champion of Socio-Economic Change in Remote China

Introduction

Born on April 12, 1838, Hsieh Fucheng just like his father was a scholar. He came from Wuxi city in the East Coastal province within the Yangzi River. He passed the civil service examination, but chaos emerging from the South and Central part of China made it harder for him to gain access through the imperial bureaucracy. Consequently, much of his attention in his life was directed to the challenges that came with socio-economic structures within the remotest parts of China thus paving way for rebellion against the authority. Hsieh's entire life has been characterized by the failure of reforming structures in the Imperial Chinese nation. Given the dogmatic Marxism that dominated the native Chinese historians, and a merge of dogmatic modernization from the Chinese immigrants in America, the two theories came to conclude him as a die-hard reformer whose zeal was drowned with communism, liberalism and nationalism. Hsieh died during the onset on Sino Japanese war.

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Thesis Statement

Any significant development for any country is determined by the intellectual development and the nature of technology at hand.

Hsiehs's First Advancements

In the first instance, he presented a plan to the master mind behind the defeat of the Taiping rebel's _Zeng Guofang and provided ways in which the Nian Rebellion would be controlled.

In 1875, after having joined Guofan's staff, Hsieh came up with suggestions of creating a well-established state. In his 6-fold administrative plan, Hsieh suggested that talented men ought to occupy the foreign related posts. According to Hsieh, such positions would place such men in positions that would well position the interests of the China state. This later came to be fulfilled when he personally took the position of being an ambassador in four nations: England, Belgium, France and Italy. Throughout his diplomatic administration Hsieh gained good reputation, and strengthened ties between borders. He also suggested that the main western technologies such as the rail structures and telegraphs were to assimilated within the Chinese Imperial state. Hsieh also advised on the expansion of tea exports, imperial navy as well as the mining industries. Such were the proposals that earned him great reputation and therefore invited to join Li Hongzang-the most powerful official of that time.

His proposals were a great relief as they paved way for growth for economic development. Basing on the aspects of advancing commerce and industry, Hsieh believed that Chinese textiles and tea were the right bet for the Western Europe and British taste. This approach would create wealth for the peasants in the Chinese rural areas since there would be enough accumulation of profits collected from the producers and manufacturers that were directly involved in these industries. The main interest of Hsieh was therefore an all-round approach, to bring out the best in the welfare and interest of the China state. Hsieh's focus was also directed to the development of efficient transport and communication systems similar to those in the advanced western countries, in terms of the railway systems, as well as the telegraph networks.

Hsieh's third strategy was for China scholars to enroll for Western science and also create more room for schools that would impart such knowledge. According to Hseih, the Westerners were dedicated learners, they were also resilient and have positive energy of getting new ideas and adding to their development throughout the centuries.

Hsieh's Face of Criticism

However, Hsieh's theoretical proposal of 'profit' accumulating more wealth from the merchants and therefore reinforcing the economic structure of the entire state got at the peak of criticism, according to the orthodoxy of the state. Profit and benevolence were totally different. The profit part of it was just for the 'greedy' merchants who had to be kept under control so as not to interfere with the goodwill the society. Hsieh was more specific to his suggestion, and pointed that China needed to gain much profit from the international trade lest they get exploited from the other foreign countries, (pg. 47-48)

The idea for China to be assimilated through "westernization" was also criticized. According to the state, there was no need for this since the state had sustained itself basing on its native traditions, beliefs and education system for long without it.

Another argument pointed out that western ways actually emanated from China state, (pg. 22) it's only that the old Chinese natives opted not to follow what had actually been imitated from the Chinese civilization. Not to mention the aspect of 'profit' and technology.

A Prolific Scholar

Hsieh's venture into many states abroad has been particularly characterized by his passion for knowledge and the quest for gathering evidence that would provide reforms for China. His first diary which printed in 1891 well covers his encounters while he was an ambassador in England. The translations of the pages well describes the influence of European culture to his beliefs and the diplomatic strategies that he undertook as a result. Just like many diaries, Hsieh's solitary mood in a foreign land was not only contributed by foreign physical outlook, but also by the changes of socio integration that was brought out by the human language, beliefs and customs. In Hsieh's diary, he provides a self- defense mechanism that would embalm and nurture his own rigid sense of belonging and not deterred by any foreign order. The diaries Hsieh wrote provided a rich source of information about foreign places to the Imperial court, they were found somewhat more relevant given that he describes the general impression about Europe and relates on how it can reform the domestic structures back home.

The 19th century has been marked by Hsieh's comparison of China and Europe in terms of intellectual growth. He particularly identifies the features that brings out the differences between these two cultures. Under such, Hsieh identifies the similarity aspect of astronomy and energy between the two states (pg 194), chemistry (pg 100) as well as Christianity ( pg 108). Hsieh closely monitors the manners and customs of the Western culture. Owing to his sincere attribute, He observed the government structures as well as the general political outlook of the Western states. pg (113-114).

Being an avid reader, Hsieh dedicated the first months of his stay in Britain to read through the past resourceful materials with the main objective of learning how those nations have been relating with China in the past.

According to Hsieh, the only way China would thrive in the way of exploration was simply to overcome the phobia about the foreign land and embrace the spirit to explore other countries.

Hsieh’s Outstanding Actions and the Impact on Qiny Dynasty Concerns 1n 19th Century

Having served as an intendant within the Zhejiang province, Hsieh was also appointed as a surveillance commissioner in Hunan province, he then became an ambassador in four nations: England, France, Italy Belgium. He was skilled as earlier predicted, therefore such roles were the best fit for him as he was knowledgeable. In fact, his 1889 publications also formed the epitome of his fame. He won approval from both the Chinese and Britain officials. Just like ZengJizeing. Hseih equally worked in accordance to the demands of the Britain officials something that also gave him the audacity to diplomatically deal with the main challenges that were affecting the China state with the Britain.

The ill treatment of the Chinese in the rural area by the Britain and France was one among the main issues. The 1860 peace accords had allowed the Christian missionaries to live in any part of China, however, the Catholics of France and German origin protested the idea and through such confrontations, there was perpetual uproar in a bid to drive out the Christian missionaries eventually leading to deaths of foreigners. However according to Hsieh, such incidents were more of planned conspired incitements. The magistrates and the local leaders were biased and failed to administer justice as the move was not protecting the foreign rights. The clean interest of the central government which aimed at stopping the escalation of such confrontations was also supported by Hsieh, who managed to cool down the storm for the special interest of European unity ( pg 73-74).

Secondly, Hsieh ensured significant representation of the Chinese officials in the foreign states especially the British colonies within Hong Kong, Australia, and Singapore. As a matter of fact, numerous Chinese were taken in such territories and subjected to slavery. According to Hsieh, there was need for China to come up with protective measures that would aim at protecting the affected subjects. Alternatively, the directive was also a way of protecting the wealthy and successful Chinese businessmen that lived within such colonies as their business directly and positively impacted on China's westernization. Within a period of two years, consulates from China had been established within the colonies, which was a good move and success for Hsieh. (Pg 78-79)

The Burma -Yunnan border was the third issue of contention - The "Margary affair". August Raymong Margary who was a Britain explorer had been murdered under unexplained circumstances at the Yunnan border. The Burma-Yunnan border was a remote area characterized with mountains, jungles and valleys, and more so a British colony that neighbored Yunnan - a province within China. There was need for Hsieh to clearly define the border to avoid further confrontations. Much zeal and strength was put to this case and through a series of maps and reports, Hsieh finally managed to come to a peacefully treaty on 1894 (pg. 194).

The last challenge in which Hsieh failed to execute his diplomatic strength was on the issue of British India border as well as the interests in Afghanistan from both the Russian Turkestan and Chinese Turkestan. In one of his texts within the diary, Hsieh has expressed his grief noting that Russians have the bad custom of invading the Chinese land in the night and stealing away gold from the underlying rivers .However, the kind of diplomatic relations between China and Russia became more complicated. Hsieh's persisted with negotiations for 3 years but unfortunately failed to reach the desired terms of agreement. Upon his departure back to China, the situation worsened.

Hseih as a Frontier for China’s Progress

Hseih is seen as an enthusiast scholar who quickly adapts to change and invents the newest ideas that can work well for the welfare China. he immensely dedicates most of his time in studying and observing the culture, beliefs and customs of the foreign culture. In fact in one of his diary texts (10th of the fourth month), Hsieh proudly confirms that western knowledge emanated from the Chinese culture. Evidence to such has been referred to the newspapers, which came from the old journals. Chemistry and postal system came from China's alchemy and Marco polo respectively. The fire well situated at Sichuan province was the inspiration for the development of natural gas that was used for lighting. The tradition discoveries that were first in China have been well assimilated and developed by the Western countries, however China seemingly remained reluctant to add any new developments on their initial discoveries. Hseih affirms that much progress for American and Europe continents is not out of sheer luck but basically on their level of concentration on improving on the level of technology. New inventions in technology is what propels to any significant change in Europe. The Chinese scholars also do have the knowledge however, the only challenge is they are inclined to do their study endeavors within their own tradit...