The Late Qing Dynasty Hanyeping System Changes (1889-1911)

With the pace of Western Powers' encroachment and formation of western learning spreading to the east situation, the joint stock system that is western advanced enterprise system began to be introduced into China after the Opium War. So the enterprise system of China at that time was forced to merge with it, even to convert to it gradually. But there were many problems in enterprise system changing that resulted in little profit to changing enterprises during Qing Dynasty period. Hanyeping Company founded at the end of the 19^th century experienced three system format successively at Late Qing Dynasty period: the first was government-run format, the second was merchant-run under official supervision format, the last was complete merchant-run format(i.e: joint stock system). And this evolution order was of completeness. Moreover, Hanyeping Company belonged to heavy industry which needed huge investment and high technology. So it was the largest scale enterprise at Late Qing Dynasty period, and its problems in system changing were also typical. In this dissertation, the author tries to review the reasons that decision-makers adopted or changed certain system and some typical cases that happened in managements, then to find the main problems in system changing and crucial failure causes. In the end, to try to conclude the common deep-seated reasons for system changing enterprises of Late Qing Dynasty.The dissertation includes four chapters, in addition to introduction and conclusion. Chapterâ… is investigation on system and correlative questions happened during managing Hubei Coal and Iron Causes at 1870s and 1880s. It refers to political human relations that Lihongzhang and Shengxuanhuai depended on, the reasons that Lihongzhang and Shengxuanhuai adopted or changed certain system, the abortion reasons of Hubei Coal and Iron Cause, and so on. The author argues that the Lihongzhang and Shengxuanhuai's value and managing idea did not get rid of the traditional feudal Confucianism and bureaucrat feeling. They regarded Hubei Coal and Iron Cause as a part of their political lives, then made decision in choosing and changing system from personal benefit view.Chapterâ…¡is investigation on governmeng-run system and correlative questions from 1889 to 1896. It refers to Zhangzhidong's choice of governmeng-run system and reasons, several disputions on Hanyang Ironworks system between Zhangzhidong and Lihongzhang, Shengxuanhuai and its essence, and Zhangzhidong's managing under governmeng-run system. The author argues that the facts listed above show from several side feudal Confucianism domination, Qing goverement's tactics of supporting Zhang and controlling Li policy and combat of self-interest from officialdom. So choice or change on system was the synthetical outcome of several political factors.Chapterâ…¢, about merchant-run under official supervision system and its correlative questions between 1896 and 1907, includes contents as follows: the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 impelled Hanyang Ironworks to change its system from exterior; Zhangzhidong made political deal with Shengxuanhuai so that Hanyang Ironworks' system was altered successfully; merchant-run under official supervision system worked by surveying Recruiting Merchant Rule and appointing managers; scan the essence of Ironworks' changing system through comparing Shengxuanhuai's political success with Ironwork's loss from the end of 19^th century to the beginning of 20^th century; the combat between Shengxuanhuai and Yuanshikai in the beginning of 20^th century influenced Ironworks' system and future. The author argues that the true meaning of Ironworks' changing system is that Zhangzhidong and Shengxuanhuai formed new political clique so that Sheng came into his kingdom in officialdom and business circles. The fact that the combat between Shengxuanhuai and Yuanshikai did harm to Ironworks further confirmed this conclusion from another side.Chapterâ…£is investigation on joint-stock system and correlative questions from 1908 to 1911. The main parts are as follows: the analysis on Shengxuanhuai's reasons that he combined Hanyang Ironworks and Pingxiang Coal Mine and made them turn to complete merchant-run format; the course that he achieved the goal through political means; joint stock system run under Shengxuanhuai's manipulation; skin-deep prosperity and hidden trouble of Hanyeping Company at the end of Late Qing Dynasty. Genearlly, adopting joint stock system is to use its run model of restriction through power-sharing to boost enterprise benefit. But, the author find that it is to strengthen Shengxuanhuai's control on Hanyeping Company for him to combine Hanyang Ironworks and Pingxiang Coal Mine and make them under joint stock system. So joint stock system is nothing but a signboard that prettifies Hanyeping Company modern sense, and has no difference from government-run and merchant-run under official supervision format in essence. In a word, the dissertation opens out that the system change of Hanyeping Company was only form transformation though it kept pace with the history trend of enterprise system change. The motive of Zhangzhidong and Shengxuanhuai adopting and changing system was to enhance their political capital and personal self-interest. So it is the real source that Hanyeping Company and many enterprises such as Hanyeping Company failed to change its system.