A Study Of Xu Shichang And The Transformation Of Late Qing In The Northeast

As the important birthplace of Qing imperial family, Northeast Three Provinceshad been recognized as very special status in every periods of Qing Dynasty. After theOpium War, the northeast region suffered repeatedly wars and its crisis increased. Thesituation of Northeast Three Provinces became more difficult. In order to save thenortheast and safeguard its own rules, Qing government declare that establishprovinces and governor-general in April 1907. Because of his political foresight, XuShichang received the power's appreciation and were appointed as the firstgovernor-general to administer fully the reformation of Northeast Three Provinces.Xu Shichang had planned to program northeast border for a long time. That hisnew knowledge for the transformation of late Qing and his program about thenortheast shows fully his manner and strategy of a new-generation politicians. Heintroduced a series of new measures: from internal affairs to diplomacy;from politicsand economy to culture and education. These measures promoted comprehensivelymodernization process and made Northeast Three Provinces take on an entirely newlook. In politics, he reformed fully administrative body and system of Northeast ThreeProvinces and established a province system of capitalist separation of powers thenbegan national reformation of local expertise of late Qing. This strengthened thecontrol of Qing Dynasty in the northeast. His national guidelines and policies adaptsmulti-ethnic unity formed in special conditions of history, reflects the actual conditionof the northeast border, closes interaction of the various ethnics and accelerates theintegration of all national people. In economy, beginning from settling finance, hetried to open up a new situation and promote modern transformation of economicstructure which not only has laid the foundation for economy development but alsoresisted effectively the invasion of Japan and Russia . In military, combining actualsituation of three provinces , Xu Shichang and other officers reformed fully thenortheast army's leadership structure, organization, recruitment and transformation ofthe old army so on. His military reformations not only promotes the development ofmodern Chinese military and education but also consolidate national defense andimprove our national spirit In education, on the basis of the predecessors'reformations, he issued detailed education policies and established the guidelines ofdeveloping education which included the reform of educational institutions, set upnew schools, selected students to overseas , created of libraries and newspapers andcompiled local chronicles so on. Such as a series of measures promoted effectively thedevelopment of Northeast Three Provinces. In addition, in order to gain back thesovereignty, create a good external environment and conditions for the reform anddevelopment, advance the pace of the northeast modernization, Xu Shichang madeunremitting efforts and created representations Division system. This not onlychanges the situation of Northeast Three Provinces' diplomatic institutions but alsohad far-reaching influence on our local diplomatic reform. On the other hand, he triedbest to change introverted and compromise weaknesses into open and resistingdiplomacy. Conformity with "defending sovereignty against Japan and Russia"foreign policy, he established diplomatic strategy and take actual diplomatic activitiesto safeguard national sovereignty and struggle with the enemies. By his high nationalresponsibility and extraordinary talent, Xu Shichang has made a unique contributionto the diplomatic for China in the early 20th century. He gain an internationalreputation and won dignity for China. It should be said that he is accomplish figuresin the northeast history. He creates a new situation in the northeast modernizationprocess and leads developing orientation.In semi-colonial and semi-feudal social background, Xu Shichang's reforms aresubject to the limitations of time and history and exist deficiencies and shortcomings :the reform is initial matter whose policies and regulations needed improvement;allsorts of contradictions are complicated and political difficulties aren't eliminated;many measures aren't implemented which is pity;such as "borrowing bonds, theopening, uniting nations "hasn't effect. Although he made best efforts, he only makepartial and limited success in some aspects, then can't completely reverse Japan andRussia to contend the northeast. This is not only a personal unfortunately but thetimes . It is worth mentioning that it come into Northeast Three Provinces which is akey step for the group. Meanwhile, Xu Shichang's two years' administration hassignificant influence on his own and leaves a strong stroke in his life.