Research On Li Hongzhang’s Thought Of Modernization Of Technology

Technical modernization is the first step of China’s modernization, namely thestart stage. As a master of westernization movement and the pioneer of China’smodernization, Li Hongzhang made outstanding contribution to China’smodernization. However, the posterity to his evaluation is mixed. Up to now, there isstill no conclusion. There are too many reasons. This paper are unable to give his lifea complete evaluation. But in the modernization perspective, throughout China at thattime, there was nobody could compete him. Therefore, from the angle of technologymodernization, this article make an analysis and has a research of the origins of LiHongzhang’s technology modernization, the content and the practice of it. The aim isto made a contribute to the deepening of China’s modern history research field, alsocan serve as a reference for today’s socialist modernization.Roughly, this paper divided into the following several steps. First of all, the ageof Li Hongzhang’s age as the breakthrough point, this paper deeply discusses theinternational and domestic background and personal factors of Li Hongzhang’stechnology modernization thoughts, emphatically elaborated the ideological basis of it.Then, analyzes the thoughts and practice of technical modernization of Li Hongzhangfrom humanization form, materialized form and the information form and otherseveral aspects. On humanization level, as leader and pioneer of the westernizationmovement Li Hongzhang established new schools, sending students, reform theimperial examination system, for the new talent created good condition to learn andgrow. On materialized form level, Li Hongzhang founded modern mining and modernindustrial enterprises, building railways, promote the modernization of Chinaimplements. On the information level, Li Hongzhang and the die-hards are resistingwall, blow away the cobwebs, to a certain extent, eliminate the augean stables ofChinese society has long feudal folly; he set up bookstores, translated many westernbooks, expand the exchange of Chinese and western, and the spread of westernadvanced technology in China.Through to the analysis of Li Hongzhang’s thought of technology modernization,it is not hard to find that his technology modernization thought had objectivelypromoted the rise of China’s national capitalism, driving the spread of moderntechnology and development, and promoted the modernization of China. However,due to many reasons, Li Hongzhang’s efforts did not have the desired effect.