Hundred Days' Reform facts for kids

The Hundred Days' Reform was a big effort to change China. It happened for 103 days, from June 11 to September 22, 1898. This movement aimed to modernize China's culture, politics, and education. It took place during the end of the Qing dynasty. The young Guangxu Emperor and his supporters led these changes. But powerful conservative leaders, especially Empress Dowager Cixi, stopped the reforms. They feared the changes were too fast. Cixi later supported other reforms after foreign armies invaded China.

Why China Needed Change: The Hundred Days' Reform Story

China tried to modernize after losing the First Opium War (1839–1842) and Second Opium War (1856–1860). This effort was called the Self-Strengthening Movement. It focused mainly on getting modern weapons for the army. However, it did not change the government or society much.

The problems with this approach became clear during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895). China lost to Japan, which had made big changes to its whole country. This defeat led to more unfair treaties with European countries. These countries took advantage of China's weakness.

Thinkers like Tan Sitong, Kang Youwei, and Liang Qichao saw China's troubles. They saw political problems, rebellions, and fights with other countries. So, they came up with new ideas to fix China. They wanted to make big political changes.

What the Reformers Wanted to Do

Some leaders in the Qing government were worried enough to listen. They allowed Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao to suggest reforms to Emperor Guangxu. The Emperor agreed with their ideas. Some of Kang's students also got small but important jobs in the capital. They helped with the reforms.

The main goals of these reforms included:

• Ending the old traditional examination system. This system was how people got government jobs.
• Getting rid of "sinecures." These were jobs that paid money but didn't require much work.
• Starting Peking University. This new university would teach science, arts, and Chinese studies.
• Opening agricultural schools in all provinces. They also wanted schools and colleges in all cities.
• Building a modern education system. This meant studying math and science, not just old Confucian texts.
• Encouraging members of the royal family to study in other countries.
• Changing the government from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. An absolute monarchy means one ruler has all the power. A constitutional monarchy means the ruler shares power with laws or a government.
• Using ideas from capitalism to make the economy stronger.
• Making China's military modern. This included new training methods.
• Starting a naval academy for the navy.
• Using unused military land for farming.
• Making China industrial very quickly. This meant more factories, trade, and business.
• Starting trade schools for making silk, tea, and other Chinese crafts.
• Creating a special office for railways and mines.

The reformers believed China needed more than just "self-strengthening." They felt that new ideas must come with changes to the government and people's ways of thinking.

Why Some People Opposed the Reforms

Many conservative leaders strongly opposed the reforms. They thought the changes were too extreme. They wanted slower, smaller changes. Some conservatives, like Prince Duan, even thought foreign advisors were part of a plot. They wanted to get rid of all foreigners from China.

The reformers also planned to remove Empress Dowager Cixi from power. Tan Sitong asked a general named Yuan Shikai to help. The plan was for Yuan to arrest Cixi. However, Yuan told Cixi's supporter, Ronglu, about the plot instead.

How the Reforms Ended: The Coup

With support from conservatives and the army, Cixi acted quickly. She launched a sudden takeover of the government on September 22, 1898. This is known as a coup d'état. Guangxu Emperor was put under house arrest at the Summer Palace. He stayed there until he died in 1908.

Cixi stopped all the reforms. The main supporters of the reforms were called the "Six Gentlemen of Wuxu." They were Tan Sitong, Kang Guangren, Lin Xu, Yang Shenxiu, Yang Rui, and Liu Guangdi. They were ordered to be executed.

Changes like ending the old writing style were reversed. Offices and agencies that had been removed were brought back. New newspapers, groups, and schools were all closed. The two main leaders, Kang Youwei and his student Liang Qichao, escaped to Japan. They tried to set up a constitutional monarchy in China from there, but they were not successful. Tan Sitong refused to flee and was executed.

During this time, several generals, including Dong Fuxiang, Ma Anliang, and Ma Haiyan, were called to Beijing. They helped Cixi end the reform movement. Dong Fuxiang's Muslim army later took part in the Boxer Rebellion.

What Happened After the Reforms Failed

The failure of the Hundred Days' Reform had big effects. About ten years later, Cixi's court did put some reforms into action. These were called the New Policies. For example, the Imperial Examination was finally ended in 1905. Education and the military were modernized, following Japan's example. There was also an attempt at a constitutional government.

However, the sudden and ambitious nature of the 1898 reforms actually made them fail. One lasting effect was the creation of the New Army. This army later led to a time of "warlordism," where military leaders controlled different parts of China.

The failure of the reform movement also made many people want a revolution. They felt that changing the government from the inside was hopeless. Overthrowing the entire Qing government seemed like the only way to save China. These feelings helped lead to the success of the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, just over a decade later.