Century of humiliation
The century of humiliation (simplified Chinese: 百年国耻; traditional Chinese: 百年國恥; pinyin: bǎinián guóchǐ),[1] also referred to as the century of national humiliation, the hundred years of humiliation, and similar permutations, is a term used in Chinese popular culture and by mainland Chinese historians. It describes the period of subjugation China suffered under imperial foreign powers, both Western and Japanese.[2]
Events
The beginning of the century is usually dated to the mid-19th century, on the eve of the First Opium War[3] and the widespread addiction and political unraveling of China that followed.[4] While many African and Asian countries were ravaged during this age of New Imperialism, China was particularly traumatized because of the "sense of superiority" it nurtured from being a longtime tributary power. Other major events cited as part of the Century of humiliation are, the unequal treaties of Whampoa and Aigun, the Taiping Rebellion, the Second Opium War and the sacking of the Old Summer Palace, the Sino-French War, and the First Sino-Japanese War. In this period, China lost all the wars it fought and had to give major concessions to the great powers in the subsequent treaties.[5]
The CCP has incorporated the 1903–1904 British expedition to Tibet into the Century of humiliation with the making of the film Red River Valley and with centennial memorials in 2004, as well as in the "Anti-British" museum at Gyantse and reference to the city as the "City of Heroes."[6]
End
It is generally considered to have ended with the expulsion of foreign powers from mainland China after World War II,[7] and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. Some commentators consider the century to have concluded with the reunification of Hong Kong with the PRC, ending foreign occupation of Chinese soil.[8] Some even more radical definitions believe that the century will not end until Taiwan is reunified with the mainland.[9]
Implications
As a result of the Century of humiliation and the Chinese Communist Party's historiography[10] "sovereignty and integrity of [Chinese] territory" is a major force in Chinese nationalism. It has colored Chinese perceptions of incidents like the US bombing of the People's Republic of China embassy in Belgrade, the Hainan Island incident, and European and American protests for Tibetan independence along the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay.[11]
References
- ^ "China, Humiliation & the Olympics". The New York Review of Books, vol. 55, no. 13. 2008-08-14. p. 3.
- ^ Zheng Wang. "National Humiliation, History Education, and the Politics of Historical Memory: Patriotic Education Campaign in China". International Studies Quarterly. 52 (4 (December 2008)): 783–806, p.784.
- ^ Paul A Cohen (2003). China Unbound. London: Routledge. p. 148.
- ^ Chang, Maria Hsia (2001). Return of the dragon: China's wounded nationalism. Westview Press. p. 69–70. ISBN 9780813338569.
- ^ Nike, Lan (2003-11-20). "Poisoned path to openness". Shanghai Star. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ^ "China Seizes on a Dark Chapter for Tibet", by Edward Wong, The New York Times, August 9, 2010 (August 10, 2010 p. A6 of NY ed.). Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ^ A L Friedberg. "The Future of U.S.-China Relations: Is Conflict Inevitable?". International Security. 2 (Fall 2005): pp 7–45, p 20.
{{cite journal}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Dong Wang (2005). China's unequal treaties: narrating national history. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. p. 78.
- ^ Muthiah Alagappa (2001). Taiwan's Presidential Politics. New York City: M. E. Sharpe. p. 33.
- ^ W A Callahan. "National Insecurities: Humiliation, Salvation and Chinese Nationalism" (PDF). Alternatives. 20 (2004): pp 199–218, p 199.
{{cite journal}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Jayshree Bajoria (April 23, 2008). "Nationalism in China". Council on Foreign Relations.
See also
  | This article related to the history of China is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |