China: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox former country|common_name=China|official_languages=[[Standard Chinese]]|regional_languages=[[Cantonese]] </br> Hokkien </br> Hakka|capital=Namging|largest_city=Canton|legislature=National Parliament|native_name=華民國|conventional_long_name=Chinese Republic|image_flag=RTL Huaxia Flag.png|flag_width=200px|demonym=Chinese|government_type=Constitutional republic|established=1931|established_event1=Annexation of [[Qing]]|established_date1=1936}}
{{Nation
|common_name=China
|full_name=Chinese Republic
|local_name=華夏民國<br />Wah-hah Man-kwok (Cantonese)<br />Hwahsia Minkwo (Mandarin)
|flag=RTL_Huaxia_Flag.png
|established=1857 (Partition) <br /> 1931 (republic) <br /> 1936 (reunification)
|capital= Nanking
|government_type=Constitutional republic
|languages= Cantonese <br /> Mandarin <br /> Banlam <br /> Others
|currency= Wahbai (画; WHB)
|largest_city=Canton (Kwangchow)}}
 
'''China''', officially the '''Chinese Republic of China''' (Chinese: 民國, ''hwamingwo,'' /hwa.min.kwɔ/)'','' is a country in East Asia., Itbordering bordersover theeight countriessovereign ofstates including [[RussiaCorea]], [[MongoliaRussia]], and [[SerindiaTibet]],. It is the most populous country on earth and one of the most economically productive states. Ruled by the [[TibetQing]], and [[VietKingdom Namof Canton|VietnamYe]] for most of the modern era, [[Siam]]the modern republic was established in 1931, andunifying [[Erawa]]the country in 1936.
 
The country has been dominated by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Chinese Han Chinese people] for millennia. Modern China's origins stem from the Canton-based state that split off from the [[Great Qing|Qing empire]] in the 1850s. Constitutional reform led to the establishment of a Chinese republic in 1931 and the reunification of China in 1936. Currently China boasts the largest population of any country in the world.
 
==History==
{{Main|History of China after 1850}}
 
===Ming-Qing Transition===
The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_from_Ming_to_Qing Ming-Qing transition] was one of the deadliest periods in Chinese history that witnessed the fall of the Ming dynasty and the rise of the Qing empire that supplanted it. It caused massive changes in Chinese society, politics, and economics.
 
====Stabilization of the Qing periphery====
King Sangdjong ascended to the Corean throne in 1649. The Southerner Party and the royal court [[Corea#Dutch Influence In Corea and Sjahak|resolved to make peace]] with the new [[Great Qing|Qing dynasty]] and abandon connections to the old Ming regime.
 
In 1650, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Koxinga Zheng] junk unintentionally sinks a Corean ship heading to Tauland. This provoked King Sangdjong to send marine troops to assist Qing-Dutch forces in the Minzhe region against pirates and Ming loyalists. During the [https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A3%81%E7%81%B6%E6%88%B0%E5%BD%B9 Battle of Cizao], Corean soldiers defeated the Zheng army alongside the Manchus.
 
Two years later in the [https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B1%9F%E6%9D%B1%E6%A9%8B%E6%88%B0%E5%BD%B9 Battle of Jiangdong Bridge], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koxinga Koxinga] and his army was defeated at a critical juncture. He was sent to exile in Hirado with his mother, who was evacuated to Japan two years after the Qing conquest of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiangnan Kiang-nan]. During the battle, [https://baike.baidu.hk/item/%E6%9C%B1%E4%BB%A5%E6%B5%B7 Zhu Yihai] betrayed Koxinga and defected to the Qing side. [https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%84%AD%E5%BD%A9 Zheng Cai] fled to the Ryukyu kingdom with a contingent of pirates in an effort to gain materials for the next attack, especially focusing on the sulfur trade.
 
The Zheng family eventually failed to create a Ming loyalist base in southeastern China. Later, many members of the family and their allies participated in the southern Japanese [[History of Japan#Ōmura Rebellion (1656-1658)|Ōmura Rebellion]] in 1656.
 
====Fate of the House of Zhu====
The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Zhu Zhu family], the former royal house of the Ming dynasty, dispersed around China after the Qing's conquest of southern China. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhu_Youlang Yongli Emperor] established an emergency government in 1641 in response to the Qing conquests.
 
At the same time, numerous Jesuit missionaries converted much of the Ming court to Roman Catholicism. This included Empress Dowager [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Wang_(Southern_Ming) Helena Wang], Empress [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Wang_(Southern_Ming) Anne Wang], Empress [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Ma_(Southern_Ming) Maria Ma], and Eunuch [https://books.google.ie/books?id=5yUzntxTZioC&pg=PA197&lpg=PA197&dq=Pang+Tianshou&source=bl&ots=4nrnB0wrD-&sig=ACfU3U3Y0wBRsCTk3AdCwND0seLO2-9HPA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiOt5nduJH2AhXxQEEAHdsuBCsQ6AF6BAgUEAM#v=snippet&q=Pang%20Tianshou&f=false Achilleus Pang]. In 1648, [https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%B1%E6%85%88%E7%85%8A Crown Prince Cihyun] was born and baptized with the Latin name Constantine. The Empress Dowager sent a letter to the Vatican in 1650 requesting assistance to repel the Qing, which was ignored. In 1656, Empress Anne - hearing of the [[Japan#Ōmura Rebellion (1656-1660)|Ōmura Rebellion]] - sent a plea to the Japanese Catholic rebels to help evacuate the imperial family and their entourage.
 
In 1662, the Emperor and the majority of the imperial family were killed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Sangui Wu Sang-kuei] in Yunnan, with the survivors being brought to Peking. However, Empress Maria and the Crown Prince were rescued by a contingent of pirates and loyalists before the massacre. They were brought to Macao via [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanning Namning] where they lived until 1665, and then resided in Manila for two months before returning to the Chinese mainland. The surviving family changed their last names to Ma (馬) and Wong (王) to escape suspicion and survived as commoners for the next century.
 
After Koxinga's defeat in 1652, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhu_Shugui Prince Ningzing] - the only other possible Ming successor - attempted to commit suicide near Tongshan Island. He was saved by an unnamed soldier. He altogether disappeared from historical records, apart from brief mention of his presence in Fort Zeelandia not long after.
 
In 1725, the position of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_of_Extended_Grace Marquis of Extended Grace] was established, with a complacent descendant of the Zhu family from a minor branch taking up the position. The title was purely ceremonial, with its holders being treated as regular Chinese citizens.
 
====Relations with the Dutch====
The Dutch established a base on [[History of Taulandt|Tauland]] in the 1620s, stabilizing their rule in the 1660s. Although not universally welcomed, they fostered a good but informal relationship with the Ming on the mainland. With the Qing conquest of southern China, the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] of Formosa cut their ties with the Ming and established a strong relationship with the [[Great Qing|Qing]] and [[Corea]]. By the 18th century, the Dutch almost monopolized European trade in southern China.
 
===Qing dynasty ===
{{Main|Great_Qing#Western_Qing_dynasty_(1636-1857)}}
 
===Dawn and Dusk period===
This period's name was inspired by the 17th-century book [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_the_Dawn_(book) Waiting for the Dawn] by politician and philosopher [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Zongxi Huang Tsung-hsi]. In this era, lasting from 1857 to 1936, China proper was split into two parts during the Canton War - the [[Great Qing#Eastern Qing dynasty (1857-1936)|Eastern Qing dynasty]] and the Kingdom of Canton.
====Breaking the Monopoly: The Coming of France and Britain====
Britain and France had long desired to break the Dutch monopoly on Asian trade. They had continuously chased any opportunity that came knocking at their door. In the early 1800s, Britain had started to establish a small presence in the southern regions of China (particularly Canton). The Qing, however, were not receptive to this. They started to enact more restrictive trade policies in Canton, leading to the disgruntlement of British and Chinese merchants alike. The influx of Christian missionaries in Canton did not help the situation either, only further alienating the populace from the ruling Qing. An insurrection was brewing in Canton, and this was exactly the opportunity the British and French had longed for.
===The Canton War (1850-1857)===
{{Main|Canton War}}The unrest in Canton grew into an open revolt by 1847. The Qing were slow to respond and faced multiple defeats at the hands of the rebels. The Canton rebels were well-equipped and well-supported by British and French arms, while the Qing army was languishing in their antiquated systems of fighting. By early 1848, the rebels were able to take substantial portions of the southern China region.
 
By late 1848, the leader of the rebellion had garnered enough support and legitimacy in the region. He established a new kingdom, dubbed by the west as the "Kingdom of Canton." This new kingdom would infuse Chinese tradition with western styles, particularly putting Christianity at its core. Britain and France were quick to recognize this new kingdom.
 
On 7 May 1931, the National Reformation Party (華改會, ''hwagaihwei'') mobilized the armed forces and several affiliated paramilitaries across the country, capturing the vast majority of key military and government institutions of the [[Kingdom of Canton]] in just over a month. By 10 June, the Chinese Republic was declared, with notable assemblyman and former compradore [[Teng Acoy]] 鄧阿采 being declared President of the Republic in the following weeks. This event was known as the [[History of China after 1850#Unification Wars: 1931–1940|Sinwei coup]].
At this point, the fledgling kingdom became this unstoppable force aiming at the Qing capital. The Dutch Empire realized that their Asian monopoly was at stake. If this British-backed kingdom becomes the new master of the region, the Chinese trade would be open to other powers besides the Dutch. A Qing collapse would mean the end of the Dutch Empire's Asian enterprise. The Dutch had to act quickly. In the spring of 1849, with the consent of the Qing emperor, the Dutch landed their army on the mainland and launched naval attacks on Canton.
 
== Government and Politics ==
Britain and France nervously watched as the Dutch crushed the rebels marching towards the north. Although not officially in the war, they continued to provide logistical support to Canton. However, they are still looking for an opportunity to intervene in the war and turn the tides. An opportunity came on 1 March 1850, when a Dutch admiral had sunk a British ship carrying gunpowder to Canton: an open act of aggression.
{{Infobox government|government_name=Chinese National Government|nativename=華民國政府|date=1931|document_type=Constitution|document=Articles of Unification|country=[[China]]|legislature=National Parliament|leader_type=Head of state|leader_title=President|main_body=General Secretariat|court_name=Court of appeal|headquarters=[[Namging]]|members_in_assembly=299|government_form=Unitary parliamentary republic|image_size=200px|court=Censorial Senate}}China is a unitary parliamentary republic consisting of 18 provinces 䁞 and 7 urban prefectures 府, characterized as a non-liberal representative system. The country's constitution is the code known as the Articles of Unification (合一憲法, ''he i sienfa''), which were officially enacted by the 8 June 1931 Law, giving the National Parliament power over the armed forces and several senior ministries.
 
==== Legislature and judiciary ====
As soon as Europe got word of the incident, Britain hastily declared war on the Dutch Empire. France soon joined on the side of Canton and the British. This quickly developed into a global conflict, with British and Dutch colonies being pitted against each other in the Americas, and multiple naval battles being fought on the English channel. In China, the Anglo-British-Cantonese alliance was slowly pushing back the Dutch and the Qing.
The National Parliament is the tricameral legislature of the Chinese Republic. It consists of three bodies;
 
* the upper house, the Senior Chamber (磋院, ''cwoyen''), consists of 36 members elected by aldermen 董事 from urban prefectures every seven years.
Things started to look tragic for the Dutch, especially when the Spanish Empire declared a separate war against the distracted Dutch Empire in late 1850, hoping to take some of the territories from the Dutch [[Tussenland|Colony of Tussenland]] in America. Dutch Formosa was now being attacked on all sides, by Britain and France from Canton and the Spanish from Manila.
* the lower house, the General Chamber (共院, ''gongyen''), is a 250-representative body elected by provincial parliaments every seven years.
===Kingdom of Canton (1857-1931)===
* and the Censorial Senate (監察院, ''gamcayen''; shortened to 'the Censorate'), which acts the auditory branch of the Parliament. Its 12 members are called senators. They are nominated every sixteen months by senior regional government officials, approved by at least a plurality vote in the Senior Chamber, and reviewed and confirmed by the General Secretariat.
{{Nation
|common_name=Kingdom of Canton
|local_name=天朝<br />Tenchyew (Cantonese)<br />Tianchow (Mandarin)
|flag=RTL Flag of Canton.png
|capital= Kwangchow
}}
The war ended in disaster for the Dutch and the Qing. In the resulting Treaty of Tchangtcheou (1857), the Kingdom of Canton was formally recognized by all nations, taking most of the southern Qing territory. Multiple treaty ports were opened, specifically Tchangtcheou (France), Foochow, Taichow, Ningpo, and Shanghai (Britain). The Dutch were forced to concede defeat and retract their monopoly on the Asian trade. All Dutch presence in China was removed. This war would later be known in the Dutch-speaking spheres as ''The War of Dutch Humiliation.''
 
Additionally, the General Secretariat appoints a Liaison Officer 議長, an official who oversees and reports on relations between the three bodies of the National Parliament, as well as administering formal communications between the Parliament and the Secretariat. Thus, the total number of members of the Parliament comes to 299.
However, it was the Qing that suffered the most damage in the war. Although still holding a large territory, the situation in post-war Qing had devolved into a constant civil war between local warlords, and they would never recover from that point on/ The Qing would be known as the "Sick Man of Asia [亞洲病夫], and by the late 1880s, although the Qing state was still present ''de jure,'' it was already considered dead. The withering of the Qing in the 1880s had allowed for a new Asian power to enter the global stage: the Empire of Corea.
===Modern China===
Modern China's origin stems from the western-backed Christian rebellion against the Great Qing in 1847 from Kwangchow (Canton). Seeing this as a way to disrupt the Dutch-Qing alliance and trade monopoly, Britain and France supported the "Canton Rebellion." This culminated in the [[Canton War|Canton War (1850-1857)]] that caused the southern half of China to split from the Qing state in 1857.
 
The Censorial Senate, in addition to being an auditory body, functions as the final court of appeal (i.e the supreme court) of the Republic. It is said to have been modeled on the [[Britain|British]] House of Lords in order to contain juridical power within the framework of Parliament.
The southern state that broke away called itself ''Tenchyew'' (天朝; ''heavenly dynasty'') and was ruled by a Cantonese Christian dynasty. ''Tenchyew'' was more commonly known as the Kingdom of Canton in the west.
 
==== Executive ====
The Christian dynasty reigned over the Kingdom of Canton with absolute rule over the latter half of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, various secret societies promoting pan-Chinese Republicanism started springing up in Canton. By the 1910s, these secret societies had begun to increase their strength and influence over the region. Fearing a mass rebellion, the Kingdom of Canton established the Tenchyew parliament.
The President of the Republic 相國 is the head of the executive branch and originates from the imperial position of Chancellor. They are elected by a college of electors, whose members are nominated and approved by provincial parliaments. The Presidency has no set term limit; the officeholder can be removed via a motion of the General Chamber combined with the assent of the Censorial Senate. Another, rarer route is when the Secretariat files a complaint with the Senate, who would then consult with senior legislative leaders in order to impeach the President.
 
The General Secretariat 國內閣 functions as the executive college of the state, consisting of nine Secretaries heading various departments. A Chief General Secretary 大幹事 is appointed by the President in order to act as the head of the Secretariat and the head of government. In practice, the pool of nominated candidates is limited as they must be approved by the college of nine Secretaries and rubber-stamped by Parliament. Upon confirmation, the Chief General Secretary cannot be dismissed by the President and remains in their position until resignation, removal, or the end of the particular administration. The balance of power of the two executives may vary with each administration.
==== Wahhah Republic (1931-1936) ====
 
Additionally, the President chairs the Southern Study (南書房, ''namśufang''), an advisory body first established by the [[Kanggwo Emperor]] in 1684. Its members are all appointed by the President without significant parliamentary or secretarial interference, giving confidential advise to the head of state on matters of public policy, politics, and administration.
=====1931 Sanmei Coup=====
Multiple parties formed and participated in the parliament. However, the dominating party was the National Reformation Party (華夏改革會'', lit. Huaxia Reformation Party'') which aimed to dismantle the monarchial pretensions of Canton and unite China after many decades of fragmentation. In 1927, the NRP-dominated Tenchyew parliament commenced the National Reform Movement, which attempted to do away with classical Chinese philosophy and tradition in favor of western ideals.
 
In 1931, the NRP-dominated parliament overthrew the Cantonese Christian monarchy. They renamed the country the Wahhah (Chinese) Republic (華夏民國) and sought to unify with the Great Qing by military aggression.
==Demographics==
China is the most populous country in the world, with most its population being concentrated in coastal provinces and the Central Plains. The vast majority of the population are of Hwa Chinese ethnicity. [[Standard Chinese]], the official language and ''lingua franca'', is understood to a sufficient degree by the bulk of the population.
 
==== Ethnicity ====
The Hwa, also commonly referred to as the Han 漢 or the Tang 唐, are the predominant ethnic group of China, comprising an estimated 95% of the Chinese population. They are considered the descendants of the Hwasia tribes 華夏 of the Yellow River Valley, contrasted with the 'barbaric' peoples surrounding them. Much of the Republic's ideology is built upon Hwa ethnocentrism and remains influential upon its citizens as well as the Hwa diaspora in the Americas, southeastern Asia, and other parts of the world.
 
Besides the Hwa, other notable ethnic communities are mostly concentrated in the southwest provinces, the coastal regions, and in metropolitan areas. These include the Law peoples 僚, the Bizica 土家, the Miaw 苗族, the Ji peoples 夷, and the Mingia 民家 of the southwest, the seafaring Tanka 南海人 of the Chinese coast, as well as numerous non-indigenous groups, the largest of which are [[Tauland|Taulanders]].
===== Hwa people=====
Including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hui_people Chinese Muslims], the Hwa Chinese make up 96% of the Chinese population. They are referred to as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Chinese#Names Tang Chinese] people in southern China and Han Chinese people in the north.
 
==See also==
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