Session #5 Readings

readings 5-3

After our class readings and discussions, the reaction to foreign influences is clearer to me. I better understand how China views and uses the outside world of "barbarians" to strengthen their own positions. It was interesting that China saw education and in particular mathematics as the vehicle to gain an upper hand in dealings with the West. They wanted to use some brilliant young minds to gain an upper hand in the formation of their own system of government. "China has many brilliant people. There must be some who can learn from the barbarians and surpass them." This idea is also reflected in China's attempt in sending their young men to study abroad and be the "noble man" that would lead the new China to dominance in their dealings with the West.

Talk about the idea of knowing one's enemy in order to defeat them.

I was amazed at how lopsided the Treaty of Nanjing was. The British would continue to trade opium, add additional ports, and would receive financial compensation from the Chinese emperor.

The article this week that impacted me the most was the "Self Strengthening" piece. I could hear the frustration flow through the words imploring a paradigm shift from the Chinese people to learn more about the "barbarians" and their weapons. I got the sense that he was telling the Chinese people that we should hold our enemy closer than our friends.

I was moved by passion and determination expressed by the residents of Guangzhou in this document. I find it unfortunate that the history books our students are required to read often lack primary sources documents such as these, which demonstrate Chinese resistance against foreigners, and that show the way the Chinese people viewed Westerners. It is interesting to note that the Chinese refer the English as "barbarians" in this document, and that they expose the crimes committed by the English. After learning about the Opium Wars, I do not blame the citizens of Guangzhou for having such a negative perception of the English.