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anglais Édition

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Biography of Li Hongzhang

Édition BooksWhale en anglais par Liang Qichao

Titre original: 李鸿章传

Liang Qichao examines Li Hongzhang’s political career against the wars, diplomatic pressures and reform debates of the late Qing.

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Introduction du livre

Biography of Li Hongzhang

Liang Qichao’s biography follows Li Hongzhang through the military, diplomatic and institutional challenges of the late Qing dynasty. The narrative assesses the possibilities and limits of reform through the career of a statesman confronted by domestic upheaval and foreign powers. This new English translation presents both a political life and an argument about the historical conditions that shaped its achievements and failures.

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Cette édition est une traduction assistée par IA et revue par des humains, préparée par BooksWhale pour la lisibilité, la mise en forme et la cohérence.

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The underlying Chinese work by Liang Qichao (died 1929) is in the public domain in China. The supplier confirms that this new English translation was commissioned by their own team and was AI-assisted, then reviewed and corrected by them. The new translation is supplied for this edition; it is not represented as a historical public-domain English translation.

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Biography of Li Hongzhang

Liang Qichao

Chapitre d'aperçuChapter One: IntroductionAperçu

Throughout the world, only mediocre people escape both criticism and praise. If a person is hated and condemned by everyone, that person may be regarded as an extraordinary villain. If a person is praised by everyone, that person may be regarded as an extraordinary hero. Yet among those passing judgment, not one is necessarily extraordinary. Can the judgments of ordinary people concerning extraordinary individuals truly be trusted? Therefore, those whose reputations are celebrated throughout the world are not necessarily free from hypocrisy, and those whose names are notorious are not necessarily devoid of greatness.

There is a common saying: “A person's merits and faults can be settled only after the coffin is closed.” Yet I have seen people who have been dead for decades, even centuries, whose reputations remain unsettled. Their critics cling to conflicting opinions, unable to reach any agreement. How, then, are later generations of writers and commentators supposed to draw conclusions? Consider, for example, a man praised by millions and condemned by millions. Those who praise him do so without reservation, while those who condemn him are equally extreme. Today, the accusations against him exactly cancel out the praise he once received; tomorrow, the praise bestowed upon him may precisely compensate for the condemnation he suffers today. What sort of person, then, should we consider him to be?

We should call him an extraordinary individual. Whether he is an extraordinary villain or an extraordinary hero may, for the moment, be left undecided. What matters is that his position and actions must have been such that ordinary people, with their limited vision and understanding, are unqualified to pass casual judgment upon them. Those who understand this principle may read my Biography of Li Hongzhang.

I admire Li Hongzhang's abilities, regret the limitations of his vision, and sympathize with the circumstances in which he found himself.

During his visit to Europe, Li Hongzhang met the former German chancellor Bismarck. He asked Bismarck:

“As a minister, one wishes to devote oneself entirely to the service of one's country. But when everyone at court disagrees with one's views and places every possible obstacle in one's way, how can one carry out one's ambitions under such circumstances?”

Bismarck replied:

“The first requirement is to secure the support of the sovereign. Once you have the sovereign's support, you can obtain the authority to act independently. What, then, could you not accomplish?”

Li Hongzhang asked again:

“But suppose the sovereign listens to everyone indiscriminately, while those occupying important positions constantly exploit the sovereign's authority to dominate the government. What should a minister do in such circumstances?”

Bismarck reflected for a long time before answering:

“If a minister devotes himself wholeheartedly to the affairs of his country, I should think that his sovereign could hardly fail to understand and appreciate his efforts. But if one must conduct affairs with women and children, I cannot say what the outcome might be.”

After hearing this, Li Hongzhang remained silent.

Alas! Reading this account, I understand the distress and frustration within Li Hongzhang's heart—feelings that outsiders could never fully comprehend. It is for this reason that I reproach Li Hongzhang, and it is for precisely the same reason that I forgive him.

Ever since Li Hongzhang's name became widely known throughout the world, people in foreign countries have almost come to know Li Hongzhang without knowing China. In short, Li Hongzhang has become China's sole representative in the eyes of the world.

When people of one country comment upon the affairs of another, they cannot be expected to grasp the whole truth. The reasons for this require no elaboration. Nevertheless, Li Hongzhang has unquestionably been one of the most important figures in China during the past forty years.

Anyone studying China's modern history must discuss Li Hongzhang, and anyone studying Li Hongzhang's life must consult the history of modern China. This is universally acknowledged by informed observers. Accordingly, it would be entirely appropriate to give this book the alternative title A Chronicle of Major Events Since the Tongzhi and Guangxu Reigns.

Chapitre d'aperçuChapter Two: Li Hongzhang's Historical PositionAperçu

Chapter Two: Li Hongzhang's Historical Position

Table des matières

Dans cette édition

  1. 01Full text
  2. 02Chapter One: Introduction
  3. 03Chapter Two: Li Hongzhang's Historical Position
  4. 04I. The Relationship Between Chinese History and Li Hongzhang
  5. 05II. The Relationship Between Qing History and Li Hongzhang
  6. 06Chapter Three: Li Hongzhang Before His Rise to Prominence and the Conditions in China at the Time
  7. 07I. Li Hongzhang's Family Background
  8. 08II. The Eastward Expansion of European Power
  9. 09III. The Outbreak of Internal Disorder in China
  10. 10IV. The Relationship Between Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan
  11. 11Chapter Four: Li Hongzhang as a Military Leader (Part One)
  12. 12I. Li Hongzhang's Rise and the Formation of the Huai Army
  13. 13II. The Weakness of Government Forces, the Shortage of Military Supplies, and the Strategic Importance of Jiangsu and Zhejiang
  14. 14III. The Rise of the Ever Victorious Army
  15. 15IV. A Formidable Opponent: Li Hongzhang and Li Xiucheng
  16. 16V. The Huai Army's Achievements in the Pacification of Wu
  17. 17VI. The Relationship Between the Jiangsu, Nanjing, and Zhejiang Armies and the Recovery of Nanjing
  18. 18Chapter Five: Li Hongzhang as a Military Leader (Part Two)
  19. 19I. The Rampages of the Nian Rebels
  20. 20II. The Failures of the Commanders Who Suppressed the Nian Rebels Before Li Hongzhang
  21. 21III. The Strategies of Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang for Suppressing the Nian Rebels
  22. 22IV. The Campaign Against the Eastern Nian Forces
  23. 23V. The Campaign Against the Western Nian Forces
  24. 24Chapter Six: Li Hongzhang During the Self-Strengthening Movement
  25. 25I. The Achievements of the Self-Strengthening Movement
  26. 26II. The Naval and Land Forces of the Beiyang Establishment
  27. 27III. The Reasons for Li Hongzhang's Failure in the Self-Strengthening Movement
  28. 28Chapter Seven: Li Hongzhang During the First Sino-Japanese War
  29. 29I. The Causes of the Sino-Japanese War and Li Hongzhang's Strategic Errors Before the Conflict
  30. 30II. The Battle of Dadonggou
  31. 31III. The Battle of Pyongyang
  32. 32IV. General Developments After September and October of the Jiawu Year
  33. 33V. The Causes of Defeat
  34. 34VI. Li Hongzhang's Position and Responsibility
  35. 35Chapter Eight: Li Hongzhang as a Diplomat (Part One)
  36. 36I. The Tianjin Missionary Incident
  37. 37II. The Sino-French War in Vietnam
  38. 38III. The Sino-Japanese Convention of Tianjin
  39. 39IV. Peace Negotiations with Japan, the Armistice Agreement, and the Assassination Attempt
  40. 40Treaty of Shimonoseki
  41. 41V. The Merits and Faults of Li Hongzhang's Peace Negotiations with Japan
  42. 42Chapter Nine: Li Hongzhang as a Diplomat (Part Two)
  43. 43I. The Intervention of Russia, Germany, and France to Recover the Liaodong Peninsula
  44. 44II. The Secret Sino-Russian Treaty
  45. 45Secret Sino-Russian Treaty
  46. 46III. Li Hongzhang's Visits to Europe and His Service as a Diplomatic Official
  47. 47IV. The Jiaozhou Incident and the Seizure of Lüshun, Dalian, Weihaiwei, Guangzhou Bay, and Kowloon
  48. 48V. Li Hongzhang's Departure from the Zongli Yamen
  49. 49Chapter Ten: Li Hongzhang During His Periods Away from Major Office
  50. 50I. Service in the Grand Secretariat After the Peace Settlement with Japan and Inspection of Yellow River Works
  51. 51I. Conditions Along the Yellow River from Luokou to Yanwo
  52. 52The River Channel
  53. 53The People's Embankments
  54. 54The Main Embankments
  55. 55Works at Dangerous Locations
  56. 56II. Conditions from Yanwo to the River's Mouth at the Sea
  57. 57The Tiemenguan Outlet
  58. 58The Hanjiayuan Outlet
  59. 59The Newly Excavated Diversion Channel
  60. 60The Siwangkou Outlet
  61. 61III. Measures for Managing the Yellow River According to Actual Conditions
  62. 62Methods of Preventing Flood Disasters
  63. 63IV. Emergency Measures That Should Be Undertaken Immediately
  64. 64II. Governor-General of Liangguang
  65. 65Chapter Eleven: Li Hongzhang's Final Years
  66. 66I. The Rise of the Boxers
  67. 67II. Li Hongzhang's Position and the Peace Settlement with the Eight-Nation Alliance
  68. 68Article I
  69. 69Article II
  70. 70Article III
  71. 71Article IV
  72. 72Article V
  73. 73Article VI
  74. 74Article VII
  75. 75Article VIII
  76. 76Article IX
  77. 77Article X
  78. 78Article XI
  79. 79Article XII
  80. 80III. The Sino-Russian Manchurian Treaty
  81. 81Initial Draft of the Manchurian Treaty
  82. 82Revised Draft of the Manchurian Treaty
  83. 83IV. The Death of Li Hongzhang and the Honors Conferred Upon Him by the Imperial Court
  84. 84Imperial Edict Honoring Li Hongzhang
  85. 85Chapter Twelve: Conclusion
  86. 86I. Comparisons Between Li Hongzhang and Historical Figures of China and the World
  87. 871. Li Hongzhang and Huo Guang
  88. 882. Li Hongzhang and Zhuge Liang
  89. 893. Li Hongzhang and Guo Ziyi
  90. 904. Li Hongzhang and Wang Anshi
  91. 915. Li Hongzhang and Qin Hui
  92. 926. Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan
  93. 937. Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang
  94. 948. Li Hongzhang and Li Xiucheng
  95. 959. Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong
  96. 9610. Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai
  97. 9711. Li Hongzhang and Metternich
  98. 9812. Li Hongzhang and Bismarck
  99. 9913. Li Hongzhang and Gladstone
  100. 10014. Li Hongzhang and Thiers
  101. 10115. Li Hongzhang and Ii Naosuke
  102. 10216. Li Hongzhang and Ito Hirobumi
  103. 103II. Anecdotes Concerning Li Hongzhang
  104. 104III. A Portrait of Li Hongzhang

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