By cherie chan ( - 202.140.123.254) on Monday, November 13, 2000 - 09:43 pm:

The Tongzhi Restoration was a period of temporary stability.It saved the Qing dynasty from collapsed.
The Tongzhi Restoration carried out some programmes . People could get a better life and the economy started to recover. The administration became more efficient than before. It also could say that the ruling class wanted to modernised China. They wanted China to be strong and prevent herself. They organised modern and more western form of navies and for diopmatic aspect, zongli yamen was set up , the communication with foreigners would be better. Besides the modernization, they also mainly aimed at the restoration of traditional order too.

The Tongzhi Restoration led by Tsang kuo fan,Li Hunag Cheng and Prince Kung. They were strong and capable.However they did not support by some conservative officials. Their reforms met obstacles.In addition with the Tientsin Massarce and the rejection of the Alcock Convention, the vision was limited to the ancient confucianism . The Tongchi restoration so sad that it did not last long and just had temporary success.

By Carol Law ( - 202.64.92.194) on Monday, November 13, 2000 - 12:57 pm:

The Tongzhi reign(1862-74) was classified as a restoration.It began with the rise of Prince Kung and founding of the Zongli yamen in 1861,the turn of the tide against the Taipings with the fall of Anking later the same year,by the emergence of new leaders in both the capital and provinces. The end of the Restoration was marked by the Tientsin Massacre and the rejection of the Alcock Convention in 1870,and successively in the course of the next few years by the deaths of Tseng Kuo-fan and Wen hsiang,and the growing power of the Cixi.

Tongzhi Restoration was a period that the Qing could ward off modern domestic and foreign threats and yet presever the Confucian society and its ideology.The upper class,Chinese and Manchu,rallied around the lately discredited throne with virtually unanimous loyalty.Men of outstanding ability assumed the chief government posts.The Taipings, the Nien,Moslem,and other less serious rebellions were also suppressed.
Meanwhile,Peking exercised great care in foreign affairs to maintain peace and good relations with Western powers and to afford the country the chance to engage in reconstruction and self-strengthening.

By leeyatyee ( - 202.64.92.194) on Monday, November 13, 2000 - 12:54 pm:

In the 1860s, it was the period of Tung-chih restoration, at that time , it was actually a miracle of the Chinese government as the ching government was very corrupt and weak after the Taiping rebellion.it was a revival of the Manchu rule in the mid ching period.

Internally, the governemnt and the army became more efficient as the chief government officials was assumed by capable person, and the army was reduced. most of the rebellions was suppressed and restored domestic order. the rate of land tax is alos reducedand the civil servive was re-established. the merechants also begin to gain from foreign trade.

Externally,the setting up of tsungli-yamen improved the sino-foreign relationship, the foreinn pressure and interference was reduced. And they also set up schools for the teaching of western languages and science. and study the international law to gain advantages for china.

By yeungszeting ( - 202.64.92.194) on Monday, November 13, 2000 - 12:32 pm:

What was the Tongzhi Restoration?

The Tongzhi Restoration was to restore the traditional order. It was significant in reviving the old order and to initiate the beginning of a new. It happened in the Tongzhi region with the rise of the Prince Kung and the development of the Zongli yamen in 1861.
The Tongzhi Restoration started with the end of the Taiping Rebellion and the help of the new leaders in both the provinces and the capital.
In 1860, the Qing government faced the internal Taiping movement and the external foreign invasion. There was widespread anti-government feeling in China. The Qing court was necessary to suppress revolution, to check foreign aggression and to re-establish the dynastic order. They wanted to preserve the Confucian society and the ideology.
However, it only gave a low level of revival in Chinese history. The policy was superficial. Lastly, it ended with the Tientsin
Massacre.

By Ma kwong kei ( - 202.64.92.194) on Monday, November 13, 2000 - 12:30 pm:

Tongzhi restoration refers to the period of Tongzhi's reign(1862-74). There were Taiping rebellion and second opium war near the 1860s. The power of the Qig dynasty was downfalling while the chinese was hoping a miracle to save china.
Hsien-feng died during his fled to Jehol and Tongzhi came to throne in 1862.
The popular rebellions at that time like Taipings were supressed by the troops organized by Tseng and Li . And the seond opium war ended in the peaceful settlement. Without these threst to the Qing dynasty, the court try to restore the order. The Qing tried to adopt the traditional concept of Confucianism to restore the order in argiculture, civil service.....etc. The power of the dynasty regained with the measures they adopted. The situation during this period in China was stable. The standard of leaders in civil service was increased with these measures. And the Qing dynasty tired to modernize herself with to use of western arms. And she tried to resist from foreign invasion. During this period, the cooperative policy was adpoted towards the west.Tsungli yamen was set up to deal with foreign affairs.During this period, china maintained a good relationship with the western countries. Stopping from the interal and external disturbance(Taipings and foreign agression), the power of the dynasty regained from weak to stable. And Tongzhi restoration refers to this period.

By Cheung Kwok Wai ( - 202.64.92.194) on Monday, November 13, 2000 - 12:28 pm:

The Tongzi Restoration is a 'revival' of the Qing Dynasty in the mid 1800s , this restoration help the dynasty remain ruling in China and keep on good function.These restoraton started by the founding of the Zongli Yamen and ended by the Tientsin Massacre and the rejection of the Alcock Convection in 1870 .
There were two main aim for the Tongzi Restoration on that time .Under the circumstance of Taiping Rebellion , one of the major purpose of the Restoration was suppressing the Rebellion and checking foreign aggression . Also , the Qing government wanted to re-establish order in China on that time.
The Tongzi Restoration was lead by some government leaders and some provincial leaders . In 1860,Prince Kung start to lead the restoration when Tongzi Emperor came to throne . Beside , there were some provincial leaders to support , such as Tsang Kwok Fan , Li Hung Zhang. Under their leadership , the restoration can then work .
Why do the restoration took place on that time? The reason was because of the domestic and foreign condition was very bad on that time. For example, the Taiping Rebellion had destroyed much ruling power of Manchus in China .Also , the foreign relation was not so good eventhough there was a co-operation in 1860-74 when they suppressed Taiping together.
Therefore , in order to deal with the problems , the Manchu wanted to re-build a great ruling power in China and so carried out the restoration. The restoration had carried out in many aspect , such as military , economic , and foreign or domestic reform . Those reform is success to a certain extent . However , the restoration was not so successful in general . Why do I say it?
It was because the Restoration was based on the Chinese Confucianism , they reformer only consider those confucian idea but not learning other things from the foreign country . Those reformer were conservative , they don't like a great changes in the dynasty . They only carried out superficial reform , but not the real need for the country.

By teacher ( - 202.64.92.194) on Monday, November 13, 2000 - 09:56 am:

What was the Tongzhi Restoration?

By ctk ( - 202.64.92.194) on Thursday, November 09, 2000 - 08:50 am:

Tongzi Restoration
Background:
- suppression of rebellions, checking foreign aggression
- re-establish order in China

Emergence of new leaders
1860 - Prince Kung; 1861 - Tongzi Emperor came to throne

Provincial leaders
Tseng, Li aware of foreign technology

Domestic conditions & foreign relations
Suppression of Taiping Rebellion etc.
1860, Convention of Peking; foreign support of Manchus against the Taipings.
Policy of co-operation
- 1860-74 era of co-operative policy
- "In 1860's circumstances in China were favourable for the initiation of new policies."
- Why still failed to strengthen China though the circumstances were favourable? The dynastic cycle.
- The Tsungli yamen - how it contributed to the bettering of Sino-foreign relations?
(a. the setting up of Tsungli yamen; b. a period of good relations; c. China's sending mission abroad; d. China established dipl. relations with the powers. Yet: the failure to secure a peaceful treaty revision; the Tientsin massacre; the Margary Affair; the dominant role of Li who eclipsed the function of TY; the position of TY in Qing administration.

* "The Strengthening of China's defence and the re-shaping of the military were the major programmes of the Self-Strengthening Movement. How far were these programmes successful in facilitating the Qing suppression of the rebellions in 1860s & 1870s?"
(ans. military programmes; suppression of rebellions; role played by the improved armed forces of Tseng, Li and Tso; other reasons for the failure of rebellions)

Periodization of the SS Mov't.

* Was the SS Mov't a complete failure?
(Ans. a. the aims; b. the beginning of capitalist economy in China - official establishment; gov't supervision & merchant operations; c. laid down the foundations of modern cities; d. created new classes - undermined the confucian society - rise of working and middle class; e. military achievements - arsenals, shipyards, the realization of the need to strengthen the military power; f. it enlightened scholars to advocate more radical changes later.
BUT failure to resist foreign encroachment. a. Japanese aggression in Taiwan 1874; Russian occupation of Ili 1881; The Sino-French War 1884; Sino-Japanese War 1894; Scramble for Concessions 1895-1900; Allied Invasion of China 1900. b. The military programmes of the SS Mov't failed to strengthen China's defence. China failed completely to resist foreign aggression since the reform could not achieve the military goal. China was almost partitioned. It had some success in suppressing rebellions.)

- the Maritime Customs Service...

See Online class forum for more details (Mary Wright's interpretation.)