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China in Modern Times FBy Elizabeth Foreman Lewis FORTUNATELY, in spite of Ts'in's efforts, all of the books of ancient China had not been destroyed. A few had been successfully hidden in the walls of houses, or buried understones, and when the reign of Ts'in, or Hsi Huang-ti, First Emperor, as he called himself, was over, these were brought out. Some of the scholars also still remained and they now began to build a new learning. Fifteen hundred years followed in which the studying of books and the making of beautiful things became more important than at any time in China's previous history. During this time kings, from families named Han, Tang, or Sung, ruled the nation. Many of these men were wise and good and the people prospered and were happy. But the tribes outside the Great Wall never let the Chinese forget that they were there even in periods of peace. And then, suddenly, one of the most powerful men in the history of the whole world became the leader of these northern enemies. His name was Jenghiz Khan and his people were called Mongols. Under his leadership the Mongols conquered the greater part of Asia as well as part of Europe. Jenghiz did not overcome China, but a few years after his death a gradson, Kublai Khan, did. Unlike his grandfather, Kublai Khan enjoyed other things more than warfare. For a long time he had admired China's learning and art, so he now chose the Chinese city, Peking, for the capital of the Mongol Empire and there he dwelt. Soon he became as much like a Chinese as though he bad been born one. The Great Kahn In one way, however, Kublai Khan was different from the citizens of China. He was interested in the rest of the world and the Chinese were not. For several hundred years merchants from Greece, Rome, and other countries had come to this kingdom to buy silks and satins, but China already had everything she needed and the goods there merchants tried to sell in exchange were poor, so little trading was accomplished. In their wars, Mongols had traveled far and they knew a good deal more than the Chinese about other nations. Kublai Khan now invited the people of foreign lands to come to Peking. One of the first of these visitors was a youth from Italy, named Marco Polo. The Khan liked this young man, took him into his service, and sent him on important errands all over the kingdom. Marco Polo was amazed at the splendid cities and towns, filled with ealth and beaty, that he found everywhere. After a number of years he returned to Italy. There he told such extravagant tales of what he had seen in China that his countrymen said he was unbalanced and threw him into prison. While in prison he wrote a book about his travels and when the people of Europe read this book, they wanted to see China for themselves. Traders now began to pour into China carrying with them trouble for the Chinese. The earliest merchants had been friendly, but these later ones were so greedy for Chinese goods, that they got them by any way they could. Manchu Rulers Because of this, foreigners were permitted to trade only at the wharves of one or two cities, and this made them angry. They watned to go in and out of the country as they pleased, without hindrance. When they found they could succeed in no other way, the Europeans declared war on China and won. In 1843 several cities were opened to traders, and, in 1850, after more fighting, the rest of the kingdom, as well. During this dreadful period the country was ruled by another northern tribe, called Manchus. As had the Mongols, these people had kept their capital in North China and had become Chinese in many of their ways. One of their rulers was a Manchu woman, named Tzu-hsi, who ascended the throne as Empress Dowager. Like Ts;in Hsi Huang-ti, she was very clever and she did many great things for her country, but above everything else, she loved power and wealth for herself. Under her extravagant rule, the people were forced to pay so many
Object Description
Rating | |
Original index title | Northwest History. International Diplomacy & Politics. China. |
Newspaper | The Christian Science Monitor: June 18, 1936 |
Title | China in Modern Times |
Description | China in Modern Times |
Subject Keys | Ts'in; Hsi Huang-ti; Jenghiz Khan; the Mongols; Kublai Khan; Chinese Trade; Marco Polo; Chinese Merchants; Manchu Rulers; Tzu-hsi; Boxers |
Date.Original | June 18, 1936 |
Resource Identifier | nwh 1-206 |
Subjects |
Northwest, Pacific--History--20th century United States--International Diplomacy & Politics--20th century |
Resource Type | Text |
Genre | Clippings |
Source | Northwest History International Diplomacy & Politics Box 1 |
Language | English |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0 |
Rights Notes | Copyright not evaluated. Contact original newspaper publisher for copyright information. |
Description
Original index title | b01n02p247 |
Resource Type | Text |
Genre | Clippings |
Language | English |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0 |
Rights Notes | Copyright not evaluated. Contact original newspaper publisher for copyright information. |
Full-Text | China in Modern Times FBy Elizabeth Foreman Lewis FORTUNATELY, in spite of Ts'in's efforts, all of the books of ancient China had not been destroyed. A few had been successfully hidden in the walls of houses, or buried understones, and when the reign of Ts'in, or Hsi Huang-ti, First Emperor, as he called himself, was over, these were brought out. Some of the scholars also still remained and they now began to build a new learning. Fifteen hundred years followed in which the studying of books and the making of beautiful things became more important than at any time in China's previous history. During this time kings, from families named Han, Tang, or Sung, ruled the nation. Many of these men were wise and good and the people prospered and were happy. But the tribes outside the Great Wall never let the Chinese forget that they were there even in periods of peace. And then, suddenly, one of the most powerful men in the history of the whole world became the leader of these northern enemies. His name was Jenghiz Khan and his people were called Mongols. Under his leadership the Mongols conquered the greater part of Asia as well as part of Europe. Jenghiz did not overcome China, but a few years after his death a gradson, Kublai Khan, did. Unlike his grandfather, Kublai Khan enjoyed other things more than warfare. For a long time he had admired China's learning and art, so he now chose the Chinese city, Peking, for the capital of the Mongol Empire and there he dwelt. Soon he became as much like a Chinese as though he bad been born one. The Great Kahn In one way, however, Kublai Khan was different from the citizens of China. He was interested in the rest of the world and the Chinese were not. For several hundred years merchants from Greece, Rome, and other countries had come to this kingdom to buy silks and satins, but China already had everything she needed and the goods there merchants tried to sell in exchange were poor, so little trading was accomplished. In their wars, Mongols had traveled far and they knew a good deal more than the Chinese about other nations. Kublai Khan now invited the people of foreign lands to come to Peking. One of the first of these visitors was a youth from Italy, named Marco Polo. The Khan liked this young man, took him into his service, and sent him on important errands all over the kingdom. Marco Polo was amazed at the splendid cities and towns, filled with ealth and beaty, that he found everywhere. After a number of years he returned to Italy. There he told such extravagant tales of what he had seen in China that his countrymen said he was unbalanced and threw him into prison. While in prison he wrote a book about his travels and when the people of Europe read this book, they wanted to see China for themselves. Traders now began to pour into China carrying with them trouble for the Chinese. The earliest merchants had been friendly, but these later ones were so greedy for Chinese goods, that they got them by any way they could. Manchu Rulers Because of this, foreigners were permitted to trade only at the wharves of one or two cities, and this made them angry. They watned to go in and out of the country as they pleased, without hindrance. When they found they could succeed in no other way, the Europeans declared war on China and won. In 1843 several cities were opened to traders, and, in 1850, after more fighting, the rest of the kingdom, as well. During this dreadful period the country was ruled by another northern tribe, called Manchus. As had the Mongols, these people had kept their capital in North China and had become Chinese in many of their ways. One of their rulers was a Manchu woman, named Tzu-hsi, who ascended the throne as Empress Dowager. Like Ts;in Hsi Huang-ti, she was very clever and she did many great things for her country, but above everything else, she loved power and wealth for herself. Under her extravagant rule, the people were forced to pay so many |
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