The Empire of China was a short-lived attempt by Chinese president Yuan Shikai from late 1915 to early 1916 to reinstate the monarchy in China,with himself as emperor. The attempt ultimately failed,set back the republican cause by several years,and led China into a period of fracture and conflict among various local warlords.
In response to Japan's "Twenty-One" demands,China signed the "Treaty Concerning Southern Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia" and the "Treaty Concerning Shandong" after more than three months of negotiations. In June 1915,the treaty texts were exchanged Later,there was a sudden rumor in Japanese newspapers that Yuan Shikai intended to proclaim himself emperor. Although Yuan Shikai strongly denied it,the statement that "republicanism is not suitable for China's national conditions" gradually spread in society.[1] On July 6,Yuan Shikai appointed 10 people including Yang Du and Liang Qichao as members of the Constitution Drafting Committee to draft a new constitution again,which is expected to be completed in November of that year. On 3 August,Professor Goodnow,an American constitutional consultant arranged for Yuan Shikai by Charles Eliot,the former president of Harvard University who was familiar with Chinese affairs,published "The Republic and the Prince",stating:"...most The people's intelligence is not very noble...The change from autocracy to a republic is such a sudden move that it is difficult to expect good results...The issue of presidential succession has not been resolved...someday or This kind of problem leads to disasters,if it is not extinguished immediately,or it may be tamed to the point of destroying China's independence... If China uses a monarchy,it is more suitable than a republic,and there is almost no doubt about this."[1]
On 19 August 1915,Yang Du joined forces with Sun Yujun,Li Xiehe,Hu Ying,Liu Shipei and Yan Fu to establish a preparatory committee,stating that "Republicanism does not apply to China." More and more "petition groups" have written petitions demanding a change in the state system. There are also some voices of opposition. For example,Liang Qichao,leader of the Progressive Party and former justice minister,published "The So-Called Issues with the State System" in the monthly "Greater China" magazine,insisting on his consistent opposition to the change of the state system. However,the Preparatory Committee published a large number of articles supporting the implementation of a constitutional monarchy.[2] Yang Du believed that the country must be "fixed as one" (unified leadership) in order to be stable. Only in a stable environment can the country establish a constitution and gradually become stronger and stronger. He put forward two arguments to prove that only the implementation of constitutional monarchy can save China.[3] One:Chinese people have a low level of education,and it is difficult for a republic to establish a constitution. Only a monarch can establish a constitution. Rather than a republic and a true autocracy,it is better to establish a constitutional monarch in a legitimate manner. Second,unrest is prone to occur when a republic elects a president. He said:"Unless the disadvantages of competing for the head of state are eliminated first,the country will never have peace. The only plan is to have President Yi as the monarch and establish the head of a country in an absolutely uncontestable position. A common man can hardly stop the chaos."[2] In addition,Yuan Shikai also received the "National Protector Envoy Encouraging Jin to Proclaim Emperor",which was signed by governors of all provinces in the country,including Yunnan representatives Cai E and Tang Jiyao,who later launched a war to protect the country against Yuan Shikai. The persuasion document reads:
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... Zhigui and others have truly seen China's national conditions. Unless they resolutely abandon democracy and use the monarch,it will not be enough to establish long-term public security. Therefore,they use joint words to persuade the head of state,pay attention to public opinion,and support correct opinions,so that the country's system can be fundamentally solved and the country's foundation can be solved as soon as possible. Determine the fundamental status...
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The "Preparatory Committee" established on 23 August convened provincial civil and military officials and chambers of commerce to Beijing to discuss state affairs. Except for a few of the civil and military officials who expressed support for the republic,most of them expressed the need to change the state system. On 25 August,Cai E led the soldiers to petition for imperialism. Yuan Shikai 's son Yuan Keding also forged the "Shuntian Times" to create an atmosphere in which the Japanese Empire supported Yuan Shikai 's claim to the throne.[4]
National Congress
On 1 September 1915,the Senate held an opening ceremony. Shen Yunpei,Zhou Jiayan,Yang Zanxu and others petitioned to change the state system. In the following days,petition groups supporting the monarchy submitted petitions to the Senate,setting off a wave of petitions for the implementation of a constitutional monarchy. Faced with the increasing number of public opinion groups (i.e.,petition groups) claiming to represent public opinion and supporting Yuan Shikai's ascension to the throne,on 6 September,Yuan Shikai sent Yang Shiqi to the Senate Acting Legislative Yuan to read out his opinion:"As the president sees it,reforming the state system,there are many longitudes and latitudes,so we should be cautious;if we do it in a hurry,we may be hindered. The president has the responsibility to maintain the overall situation and thinks it is inappropriate." The trend seemed to subside slightly,but on the 14th,Shen Yunpei,Wu Zesheng,[5] Zhao Ti and others made a second petition,and Liang Shiyi and others even established the "National Petition Federation" on the 19th to encourage the organization of a petition group and submit a third petition to the Senate,demanding a national meeting. At the conference,representatives from the whole country are elected to decide on state issues. On 6 October,the Senate acting as the Legislative Yuan passed the "Organic Law of the National Congress",which was promulgated and implemented by Yuan Shikai two days later. Then,1,993 national representatives were elected nationwide. At 9 a.m. on 11 December,national representatives voted on the change of state system. As a result,the National Congress unanimously approved the constitutional monarchy. At about 11 o'clock in the morning,the representatives of the provinces requested Yuan Shikai to be the emperor of the Chinese Empire for the first time. Yuan declined because of his lack of virtue and incompetence. At 6 o'clock in the afternoon,the representatives asked Yuan to be the emperor again. On 12 December,Yuan accepted the second recommendation from the representatives,but said hypocritically:[6]
Secondly,the establishment of Hongji is a heavy matter. It should not be carried out in a hurry,which will cause waste. All ministries and departments should be ordered to make detailed preparations for their own affairs. Once the preparations are completed,the petition will be implemented.[5]
,Yuan did not immediately ascend the throne,but had already secretly established a ceremony preparation office on 29 November to prepare for the enthronement and select a date to ascend the throne. Zhu Qiqian also supervised the construction of various palaces in the Forbidden City. Yuan's legal advisor,Japanese Ariga Nagao,drafted the "New Imperial Code" based on the "Japanese Imperial Model":[3]
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1. The traditional descendants of the great emperor of the Chinese Empire last for eternity. 2. The throne of the great emperor is traditionally the eldest son of the crown prince. If the crown prince has a relationship,the title is passed down to the grandson of the crown prince. If there is a relationship between the direct emperor and the grandson,then the emperor's second son will be appointed as the crown prince. 3. The great emperor of the Chinese Empire is the great emperor of the five ethnic groups of Han,Manchu,Mongolia,Hui and Tibet. Princesses and princesses can marry subjects of the five ethnic groups. 4. From the royal family down to the prince,as for the clan,the laws and crimes are punished according to the same laws as the common people. 5. Princes and princes may serve as naval or army officers,and may not organize political parties or serve as important political officials. 6. Abolish the eunuch system forever. 7. Establish female officials in the palace and abolish the system of selecting palace maids forever. 8. The system of tributes from all parties shall be permanently abolished (except that tributes from Manchu,Mongolian,Hui,and Tibetan princes and princes during annual pilgrimages are still allowed to be processed as usual). 9. Royal ceremonial matters shall be in charge of the ministers of the palace. 10. No relatives of the emperor are allowed to engage in business or compete with the common people for profit.
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On December 21,22 and 23,Yuan Shikai conferred five-level knighthoods on provincial generals,patrol envoys,military envoys,garrison envoys,division commanders and those with military power (details below). On the 31st,it was announced that the following year would be changed to the first year of Hongxian,taking the meaning of "carrying forward the Constitution",and planned to change the country's name to the Chinese Empire,and the presidential palace to be changed to Xinhua Palace (today's Zhongnanhai ).[4]
Prelude and formation
The Hongxian Emperor at his coronation ceremony
After Yuan Shikai was installed as the secondProvisionalGreat President of the Republic of China established by Sun Yat-sen,he took various steps to consolidate his power and remove opposition leaders from office.[citation needed] Both Sun and Yuan were "modernizers",but Sun was considered a "radical revolutionary",while Yuan a "conservative reformer".[7]
To secure his own power he collaborated with various European powers as well as Japan. Around August 1915,he instructed Yang Duet al. to canvass support for a return of the monarchy. On 11 December 1915,an assembly unanimously elected him as Emperor. Yuan ceremonially declined,but "relented" and immediately agreed when the National Assembly petitioned again that day.[8]
On 12 December,Yuan,supported by his son Yuan Keding,declared the Empire of China with himself as the "Great Emperor of the Chinese Empire" (Chinese:中華帝國大皇帝;pinyin:ZhōnghuáDìguóDàHuángdì),taking the era name Hongxian (Chinese:洪憲;pinyin:Hóngxiàn,"Promote the constitution"). However,Yuan,now known as the Hongxian Emperor,delayed the accession rites until 1 January 1916. He had Manchu clothes removed from culture and had Han clothes revived but had put some changes to it. He wore new Han clothes to attend a dress rehearsal,but it was sabotaged by his Korean concubine.[citation needed]
The Aisin Gioro family of the Qing dynasty,then living in the Forbidden City,were officially reported as "approving" of Yuan's accession as emperor,and even as proposing a "royal marriage" of Yuan's daughter to the former Qing Emperor Puyi.[citation needed]
Reaction
Yuan Shikai as the Hongxian Emperor of his new Imperial China.
The year 1916 was to be "Hongxian Year 1" (洪憲元年) rather than "Republic Year 5" (民國五年),[8] but the Hongxian Emperor was opposed by not only the revolutionaries,but far more importantly by his subordinate military commanders,who believed that Yuan's assumption of the monarchy would allow him to rule without depending on the support of the military.
Province after province rebelled after his inauguration,starting with Yunnan,led by the emperor's governor Cai E and general Tang Jiyao and Jiangxi,led by governor Li Liejun. The rebels formed the National Protection Army (護國軍) and thus began the National Protection War. This was followed by other provinces declaring independence from the Empire. The emperor's Beiyang generals,whose soldiers had not received pay once from the imperial government,did not put up an aggressive campaign against the National Protection Army and the Beiyang Army suffered numerous defeats despite being better trained and equipped than the National Protection Army.
Seeing the Hongxian Emperor's weakness and unpopularity,foreign powers withdrew their support (but did not choose sides in the war). The Empire of Japan first threatened to invade,then committed to overthrowing the Hongxian Emperor and recognised both sides of the conflict to be "in a state of war" and allowed Japanese citizens to help the Republicans.[8] Faced with universal opposition,the emperor repeatedly delayed the accession rites to appease his foes. Funding for the ceremony was cut on 1 March. Yuan deliberated abandoning the monarchy with Liang Shiyi on 17 March and abandoned it on 22 March. The "Hongxian" year was abolished on 23 March and the Republic of China was restored.[9] Yuan reigned a total of 83 days.[8]
Empire of China ten-cash coin dated "Hongxian Year 1"
After Yuan's death on 6 June,Vice President Li Yuanhong assumed the presidency,and appointed Beiyang general Duan Qirui as his Premier and restored the National Assembly and the provisional Constitution. However,the central authority of the Beijing government was significantly weakened and the demise of Yuan's Empire plunged China into a period of warlordism.
Economy
The Government Revenue of the Empire of China was around 1 million dollars per month.[10]
National symbols
Although the name of the country in Chinese was changed to the "Empire of China",or "Hongxian" for state matters,the country continued to be officially referred to as the "Republic of China" in English.[8]
The Emperor set up the Ritual Regulations Office (禮制館),which issued the new official anthem for the Republic of China,"China heroically stands in the Universe" in June 1915. Its lyrics were written by Yin Chang (廕昌) and music by Wang Lu (王露). The lyrics were slightly modified in December 1915,with "Five Races Under One Union" (共和五族) replaced with 勳華揖讓 (Shanrang,the ancient system of Chinese emperor relinquishing seats to others in Yao and Shun's era) to be used during the Hongxian Emperor's reign.
Chinese lyrics
English translation
中華雄立宇宙間， 廓八埏， 華冑來從崑崙巔， 江河浩盪山綿連， 勳華揖讓開堯天， 億萬年。
China heroically stands in the Universe, Extends to the Eight Corners, The glorious descendants from Kunlun Peak. The rivers turn greatly,the mountains continuous. Shanrang open up the era of Yao, For millions of myriads of years.
Yao was a legendary Chinese ruler. The era of Yao and Shun (堯天舜日) is a four-character idiom which means times of peace and prosperity.
The national flag was changed from the original five-stripe flag to one where the red stripe is a centered cross;however,a flag with the former red stripe as a saltire was the version commonly used.[11]
The Hongxian Emperor handed out titles of peerage to his closest relatives and friends,as well as those whom he thought he could buy with titles.[citation needed]
Yuan Shikai (first from left) offering sacrifices to heaven at a winter solstice ceremony,23 December 1914
Yuan Shikai was a Chinese general and statesman who served as the second provisional president of the Republic of China, head of the Beiyang government from 1912 to 1916 and Emperor of China from 1915 to 1916. A major political figure during the late Qing dynasty, he spearheaded a number of major modernisation programs and reforms and played a decisive role in securing the abdication of the Xuantong Emperor in 1912, which marked the collapse of the Qing monarchy and the end of imperial rule in China.
The 1911 Revolution, also known as the Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, ended China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing dynasty, and led to the establishment of the Republic of China. The revolution was the culmination of a decade of agitation, revolts, and uprisings. Its success marked the collapse of the Chinese monarchy, the end of 2,132 years of imperial rule in China and 276 years of the Qing dynasty, and the beginning of China's early republican era.
Li Dazhao or Li Ta-chao was a Chinese intellectual and revolutionary who participated in the New Culture Movement in the early years of the Republic of China, established in 1912. He co-founded the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with Chen Duxiu in July 1921. He helped build a united front between the CCP and Sun Yat-sen's Nationalist Party (KMT) in early 1924. During the Northern Expedition, Li was arrested and then executed by warlord Zhang Zuolin in Beijing in April 1927.
The Beiyang Army, named after the Beiyang region, was a large, Western-style Imperial Chinese Army established by the Qing dynasty government in the late 19th century. It was the centerpiece of a general reconstruction of Qing China's military system. The Beiyang Army played a major role in Chinese politics for at least three decades and arguably right up to 1949. It made the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 possible, and, by dividing into warlord factions known as the Beiyang Clique, ushered in a period of regional division.
The Beiyang government was the internationally recognized government of the Republic of China between 1912 and 1928, based in Beijing. It was dominated by the generals of the Beiyang Army, giving it its name.
Zhang Shaozeng was a Beiyang Army general in charge of the 20th Division.
Cai E (simplified Chinese: 蔡锷; traditional Chinese: 蔡鍔; pinyin: Cài È; Wade–Giles: Ts'ai4 O4; 18 December 1882 – 8 November 1916) was a Chinese revolutionary leader and general. He was born Cai Genyin (Chinese: 蔡艮寅; pinyin: Cài Gěnyín) in Shaoyang, Hunan, and his courtesy name was Songpo (Chinese: 松坡; pinyin: Sōngpō). Cai eventually became an influential warlord in Yunnan (Yunnan clique), and is best known for his role in challenging the imperial ambitions (Hongxian emperor) of Yuan Shikai during the Anti-Monarchy War.
The Yunnan clique was one of several mutually hostile cliques that split from the Beiyang Government in the Republic of China's warlord era. It was named for Yunnan Province.
The National Protection War, also known as the Anti-Monarchy War, was a civil war that took place in China between 1915 and 1916. Only three years earlier, the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing dynasty, had been overthrown and the Republic of China was established in its place. The cause of the war was the proclamation by Yuan Shikai, the President of the Republic, of himself as the Hongxian Emperor of China.
The Constitutional Protection Movement was a series of movements led by Sun Yat-sen to resist the Beiyang government between 1917 and 1922, in which Sun established another government in Guangzhou as a result. It was known as the Third Revolution by the Kuomintang. The constitution that it intended to protect was the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China. The first movement lasted from 1917 to 1920; the second from 1921 to 1922. An attempted third movement, begun in 1923, ultimately became the genesis for the Northern Expedition in 1926.
Cen Chunxuan, courtesy name Yunjie, was a Zhuang Chinese politician who lived in the late Qing dynasty and Republic of China.
The Progressive Party was a political party in the Republic of China from 1913 to 1916.
Yuan Keding courtesy name Yuntai was the eldest son Yuan Shikai and his first wife Yu. In 1915 when his father Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself Hóngxiàn Emperor of the Empire of China, Yuan became crown prince as the Prince Yuntai. Yuan Kewen was his younger brother.
Duan Qirui was a Chinese warlord, politician and commander of the Beiyang Army who ruled as the effective dictator of northern China in the late 1910s. He was the Premier of the Republic of China on four occasions between 1913 and 1918, and from 1924 to 1926 he served as acting Chief Executive of the Republic of China in Beijing.
Lu Rongting, also spelled as Lu Yung-ting and Lu Jung-t'ing, was a late Qing/early Republican military and political leader from Wuming, Guangxi. Lu belonged to the Zhuang ethnic group.
Lü Chao, born in Xuzhou Fu, Yibin County, Sichuan, was a military and political figure in the early Republic of China's Warlord Era, active in his home province of Sichuan. He is known for fighting against Liu Cunhou and the Beijing Government and being one of the strongest supporters of Sun Yat-Sen in Sichuan.
The Second Revolution refers to a 1913 revolt by the governors of several southern Chinese provinces as well as supporters of Sun Yat Sen and the Kuomintang against the Beiyang Government of the Republic of China led by Yuan Shikai. It was quickly defeated by Yuan's armies and led to the continued consolidation of Yuan's powers as President of the Republic of China.
China was a monarchy from prehistoric times up to 1912, when a republic was established. The succession of legendary monarchs of China were non-hereditary. Dynastic rule began c. 2070 BC when Yu the Great established the Xia dynasty, and monarchy lasted until 1912 when dynastic rule collapsed together with the monarchical government. Various attempts at preserving and restoring the Chinese monarchy occurred during and following the Xinhai Revolution, but these regimes were short-lived and lacked widespread recognition.
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