Qing Dynasty

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“ By what right do they use the poisonous drug to injure the Chinese people? I have heard that smoking opium is strictly forbidden in your country; that is because the harm caused by opium is clearly understood. Since it is not permitted to do harm to your own country, then even less should you let it be passed on to the harm of other countries.
— Lin Zexu

The Qing Dynasty (清), officially the Great Qing, sometimes also known as the Qing Empire, was a big and STRONK Manchu-led Chinese dynasty, and also the last imperial Chinese dynasty. Despite being led by Manchus, the Qing dynasty adapted a Chinese name, switched to Chinese style of ruling, and proclaimed themselves as a rightful Chinese dynasty.

The Qing dynasty was very powerful during the first half of his life. At his greatest extent, the Qing dynasty is ranked the 4th biggest empire ever in history. But in the second half, a foreign strong culture (which the Chinese rarely encountered) came and beat Qing up. China had never encountered something as strong as the European foreign culture, as almost all the other cultures China interacted with got blended and merged with the Chinese.

History

Beginnings

The Manchus, who lived up north of China, saw the weakening and the instability of the once so powerful Ming Empire. So, they established themselves their own dynasty and invaded. They crushed revolts and rival tribes. As the invading Manchus, lead by their leader Nurhaci, stormed into the capital, the last Ming emperor committed the destruction of the self. The Manchus, calling themselves the "Qing" (meaning "pure"), established a new order and claiming the Mandate of Heaven. Thousands of native Chinese officials committed suicide, but most of the population accepted the Manchus as their rulers. All men were forced to get a special Manchu-styled haircut called “queue” (anyone who resisted were faced with harsh punishment).

The Manchus educated themselves and the upper class. They took in Chinese culture and customs while mixing some of their own into it, and very quickly, they learned how speak the Han language and write the Han language. They no longer only understand simple plays, but deep philosophical works from greats such as Confucius as well. These were the new masters of China.

The second emperor of Qing, Kangxi, was a wise emperor who respected Chinese culture. Unlike the Mongols, he employed Chinese scholars in the civil service. He was the reason that many Chinese became loyal to the Qing.

Expansion

The Qing employed the “ Eight Banners” system, a military and social structure that organized the Manchu, Mongol, and Han bannermen into distinct divisions. This system not only ensured military discipline but also created a sense of unity among the diverse ethnic groups under Qing control. As the Qing expanded their rule, they faced numerous challenges, including regional rebellions and resistance from loyalists of the Ming Dynasty.

For the next 150 or so years, Qing expanded and expanded. In 1689, Qing entered a treaty with Russia that ended the Russian encroachment in the Amur River region. This was the first treaty that the Chinese had with a European power. In 1696, Qing drove off the Dzungars who had been advancing into East Turkestan and Outer Mongolia since 1978. Qing took the Dzungar Khanate in 1758, and committed a genocide there because of rebellion. Around 420000 to 480000, or 70%-80% of the Dzungar population were killed, from both warfare and disease. Along with the Dzungars, Qing also took their protectorate of Ganden Phodrang. The Qing also conquered Taiwan because of the Ming remnants that lived there and also expelled the Dutch, but never really integrated it into their own culture.

Although relative economic prosperity continued, the population explosion created a food crisis. the population of China rose from 60 million in 1578 to more than 100 million in 1662, 143 million in 1741, 275 million in 1796, and 374 million by 1814 (according to a popular census). Agricultural land-use, however, was not able to keep up with the land expansion of the empire nor the population growth. Farming methods remained underdeveloped.

Decline

From the 19th century, Qing began to decline. Westerners began appearing all over Asia. British and other westerners tried to sell Qing modern things in trade for tea, but Qing refused, saying that he has everything he needs and doesn’t need other “weird useless gadgets”, and demanded lots of silver for tea, causing trade imbalance. Britain wasn’t happy about that, so he decided to sell opium to Qing and get the Chinese people addicted. So the Qing dynasty banned opium. Britain got mad and started a war (First Opium War), and Qing was no match for his superior navy. Qing was forced to pay up and had to give Hong Kong to Britain.

A Hakka, named Hong Xiuquan got mad after failing a bunch of tests and claimed to be the brother of Jesus Christ. He declared the ruling Manchus as “devils” and must be killed. He founded the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and started a rebellion, resulting in the deaths of around 20-30 million people. Eventually Qing succeeded in putting down the rebellion.

After losing the Second Opium War to the Brits and the French and losing a bunch of land to foreigners by unequal treaties, a movement rose up, called the Boxer Movement, which aimed at getting rid of the foreigners. This movement was unsuccessful, got Manchuria annexed by the Russians and led to even more unequal treaties. Eight western nations, known as the Eight-Nation Alliance, teamed up to destroy Qing. Almost every member wanted Qing to be carved up except for America.

Qing had embarrassed the Chinese people on the international stage too much. He tried to reform but it was too late. A rebellion happened to kick the Manchus out and out of power, and established a republic under Sun Yat-Sen.

Manchu or Chinese?

Many anti-Chinese people, such as Korean or Japanese nationalists, think that because the Manchu were not the Han Chinese ethnicity, Qing dynasty was not Chinese and China became a colony of Manchuria during that period. The truth is, the Manchus got sinicizated[1] very quickly, while adding their own culture into the mix. The Qing adapted a Chinese name, ruled in a Chinese style, and proclaimed themselves as rightfully Chinese. As the old saying goes, “A non-sinicizated dynasty could not last longer than 50 years”.

A Korean once said: “When the Qing, who had Korean blood, conquered China, they made all Chinese people go bald. Us Koreans watching that laughed until our jaws dropped.” But they are missing the fact that Korea was a vassal state of China during both the Ming and Qing dynasties.

So, is the Qing dynasty Manchu or Chinese? The answer is: both. The two does not contradict each other.

Relations

Friends

  • Joseon - We of cool. But he wants full independence, sometimes wants to kill me. Stay put, my tributary state.
  • Lanfang Republic - My good child in Southeast Asia.
  • Wales - I is notice yuo have dragon on yours flag.
  • Manchus - The ethnicity that rules me, also really likes Han Chinese culture.

Neutral

  • United States - Even though you’re a western scum, I appreciate that you opposed to cut me up into slices. Also thanks for building railways in my clay.

Enemies

  • Ming Dynasty - HAHAHAHA I DEFEATED YUO AND TOOK ALL OF YOUR LAND AND FIREARMS! 1644 BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE!! But why yuo commit suicide when I enter yuor capital?
  • British Empire - You keep giving me opiums and I keep saying no, NOW YOU GOT ME ON OPIUMS AND WENT BAD.
  • Eight-Nation Alliance - Stupid west people is so evil. They rob my clay and silver!
  • Republic of China - YOU STUPID IDIOT! OVER 5000+ YEARS OF DYNASTY WIPED OUT! WHAT IS CHINA NOW, A PATHETIC MESS OF WARLORDS?! THIS IS ALL THANKS TO YOU STUPID WESTERNIZATION ATTEMPTS!
  • Bogd Khanate of Mongolia - Took advantage of my downfallings and seceded from me. At least my successor tried to claim yuo back.
  • Dzungar Khanate - Yuo dare rebel against me? A genocide will teach yuo a lesson, subhuman! I will show no mercy and will only save the old and the weak.

How to draw

Qing Dynasty has a drawing rating of painstaking.

The “Plain Yellow Banner”, a banner that was used by the Qing for most of its history
  1. Draw a ball.
  2. Draw a blue dragon in the middle with white scales.
  3. Add some blue and red clouds around the ball.
  4. Add eyes and done!
Color Name HEX
Yellow #FAD83D
Blue #14005F
Dark Blue #095DAE
Red #BC1D11

Gallery

See Also

Notes

  1. ↑ Sinicization, a process by which non-Chinese societies or groups are acculturated or assimilated into Chinese culture, particularly the language, societal norms, culture, and ethnic identity of the Han Chinese—the largest ethnic group of China.

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