Shen Pao-chen and China's Modernization in the Nineteenth Century (Cambridge Studies in Chinese History, Literature and Institutions) - Hardcover

Pong, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521441633 ISBN 13: 9780521441636

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1994

Synopsis

The Opium Wars ushered in an era of intensive Western imperialism in China, at a time when the Ch'ing dynasty was already in decline, forcing a small number of Chinese officials to come to the realisation that China must protect itself by adopting the same military technology that had brought it national humiliation. Shen Pao-chen was one such official. Abandoning the comfort of his successful career, Shen devoted his life to building China's first modern naval dockyard and academy. His successes and failures shed new light on the story of China's efforts at modernization - a story that has not come to a conclusion. As China engages in new rounds of economic and industrial modernization in the post-Mao era, many of these issues acquire new meanings and significance.

About this title

Book Description

A look at the life of Shen Pao-chen who devoted his life to building China's first modern naval dockyard and academy. His successes and failures shed new light on the story of China's efforts at modernisation.

Review

'... an important case study in the debate on the reasons for the long-term failure of the modernization drive in the late nineteenth century.' Michael Dillon, Royal Society for Asian Affairs

'... as apt a portrayal of the dilemma of the late Qing modernizer as any.' Michael Dillon, Royal Society for Asian Affairs

'The case that is built here for Shen as a major figure of his time is unassailable.' Michael Gasster, The China Review International

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521441633
• ISBN 13: 9780521441636
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 415