Shen Pao-chen and China's Modernization in the Nineteenth Century

A look at the life of Shen Pao-chen who devoted his life to building China's first modern naval dockyard and academy.

David Pong (Author)

9780521531269, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 February 2003

416 pages, 1 b/w illus. 2 maps 6 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.6 cm, 0.611 kg

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

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.

Introduction
1. Early Years
2. A Local Official in Kiangsi 1856–59
3. TheGovernor of Kiangsi 1862–65
4. First Encounters with Foreigners
5. Director General of the Foochow Navy Yard
6. The Foochow: Early Developments1866–67
7. The Foochow Navy Yard: Adminstration and Personnel 1867–75
8. The Foochow Navy Yard: Building and Training Programmes
9. The Foochow Navy Yard: Financial Crises
10. The Next Steps in Defence Modernisation: Ma-wei and Beyond
11. Towards a pan for Self-Strengthening
Conclusion
Glossary of Chinese characters
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]