The Re-discovery of the "Imperial Claimant" Case at Wuchang, 1900
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Tsai, Yao-wei
Abstract
After the coup d’etat of 1898 ended the “One Hundred Day Reform”, the situation and personal safety of Emperor Guangxu (1871-1908, r. 1875-1908) of Qing China became critical, with rumors about deposition of the Emperor widely spread; when the Qing regime declared a successor to the throne (as an adopted heir for the late Emperor Tongzhi) at the end of the 25th year of Guangxu period (Jan. 24, 1900), it was generally regarded as the first step of the deposition, and strong opposition at home and abroad arose. While the Qing regime hardened their persecution of the reform-minded intellectuals at home, and started using the Boxers in Northern China to fight against foreign powers, jeopardizing China’s very existence, many reformist and revolutionary activists also started to cooperate for a united uprising to “rescue the emperor” (qin wang, 勤王) and carry on the modern reform. With the Qing regime gradually destroying her prestige and integrity with her own action, the year 1900 (especially the Boxer Uprising) became a watershed of modern Chinese political culture. Through the re-discovery of a mysterious “Imperial Claimant” case at Wuchang, Hubei Province from the winter of 1899 to the spring of 1900 (a mysterious man claimed himself as the Emperor fleeing in disguise), this research tries to locate the course of this case, analyze the varied discourse about it by several newspapers and magazines at home and abroad (along with the judgement by some reformist intellectuals), and focus them into several larger contexts: the political standings of and debates between these newspapers and magazines, the long-standing rumors about the safety of the Emperor and their long roots in the Late Qing power structure, the power of news media as a “budding public space” to stimulate discussion and debate, even determine the meaning and importance of an event by interpretation; and the power of rumors as message to reflect certain kinds of social anxiety and anticipation. Several later versions of interpretation about this event stemmed from different analytical angles, and the role played by secret societies in this case and during the turbulant period between 1898 and 1900, also need to be analyzed. With these explorations, this research hopes to reach a fuller and more multi-layered grasp and understanding to the operation of Late Qing political culture in this turbulent period, on “the eve of transformation”.
Subjects
Emperor Guangxu (of Qing China)
the declaration of Guangxu’s successor (on Jan.24, 1900)
the “Imperial Claimant” case at Wuchang
news media (as a “budding public space”)
political rumors
secret societies
Type
thesis
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