Impact of Liu and Ning experiences as a result of the historical events and changes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
The historical events and changes that occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century influenced many people in China. By using Liu as the protagonist, Henrietta Harrison, in her book The Man Awakened from Dreams: One Man's Life in a North China Village highlights that the Confucianism ideals, education system, and Boxer Uprising had a great impact on Chinese people. Similarly, in her book, Ida Pruitt observes that the challenges women went through during the 19th and 20th century was profound. By using Ning as a character in her book, Pruitt notes that women went through discrimination, abuse, Wars and exploitation among others.
Liu grew up in farming a family with a strong Confucian tradition. He was a trained civil servant. Liu liked to keep records of the changes, and continuities as they happened to his life, family, village and the country as a whole. During his time, China placed more on education. Henrietta illustrates that education brought honor in the family. It provided access to government jobs. Boys who performed well in school were prepared for government examination. Despite having a robust education system, few people accessed government jobs. For example, Henrietta points out that many educated Chinese did not find employment opportunities. Employment during this period was a preserve of the elites who wielded much influence. Besides, the educated lived in courtyards with small with their wives and children.
Liu’s experience reflected the majority of the educated. The educated, mostly degree holders came together and created a group of Chinese writers. History has consistently referred to this group as the “gentry” often mediating between the general population and the state.
Confucianism, which Liu subscribed to encompassed politics, ethics, and moral obligations. According to Henrietta Liu’s Confucianism ideals were divided into three aspects. They were expressed through religious rituals, the piety of an individual, and compassion with creation. These aspects, together with inspiration by his values and culture shaped Liu’s life. Liu’s morality and values swayed from embracing conventional Chinese to the modern thought.
The Boxer uprising defined Liu’s life because it directly affected him. The Conservatives instigated the revolution which occurred in 1899 to 1901. After succeeding in persuading the court to wage war against foreign powers, the Shanxi’s governor ordered the militias to arrest all foreigners in the province. The Boxer Uprising led to the execution of Christians, not only in Shanxi province but across China. Though the leaders/officials who executed the Christians were punished, and Christians compensated, the Boxer brought a new beginning in China. The state raised taxes to pay for the compensation. Conversely, the financial crisis China was undergoing through during this period was grave. In fact, Jonathan illustrates that the financial predicament was complex and even no absolute ruler was able to solve. Besides entrenching the tax, the authority abused it regularly. For example, the wealthy members of the upper class who were also large land owners concealed their taxes in forms of mis-registration, false names and mortgages. Thus, the poor had no other alternative but to remit their taxes on time. As a result of these happenings, the economic conditions of most people like Liu were affected.
The abolition of examination in 1902 brought a new change in Liu’s life. The abolition dashed Liu’s hope of seeking a government job. The abolition also heralded a new beginning in the education sector. Many villagers lost value in education. Rather than sending their children to school, they offered them apprenticeship training. The changes in the education were massive. Liu disliked these changes; they had made him, and his friends lose jobs as teachers. Besides, he saw that the state was reproducing Confucianism in the society to marshal wealth for the government and compete globally.
Henrietta points out Liu experienced a great awakening when China was going through a socio-political revolution. Liu was confused whether to embrace civil services ideals or the Confucian morals. Despite the confusion, Liu maintained his Confucian faith but avoided politics in his mind. Liu knew that to be respected in the society; a person needs to be sincere as Confucianism teaches. Liu’s encounters were reflected in the wider Chinese society in the 19th and 20th Century. Most people embraced the Confucian morals anchored on empathy and compassion. These ideals transformed Liu in aspects such as politics and social issues affecting the society.
On the other hand, Ning’s story highlights the challenges poor women had to endure in the Chinese society during the 19th and 20th century. Rapid changes during this period made women face harsh realities of life. This was evident in areas such as discrimination, abuse, and neglect among others. Pruitt illustrates that these atrocities were common. For example, In the Chinese society, women bored the highest brunt compared to men. In Ning’s case, she was discriminated since her childhood. She was married when she was still young; hence, she did not understand the responsibilities of being a wife.
The invasion of China by Japan during the Qing dynasty changed the history of China. During the war, the Sino-Japanese War, China was forced to cede Formosa. During this time, the Qing dynasty was collapsing as a result of foreign imperialism and internal revolt making Japan win the war easily. Ning’s life changed, she saw many people being killed, property looted and many starving as a result of hunger.
Ning’s was helpless in her marriage. Her husband was abusive and did not take care of her. According to Pruitt, Ning’s life was that full of sorrows. Besides being in an abusive marriage, Ning had to put up with hard times; there were political unrests, war, and poverty. All these challenges surrounded her.
Ning’s story highlights the challenges which were taking place in modern China. Though she was not able to live an ordinary life, she could shade some light on the predicaments China was going through. Through Ning, we learn that the Chinese army was corrupt. Despite Confucianism being widely embraced in China to instill good morals, it is interesting to point out that it did little to improve and maintain justice in the hearts of Chinese army.
The political unrest and war were another challenge encountered by women during the 19th and 20th century. However, the strength of women determined whether she will sail through the challenge or not. Ning was committed to sail through and make an impact in life. When things got tough at some point, she did her best to rescue the situation. For example, when her drug-addict husband sold her two daughters to an army officer, Ning tried and saved them. The determination Ning exhibited shows that women were determined to fight for what was oppressive in the society.
The Yihetuan Movement or Boxer rebellion which marked the end of Qing dynasty had a tremendous impact on Ning. The war which was against anti-foreign happened between 1899 and 1901. The revolution took place when China was experiencing disruptions and severe drought. The war had detrimental effects on the Chinese society. It contributed to looting, atrocities, and occupation of China by foreign powers. Among the women, the war left them with great pain and starvation.
Similarly, the Nian rebellion which dates back to 1851 was also another influence on Ning’s life. The rebellion signaled a new political world that was slowly emerging in China. As a result of the rebellion, slowly China began devolving power to local and regional commanders for effective governance.
Commonalities and Differences in Liu and Ning’s experiences
Liu and Ning resembled each other in many ways, including their struggle and period. Both characters were from average Chinese family during the late nineteenth century. Li and Ning had to go through political unrest and social transformation during those years, and their life was marked by the changes that social change brought in their lives. They had to go through a psychological chaos during those years due to the shift in social norms and values. They had to decide for the better social system, and they eventually decided to stick with the Confucian morals of compassion and piety. They suffered to become better individuals in their coming years. They had both achieved the high levels of self-actualization through consistent struggle and promise to grow as better humans.
The major difference between the life of Liu and Ning lies in the gender gap. Liu did not have to face the gender discrimination that Ning had to face during her childhood years. Ning was a victim of child marriage and abuse while Liu grew up embracing Confucian ideals. He did not suffer the domestic abuse and turmoil at the hands of a dominant partner. Ning had to take care of economic issues of her family and save her daughters from being sold to army officers while Liu was focused on becoming a better person by practicing the teachings of Confucianism. Also, the nature of their struggle was different and even contrary to each other, but the outcome was of similar nature, that was to become pious and compassionate individuals.
In conclusion, Liu and Ning were greatly affected by the historical events and changes of the late 19th and early 20th century. These changes included; the education system, wars, Confucianism and discrimination among other events and changes.
Bibliography
Harrison Henrietta. The Man Awakened From Dreams (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2005), 56-109.
Ida Pruitt. A Daughter of Han: The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman ( New Haven: Yale University, 1945), 220 -259
Janet Chen, Pei-Kai Cheng, Micheal Lestz and Jonathan D Spence. The Search for Modern China: A Documentary Collection (Third Edition) (New York: W.W. Norton, 1999). 25-84.
Spence, Jonathan D. The Search for Modern China (New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 1990): 90 - 117
