Jottings from the Granite Studio

The Founding of the Zhou Dynasty
On February 13, 950, Guo Wei founded the Zhou Dynasty, one of the “5 Dynasties and 10 Kingdoms” that ruled in China between 907 and 960. Guo Wei was a general in the Turkic Han Dynasty (And yes, the short-lived regimes of this period loved to take their names from earlier, more permanent dynasties) who rebelled against the young son of the Han founder, Gaozu. From its capital at Kaifeng, the Zhou ruled north China until 960, when one of their own generals, Zhao Kuangyin, rebelled against the young grandson of Guo Wei. (I’m sensing a trend here.) Zhao, of course, would go on to consolidate his rule in the north before turning south, reunifying China under the Song Dynasty (960-1276).

Li Hongzhang in Japan
On this date in 1895, the Qing court appointed Li Hongzhang as its first envoy to Japan, charged with negotiating peace following the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). Given the whumping Japan put on China during that conflict, it was supposed to be more of a dictation of terms than an actual negotiation, but–good news for the Qing , not so much for Li–a Japanese nationalist shot Li just below his eye soon after his arrival. The wound was not fatal, but it sufficiently embarrassed the Japanese side that their negotiators agreed to ease their demands. Nevertheless, the Treaty of Shimonoseki still cost the Qing their tributary relationship with Korea, 200 million taels of silver, and the island of Taiwan. Who knows what the price might have been if Li hadn’t taken one in the face for “Team China.”

The Last Word
From conversations recorded during the negotiations at Shimonoseki, this is Li Hongzhang opening the dialogue.

“On the Asiatic continent China and Japan are close neighbors and the written language of the two nations is the same. Is it well that we should live in enmity? The conclusion of our present difficulties in a lasting peace should be our great concern, for prolonging hostilities will but injure China without benefitting Japan. The European Powers which maintain vast armaments nevertheless take the greatest care not to provoke war. And we, representing the principal countries of the East, should follow the example of Europe. If you Excellency and myself should thoroughly appreciate this we cannot but conclude that the last policy which should rule the Asiatic continent, is that we should establish an enduring peace in order to prevent the yellow race of Asia from succumbing to the white race of Europe.”

The Japanese response (and yes, I’m paraphrasing): “That’s nice, give us Taiwan.”

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Source: Pei-kai Cheng and Michael Lestz. The Search for Modern China: A Documentary Collection. New York: Norton, pp. 168-189.