About the nature and function of Westernization Movement, after nearly 30 years of discussion and contention in academic circles, by the fifth national symposium on Westernization Movement, the capitalist nature of Westernization Movement was basically recognized, which was the result of the Qing government's opening to the outside world and self-improvement by borrowing the law, and played an advocacy and pioneering role in the development of Chinese national capitalism. However, on the sidelines and on the new discussion, which played an important catalytic role in the Westernization Movement, are still regarded by some scholars as documents of "aggression" and interference in China's internal affairs and diplomacy. What is the basic content of Two Theories? What is the influence of Two Theories on the officials of the Westernization School? Is it aggression or friendship?

The Basic Contents of Two Theories

Since being forced to break the closed-door policy, the senior officials of the Qing government have been in a contradictory state of arrogance and inferiority, learning from foreigners and fearing foreigners, and they have all kinds of doubts and wariness about foreigners. On the one hand, we should learn from the system of Qiang Bing, a rich country in western capitalist countries; on the other hand, we don't know anything about international affairs, and we are at a loss how to adapt domestic affairs to the new situation of capitalist infiltration.

1860 After the signing of the Beijing Treaty, Britain and France achieved the freedom to open more commercial ports, cede the Kowloon Division and preach. After Russia occupied a large territory of China through border negotiations, countries mainly defended their commercial interests and declared that they would live in peace with China. From then on, it was in an era of relative peace with western countries, and the first climax of western culture flowing to China appeared. China's traditional feudal consciousness, closed-door policy and old mode of production were violently impacted. Where is China going? Should we continue to adhere to the policy of closing the country to the outside world or open to the outside world? How to open up? In this case, 1865 1 1 month and 1866

In March, 2006, Hurd and wade successively put forward *** 1 10,000 words on "On the sidelines" and "On the new discussion", and put forward a series of criticisms and reform suggestions on the foreign affairs and internal affairs of the Qing government.

Hurd pointed out at the beginning of "On the sidelines" that the authorities are fascinated and the bystanders are clear. Onlookers "dare to express what they see, or be foolish to get the first effect", and advise the Qing government to recognize the situation after the "change". Of course, we should see that "mogu is in China" with a long history, and we should also see that compared with other countries in the world, "it is not weaker than China". China has adopted a closed-door policy, but western countries have "gradually interacted with China in recent decades" and capitalist forces have penetrated into China, so they can't "refuse". They must face the reality, make reforms according to the situation and correctly handle the new problems encountered in internal affairs and diplomacy.

Then, Hurd made an incisive analysis of the international and domestic situation faced by the Qing government and its future development trend. He said, "China's affair, one saying inside story, the other saying outside story, today's outside story is caused by the inside story of the day before yesterday, and the inside story in the future is also changed by the outside story." That is to say, today's invasion by foreign forces is caused by China's "previous day's retreat and weakness". Today, China has begun to get involved in the vortex of capitalism, and its future internal development must change with the influence of international forces.

What's the inside story? On the sidelines cited a large number of facts about the political corruption of the Qing government. Politically, there are laws that are not obeyed, and the employees at home and abroad are "less conscientious and more selfish". The petty officials are authoritarian, "greedy for relatives and friends, but people's grievances are heard", which makes people's livelihood not secure. Financially, "the provinces have spent more than 100 million yuan on planning funds, but the soldiers owe their salaries, which has led to many years", and "there are many people who take from the people under the official, but few who lose to the country". Militarily, "the number of brave soldiers, called millions, ranks according to their names, is really old, weak and stupid, and only accounts for 10%." "General Classics was originally used", but today's intellectuals are familiar with Confucian classics and poems, but they don't know current events. "Once they are residents, they can eliminate disadvantages and accuse traitors." "The prohibition of cults was originally a worship of righteousness", while feudal superstitions were "repeated". "All the funds in the small provinces are repeatedly urged, while the people say peeling; When it comes to the needs of the university, it is cheating to order donations and not to sell them. " "The law is good and evil, so that within all nations, the most docile people have unexpectedly refused to accept the accident everywhere. Whew! Things are not real, but they are just empty words. "

Hurd pointed out that, in short, "the trip of civil and military affairs is all virtual, law enforcers are mercenary, and wealth managers are self-sufficient." You see something in the world, but you don't see anything. Far feelings can't be reached, and orders can't travel far. " Therefore, it is natural to cause the people to be "too shy to accept the disaster of insurrection".

In terms of "external feelings", that is, international relations, wade pointed out in "A Brief Discussion": "Since ancient times, within the four seas, no matter what country", if you don't keep pace with your neighbors with all your heart, you will never be merged with them. Today, China's neighbors are not the backward Huns in ancient times, but the great powers of Britain, France and Russia. "Britain is already in Myanmar, not far from Yunnan. France is already in Annan, not far from Guangxi ",and Russia and China are connected by thousands of miles. "The worry is not whether countries have the heart of encroachment, but that they are easy to encroach everywhere". In recent years, "the treatment of China by the three countries may be ill-conceived; China's treatment of the Three Kingdoms also has some shortcomings. If this is the case, the inside and outside should be considerate of each other. " Since the Treaty has been signed, it should be handled in accordance with the law of nations. If it violates the Treaty, it may "use military force". Helpless, "all countries are strong", if there are occasional inconsistencies between China and foreign countries, foreign countries will rely on strong forces or use "words to hold them hostage". In order to turn the corner, we must "strengthen ourselves by borrowing the law." In this way, all countries can get "the benefits of the map" and "guarantee China's autonomy".

How to strengthen yourself by law? Wade quoted China's Book of Changes as saying, "If you are poor, you will change, and if you change, you will pass, and the general rules will last for a long time". He pointed out that there is no such thing as a gentleman in China, "when it comes to flexibility, it is only to change back to the old law", and this kind of old-fashioned change will not work. The habit of "China loves the old and hates the new" must be eliminated, and we should clearly understand the situation and carry out new reforms in domestic and foreign affairs. He put forward the principle of "China's independence is to promote its advantages and eliminate its disadvantages through law" and "reform politics at home and friendship abroad". Hurd suggested the aim of "rejuvenating the country through the people". The so-called "civilian", that is, "foreign ownership, the people can learn, China is original

The benefits, can stay and follow ",such as foreign ships, railways, weaving utensils, letter sending motors, arms and weapons art of war, money style, are extremely exquisite," national rain is beneficial, I hope all scholars can learn. " The so-called "rejuvenating the country" can rejuvenate the country by saying that "China and foreign countries are rich and prosperous in the past, and there are no troubles outside, and there are benefits in learning". In terms of internal governance, we should also rectify the finance, reform the local tax, salt and tax, so that all officials will pay more attention to their salaries and fees, and avoid corruption and extortion of Wang. In the military, it is required that "there are not many soldiers" and that "the art of war counts soldiers' salaries". In local administration, we should avoid the system of native place, "civil and military should be accurate."

Being an official in this province, being an official and understanding person, being familiar with customs and languages in this province "is conducive to governing the place". "All other matters can be rectified at any time in the future, which will surely lead to national security and people's wealth."

In diplomacy, Hurd proposed that China should exchange visits with other countries and get along on an equal footing. The Great Emperor of China should "summon the ambassadors of various countries living in Beijing" as a gesture of friendship. China should also "appoint ministers to be stationed in foreign countries, which is of great benefit to China. If the minister who lives in Beijing asks for something reasonable, China should do it himself; If you ask for something unreasonable, it is hard for China not to do it without a minister in its own country. ". In addition, China should allow "foreign merchants and Chinese chambers of commerce to manufacture wheelbarrows and motors, etc.". Wade pointed out that in China, some people think that seeking internal governance first and then exclusion, "being flexible means being able to settle down, and then driving outsiders away after settling down", which is not good for China. He also pointed out that "China has always been reluctant to trade with foreign countries, especially in other provinces", and this policy of closed-door arrogance is also wrong.

Hurd finally concluded that the above-mentioned exhortations are "internal departments will rectify the old rules" and "external departments will summon, send envoys and make meetings." Summoning is undamaged, sending envoys to protect themselves and making people rich. " As for the provisions of the Treaty, it should also be handled as soon as possible. "If you do it, Taixi countries will be happy, nothing will help, and there will be no disagreement. Covering international contacts, countries have always given way to other countries. If China refuses, all countries will not accept it. If you let yourself be a friend of all nations, you will have a vast land, a large number of people, a well-connected culture and a well-behaved job, and there will be no difficulty in the transfer of state affairs. "

Wade specially suggested in "A Brief Discussion" that China, when carrying out the pilot reform, "must temporarily ask foreigners to help each other and get familiar with them before resigning. For example, since the establishment of the Customs and Taxation Department, both internal and external troubles have been avoided, and tax rates have also increased. " It is well known that "all the members of the tax department, though they all invite foreigners, resign to manage the tax", and their rights are "all in China's hands". "In the future, China will be able to understand the rules of foreign languages, so that it will resign as a member of foreign countries and take care of its own taxes. China has this ability." Foreigners are also welcome to "The Story of Preparing for Foreign Affairs".