The 20th Century History of China (1912-1992)

This is a course designed for Foreign Students’ Study in China Program only.

Course Title: The 20th Century History of China

Instructor: Prof. Zhou Yi (Ph.D.)
History & Culture School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Phone: 13881861940
E-mail: [email protected]
Textbook: Edwin Pak-wah Leung, Ph.D., Essentials of Modern Chinese History, © 2006 by
Research & Education Association Inc.
Reference Books and Websites:
1. Jonathan Fenby, The Penguin History of Modern China: The Fall and Rise of a
Great Power, 1850– 2009, London: Penguin Books Ltd, 2008.
2. Mary B. Rankin, John K. Fairbank and Albert Feuerwerker, The Cambridge
History of China, Volume 13 Part 2Republican China 1912–1949, Part 2,
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986.
3. Fairbank, John King, The Great Chinese Revolution (1800-1985), New
York:
Harpers & Row, 1987.
4. http://www.drben.net/ChinaReport/Sources/History/History_Sources.html
5. Chinese Studies: Video & Audio Lectures with Harvard Faculty— —
http://www.extension.harvard.edu/open-learning-initiative/china-history

Course Description and Objective:

This course will be a historical survey of the 20th c.-China in 1912-1992 from the
socio-cultural as well as political perspectives. In order for the beginners to get a whole picture of
China historically, We’ll first sum up briefly the chronological history of 5,000-year-old China.
Then, We will examine the causes and effects of the downfall of the Qing Dynasty and the
establishment of the Republic of China in 1911-1916, the rise of the Separatist Warlord Regimes
in 1916-1924, the May 4th Youth Movement in 1919 and the establishment of the Communist
Party of China in 1921, the National Revolution and the termination of the Northern Warlord
Regimes in 1924-1928, the establishment of Nanjing National Government and the rise of the new
warlords in 1928-1937, the Anti-Japanese War in 1937-1945, the Civil War between the
Nationalists and the Communists in 1945-1949, the establishment of the Communist Government
in 1949 and the land reform and the nationalization movement of businesses in the early 1950s,
the Anti-Rightist Struggle in the late 1950s, the Starvation and the economic recovery in the early
1960s, the Great Cultural Revolution in 1966-1976 and the ten-year chaos, the rise of Deng
Xiaoping and his subsequent reform in 1978-1992. And we will discuss the above major events of
China against the international background of that time.
Students who take part in this course are required to know not only essential elements of the
major historical events and social changes in modern China, but also the causes and effects of
those events and changes. Beginning with the study of modern Chinese events, students are

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expected to understand gradually why and how China has progressed against the world situation.
Students should also understand how the failures of modern Chinese revolutions, as the result of
interaction between national and international unrests, finally resulted in the Communist rise to
power and in the Communist reform later that is profoundly shaping the Chinese society today.
In short, this course is meant to help students understand the 20th c. China in its
social-political structures and situations from a historical perspective within, which can vividly
complement the perspective of outside observation. Finally, students are welcomed in this course
to judge and criticize independently and freely.
This course will be conducted through the teacher’s lectures, the documentary vedio in class,
class discussions, students’s presentations and after-class reading for the students.

Course Requirements:

(Exams consist of short-answer/essay questions.)

1. One mid-term exam（short-answer questions） 25%

2. Stdents’s presentation 25%
3. Class attendance 25%
4. One final exam (essay questions) 25%

Note: English is required in class. It would be better if students can understand some Chinese.

Course Duration:

This course will be held for 12-16 weeks, three class hours every week except on public
holidays.

Outline of the Lectures:

Lecture 1
A General Introduction: How to Understand the 20th c. History of China?
(1) The 20th c. history of China is a history of war and revolution in China.
(2) The 20th c. history of China is a history of China’s nationalists and communists.
(3) The 20th c. history of China is a history from disintegration to reunion in China.
(4) The 20th c. history of China is a history of China’s dream of independence and
modernization.

Lecture 2
The Causes and Effects of the Downfall of the Qing Dynasty
(1) From 1840 to 1911, the Qing Empire of China began to decline sharply.
(2) The Causes and Effects of the Downfall:
A: External threat---Western powers’ pressure and invasion;
B: Internal threat---the corruption of the Qing government and the inflexibility and
inertia of the Chinese towards outside changes; the peasant uprisings.

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Lecture 3
The Rise of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the Establishment of the Republic of China in 1911-1916
(1) Dr. Sun, the Father of the Chinese Revolution, was born from a peasant family in
Xiangshan, Guangdong in 1866 and later received the education of Western learning in
Hawaii and Hong Kong.
(2) In 1894, he and his friends established Revive China Society, the first revolutionary
group by the Chinese bougeoisie
(3) From 1902-1905, Dr. Sun made a round-the-world trip to propagate his revolutionary
ideas among oversea Chinese, esp. Chinese students abroad.
(4) In the summer of 1905, Dr. Sun established in Tokyo, Japan Chinese United League, the
Mother of the Chinese Revolution.
(5) The guidelines of Chinese United League were “to overthrow the Manchu rulers, revive
China, establish a republic and qualize landownership’. Dr. Sun boiled these guidelines
down to Three People’s Principles: Nationalism, Democracy and Socialism (p.49,
Essencials of Modern Chinese History by Dr. Edwin Pak-wah Leung).
(6) The uprisings organized by Chinese United League (p.9, Modern History of China by
Chen Tingxiang).
(7) The 1911 Sichuan railway controversy and the Wuchang Revolution in October 10
(p.10-13, Modern History of China by Chen Tingxiang).
(8) On Dec.25,1911, Dr. Sun was elected the provisional president of the Republic of China
in Nanjing, and the first day of the republic was designated Jan. 1, 1912 (p.13-16,
Modern History of China by Chen Tingxiang).
(9) Yuan Shikai, first as the president and later as the emperor and the downfall of the Qing;
tha capital of the republic was moved to Beijing (p.55-59, Essencials of Modern Chinese
History by Dr. Edwin Pak-wah Leung; p.17-34, Modern History of China by Chen
Tingxiang).

Lecture 4
The Rise of the Separatist Warlord Regimes in 1916-1924
（1） The Northern Army and warlordism (p.59-62; p.78-83, Essencials of Modern
Chinese History by Dr. Edwin Pak-wah Leung; p.45-48, Modern History of China
by Chen Tingxiang).
（2） The disputes between the government and the congress and Zhang Xun’s restoration
(p.48-54, Modern History of China by Chen Tingxiang).

Lecture 5
The May 4th Youth Movement in 1919 and the Establishment of the Communist Party of
China in 1921
(1) The impact of Russian Revolution in October, 1917 (p.64-65, Modern History of China
by Chen Tingxiang).
(2) The failure of China’s diplomacy in Paris in April, 1919 (p.66-67, Modern History of
China by Chen Tingxiang).
(3) The May 4th Youth Movement in 1919 (p.67-71, Modern History of China by Chen

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 Tingxiang).
(4) The New Culture Movement in 1915-1919 (p.63-64, Essencials of Modern Chinese
History by Dr. Edwin Pak-wah Leung).
(5) Western doctrines and the rise of the CCP (p.72-92, Modern History of China by Chen
Tingxiang).

Lecture 6
The National Revolution and the Termination of the Northern Warlord Regimes in 1924-1928
(1) After the formation of the first Nationalist-Communist United Front, or the
Soviet-GMD-CCP cooperation (e.g. the Whampoa Military Academy), in 1923, the
National Revolution with workers’ and peasants’ movements soon spread out in China.
(2) The revolutionary bases in Guangdong were united and the Guangzhou National
Government was set up. Dr. Sun died in March, 1925, and Wang Jingwei and Chiang
Kaishek rose in the GMD.
(3) The purge of communists by Chiang: the Warship Zhongshan Incident and Straighten out
the Party Affairs.
(4) The GMD government moved from Guangdong to Wuhan in Jan., 1927. Wang Jingwei
diagreed with Chiang in purging the CCP, so he and his government dismiss Chiang
from his post as commander-in-chief of the National Revolutionary Army.
(5) In April, 1927, Chiang, not bothered by the dismissal, organized his own government in
Nanjing with the help of Hu Hanmin. Chiang successfully continued the Northen
Expedition.
(6) On August 1, 1927, the Nanchang Uprising took place in which Communists rebelled in
the name of the Nationalist Left Wing. This prompted Wang Jingwei to liquidate the CCP
within the GMD and re-structured the front organizations. All differences between
Wuhan and Nanjing governments were reconciled. Chiang was soon re-appointed as
commander-in-chief, and Wang went into exile in Japan.
(7) The year1928 witnessed Chiang basically reunify China and the end of the warlordism
and of the military rule.

Lecture 7
The Establishment of Nanjing National Government and the Struggles and Cooperations
between Nationalists and Communists in 1928-1949 (the Anti-Japanese War in 1937-1945
the Civil War between Nationalists and Communists in 1945-1949)
(1) Chiang Kaishek was still busy fighting those smaller regional separatist warlords and
reforming China (like the New Lifestyle Movement).
(2) The CCP established the Chinese Soviet Republic in Jiangxi and Hunan in 1931-1934.
(3) From late 1934 to late 1936, the Red Army completed their Long March, and Yan’an, in
North Shaanxi, became the new base for the CCP. In Yan’an, Mao Zedong became an
indisputable leader of the CCP.
(4) In Sept., 1931, the Japanese army occupied China’s Manchuria and General Zhang
Xueliang’s army withdrew from Northeast China.
(5) In Dec., 1936, General Zhang Xueliang kidnapped Chiang Kaishek in Xi’an, and the
second Nationalist-Communist United Front was soon formed to fight against the

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 Japanese invasion. In July, 1937, Japan began invaded North China. In Dec., 1939, Japan
attacked the Pearl Harbour, and the Pacific War broke out. In Aug., 1945, Japan
surrendered (p.403-410, Modern History of China by Chen Tingxiang).
(6) In June, 1946, the Civil War broke out. In October, Mao declared the founding of New
China in Beijing.
Lecture 8
The Land Reform and the Nationalization Movement of Businesses in the Early 1950s and
the Korean War (1950-1953)
(1) The economic recovery period (1950-1952).
(2) The Land Reform and Suppressing Counter-Revolutionaries (1950-1952).
(3) The Socialist Transformation Movement (1953-1956).
(4) The First Five-Year Plan (1953-1957).

Lecture 9
The Ten-Year Speedy Socialist Construction (1957-1966).
(1) The Anti-Rightist Struggle in 1956-1957 and the Great Leap Forward (1957-1959).
(2) The Sino-Soviet split in late 1950s.
(3) The downfall of Peng Dehuai in 1959.
(4) The Starvation and the Economic Recovery in the Early 1960s.
(5) The Socialist Education Movement (1962-1965).

Lecture 10
The Great Cultural Revolution and the Red Guards Movement in 1966-1976 (the Ten-Year
Chaos)
(1) The downfall of Liu Shaoqi and his group in 1966.
(2) The downfall of Lin Biao and his group in 1971.
(3) The border conflicts between China and the Soviet Union in 1969.
(4) The normalization of the Sino-American relationship and the Sino-Japanese relationship
in Feb., 1972 and in Sept., 1972 respectively.
(5) The rise of the “Gang of Four” into power in 1973-1976.
(6) The deaths of Mao, Zhou and Zhu in 1976.
(7) The downfall of the “Gang of Four” and the rise of Hua Guofeng.

Lecture 11
The End of Mao Zedong and Hua Guofeng; the Rise of Deng Xiaoping and His Subsequent
Reform in 1978-1992

Lecture 12
For a Free Discussion （talk over tea party or hot-pot food）

Note: The program for the whole course may have some adjustments when
necessary.

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Chronology of China

Neolithic Period 6500-1700BC

Xia Dynasty 2100-1600BC
Shang Dynasty 1600-1100BC
Zhou Dynasty 1100-256BC
Western Zhou 1100-771BC
Eastern Zhou 770-256BC
Spring & Autumn
770-476BC
Period
Warring States
475-221BC
Period
Qin Dynasty 221-206BC
Han Dynasty 206BC-220AD
Western Han 206BC - 8AD
Xin 9-23AD
Eastern Han 25-220AD
Three Kingdoms 220-265
Wei 220-265
Shu Han 221-263
Wu 222-263
Jin Dynasty 265-420
Western Jin 265-317
Eastern Jin 317-420
Southern Dynasties
Northern Dynasties 420-589
Southern Dynasties
Liu Song 420-479
Southern Qi 479-502
Liang 502-557
Chen 557-589
Northern Dynasties
Northern Wei 386-534
Eastern Wei 534-550
Northern Qi 550-577
Western Wei 535-556
Northern Zhou 557-581
Sui Dynasty 581-618
Tang Dynasty 618-907
Five Dynasties 907-960
Later Tang 923-936

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 Later Han 947-950
Liao Dynasty 907-1125
Song Dynasty 960-1279
Northern Song 960-1127
Southern Song 1127-1279
Jin Dyansty 1115-1234
Yuan Dynasty 1279-1368
Ming Dynasty 1368-1644
Hongwu 1368-1398
Jianwu 1399-1402
Yongle 1403-1425
Hongxi 1425
Xuande 1426-1435
Zhengtong 1436-1449
Jingtai 1450-1456
Tianshun 1457-1464
Chenghua 1465-1487
Hognzhi 1488-1505
Zhengde 1506-1521
Jiajing 1522-1566
Longqing 1567-1572
Wanli 1573-1619
Taichang 1620
Tianqi 1621-1627
Chingzhen 1628-1644
Qing Dynasty 1644-1911
Shunzhi 1644-1661
Kangxi 1662-1722
Yongzheng 1723-1735
Qianlong 1736-1795
Jiaqing 1796-1820
Daoguang 1821-1850
Xianfeng 1851-1861
Tongzhi 1862-1874
Guangxu 1875-1908
Xuantong 1908-1911
1912-1949(in
Republic of China
Mainland China)
Hongxian (Yuan
1915-1916
Shikai)--Restoration

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People's Republic of
1949-Today
China

Note: The change-over of the scores to grades:

90 - 92 = A-

93 - 95 = A

96 -100 = A+

80 - 83 = B-

84 - 86 = B

87 - 89 = B+

60 - 69 = C-

70 - 75 = C

76 - 79 = C+

The score below 60 is F (Failure).