Qingliu and reform : the orthodoxy of the literati in the reform movement of late nineteenth century China

Abstract

This thesis is focused on the ideals and activities of the qingliu group during two major political movements, the self-strengthening (ziqiang) and reform (bianfa) movements, between the 1860s and 1890s. The qingliu group was a political faction of the "scholar-officials" (shidafu). In particular, the members of the group comprised the more distinguished of the scholar-officials. Most of the members of the qingliu group held positions in the Hanlin Academy, the Censorate or other official bodies and the Court could ill-afford to ignore their opinions, or qingyi (literally 'pure discussion,’ also translated as 'public opinion'). As a result, the ideas and actions of the qingliu group greatly influenced state politics, and the group played an important and dominant role in late Qing history. Show more