TOWARD THE REPUBLIC: A NOT-SO DISTANT MIRROR

BY CHEN POKONG

A historical television drama took China by storm earlier this year before it fell to appar- such as Sun Yatsen, who not so long ago staged a revolution to overthrown a dictatorship and establish a democratic, free and ent censorship. Chen Pokong examines constitutional government in China. the modern resonances that give the series In fact, this 59-episode series manages to portray all of the significant political actors of that period, and offers a daring an unprecedented relevance for Chinese reappraisal of relatively recent historical figures and events. But viewers.* while familiar characters such as Cixi, Li Hongzhang, and Sun Yatsen are cast in a new light, in the opinion of The mainland television serial “Toward the Republic” has this writer these fresh portrayals do not always constitute a become a cause celebre inside and outside of China. Presented positive reassessment, nor can they always be considered a in April this year during the “prime time” evening hour usually rationalization of the actions of comparable contemporary reserved for Party propaganda, the series benefited additionally political figures. from its broadcast during a period when many Chinese A few scenes from the series illustrate this view: confined themselves to home during the SARS crisis. Scene 1: Dinner time at the palace of the in Originally produced in one-hour segments, this joint Beijing:The Empress Dowager casts her eyes over an array of production between CCTV and a production company more than 100 costly dishes and sighs, “So little to eat! It’s became increasingly truncated, to the point where the last hardly worth raising my chopsticks!” episode lasted only 15 minutes. It is believed that the Beijing The scene changes to the Imperial Palace in Japan, where authorities, once aware of the program’s content, began wielding the Emperor announces that he will invest his private fortune the heavy knife of censorship. However, uncut video versions in building up Japan’s military strength. “Starting from today,I continue to circulate to great demand on the black market in will eat only one meal a day,” the Emperor says. China, as well as in the Chinese communities of the free world. Scene 2:The Japanese navy has won an overwhelming vic- The program has aroused considerable debate among those tory in a battle against the Chinese fleet in 1894, in spite of inside and outside of China who have seen it. One point of being greatly outnumbered.The Japanese Emperor, with his universal agreement is the high quality of the production, back to the audience, is told the news. In response he says, including an unusual degree of artistic integrity,historical “I’m hungry.” His attendants immediately shout, “Bring food verisimilitude and entertainment value. On a deeper level, for the Emperor!” But the Emperor stops them with a motion however, two highly divergent views have arisen regarding the of his hand. He turns to the audience and draws from his robe program.The first is that “Toward the Republic” is an exercise a small paper package, from which he unwraps a crust of in apologetics for the current regime. Focusing on the tumul- bread.As he bites into the crust, the Emperor smiles, and a tear tuous years immediately before and after Sun Yatsen established rolls down his cheek. the Republic of China, the series reassesses the reputations of The scene changes to the Imperial Palace in Beijing, where controversial historical figures such as the Qing Empress Cixi has just been told of China’s humiliating defeat. She looks Dowager Cixi, Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai in a somewhat dully at the mounds of delicacies piled before her, unable to more sympathetic light.The diplomatic “sell-off” of Chinese eat. Her son and attendants implore her to take nourishment territory to foreign powers by Li Hongzhang, in particular, seems for the sake of her health, to no avail. to justify similar agreements signed more recently by Jiang For many viewers, the implication of these scenes is clear. Zemin. In addition, the stress on the need for stability in the But to this writer the real value of these scenes is the objective early years of the Republic echoes modern calls for the same. manner in which the situations are portrayed, allowing On the other hand, some viewers see a more “subversive” the viewer to use his own judgments and draw his own intent in the series’ vivid and admiring portrayal of figures conclusions.The message is that reality is complicated — examples includethefollowing: and thepresent day, Some separated by nearly acentury. betweento mindtheamazingsimilarities thelate Qingperiod revealed inhisphysiognomy, but inhisactions. isnot qualityofthecharacter stamped ontheirforeheads.The heroes andvillainsdon’t goaround withtheappropriate labels status of Asia’s premier naval power andwas ranked fourth in Chinaheld the Inthelate Qingperiod, today). cases echoed between China andJapan onehundred years ago (andinmany forChina. modern allegories ofcautionary a series existence.feel himself inaprior that heisobserving cannothelpbut oreven unengaged anordinary citizen, sider, aninsiderorout- oppositionist, astruggling ing regime, of “Toward whetherhe’s amemberoftherul- theRepublic,” Chineseviewer thatpresent themodern Chinaare sostriking employthat thewriters inthisseries. but only tothe “Qing Dynasty,” indicating thefine distinctions that makes noreference“Toward to “China,” theRepublic” Itisalsoworth noting notConfucius. soon beseeingMarx, Maowas onhisdeathbed hesaidwould and Russia.When wasfrom imported Germany Communism, ideology, ruling while thewere current anoccupying force from outsideChina, Particularly are instructive theconflictsandcomparisons To anyone recalls thisseries familiar withChinesehistory, In asimilarway, presentsas history “Toward the Republic” theparallelsbetween thelate Qingand In abroader sense, Qingrulers pointisthatAnother important theManchu BoththeQingdynasty andtheCommunist regime – Thefailed 1989democracymovement isreminiscent of – Thelate Qinggovernment claimedunprecedented – TheQinggovernment promoted ShanghaiasChina’s – Thelate Qingstrove for peacefulrelations withother – Thelate Qingused Western– methodsindealingwiththe emphasizethe Boththelaterulers Qingandthecurrent – ofthe totheprinciples TheQinginsistenceonadhering – The QingDynasty’s – Westernization movement isreminis- into self-interest andcorruption. only todecay outwithacleanandheroicstarted image, undesirable consequences. intellectuals petitionedthegovernment withsimilar agroup of inwhich the 1898ReformMovement, regime does. justasthecurrent reforms, created Shenzhen. “window tothe regimeWest,” whilethe modern theDiaoyutai islandsandotherareas. Russia, bordering yielded toforeign interests onterritories your weapons andhas andshow apeacefulface,” government haslikewise employed thetacticof “Hide as such territories Taiwan andHongKong.The current treaties andsignedinternational ceding countries, “Socialism withChinesecharacteristics.” whileChina’sWest, government modern hasintroduced need tostrengthen China’s military. above all. andemphasisonstability the “four basicprinciples” intherecent tomaintain exhortations ancestors isechoed cent oftheopenreform regime. policiesofthecurrent China’s bestinterests. demands madeby foreign governments were actually in that many ofthe memoranda suggestsadifferent conclusion: thedepictionofcontextthese the Republic,” Butin “Toward even light. extortionate coercive, a hostile, present thediplomatic memorandaof Western in countries but alsoby societyasawhole. thrown regime, for thisispaidnotonly andtheprice by theover- inevitable, revolution is failthe authorities toinitiate orhastenreforms, If where itbelongs. rather thanontheexistingpoliticalpower, Both notionsunfairly placethe blame onrevolutionaries willeventuallyeconomic prosperity leadtodemocratization. they imply oftheCommunist Party, that under therule time, same the andbloodshed broughtchaos by revolution.At program naturally developed ademocraticsystem without the mighthavelate Qingrulers through theirexisting Westernization thatobserve ifSun the Yatsen outhisrevolution, hadnotcarried private e-mail. andmonitoring theInternet in blocking employ theirnew knowledge technical toassistthegovernment toChinaand return andCanada, astheU.S. societies such whoafterreceiving theireducation infree Hsue-shens, oftheCommunistto theglory dictatorship. in Tsien’s footsteps andreputations inlendingtheirexpertise asLiZhengdaoand such haveYang followedscholars, Zhenyu, weapons Other developed withthehelpof Tsien Hsue-shen. in theCulturalRevolution orat Tiananmen Square fell to Onecanonly wonder how many ofthose murdered control. they societythey sankintothemorassoftotalitarian lostall but once as such of scholars Tsien Hsue-shenwere allthebest, thousand catties ofgrainonone claim that revolutionary farming methodscouldgrow “one ofthe assisted thenew the dictatorship inasserting “truth” andinthenameofpatriotism the knowledge hegainedabroad, toChinain1955with returned program,”Tsien Hsue-shen, that itwas more suitedtothe “Chinese character.” convinced Yuan Shikaitorestore themonarchyonbasis intheearlyreactionary turn years oftheRepublic and as scholars such Yangafter theirreturn, Dutookamore Insteadofpromoting reform present day or100years ago. receiving a Western education abroad –whetherinthe have toward tocontribute returned China’s progress after Today’s norwillitbethelast. isnotChina’s prosperity first, Han,Tang andearly Qingdynasties –but they were transient. three –inthe periods flourishing Chinaenjoyed save China. andstrength willnotnecessarily andprosperity everything, andstrength prosperity are not lesson fromisclear: history reminiscent ofthepresent-day People’s Liberation Army? The military’sinvolvement insmuggling andbogusdisplayshighly – itshumanfactor –remained weak? IsnottheQingImperial whenits what usewas China’s“software” superior “hardware” defeat at thehandsofvastly Japanese inferior Navy. Of Navy theImperial suffered crushing Inspiteofthis, the world. It isworth textbooks Chinesehistory notingthat modern At present there isatrend amongintellectualsinChinato Most disturbingisthelarge number ofmodern-day Tsien nasmlrmne,the “father oftheChinesespace In asimilarmanner, This isapointnotadequately understoodbywho scholars mu ”Nodoubttheintentions .”

THE CALL OF THE MUSE 73 CHINA RIGHTS FORUM NO.4, 2003

One example is the rise of the Boxer movement, which had succeeded in implementing its constitutional reforms; if advocated a Taliban-like prohibition against all things classified Yuan Shikai had not restored the monarchy; if Sun Yatsen as Western.The Boxers not only attacked foreign ambassadors had managed to consolidate the strength of the Republic and killed missionaries, but also destroyed “Western products” before he died; if there had been a different outcome to such as railroads and electrical transmission lines. Extremists China’s civil war. But as it turned out, China was plunged into could even rationalize killing a fellow Chinese who dared to decades of senseless violence and deceit under the Chinese carry a pencil. Communist Party.Asia’s first democratic republic declined into Chinese history textbooks depict eight “hegemonic one of Asia’s last remaining dictatorships.The current regime Western nations” ganging up on China with diplomatic mem- holds high the portrait of Sun Yatsen while raping his ideals. oranda calling on the government to put an end to the Boxer The only consolation is that Sun Yatsen himself cannot movement and its attacks on both foreigners and Chinese.The experience the heartbreak of seeing this fruit of 5,000 years Qing government strongly resisted this outside interference, of glorious civilization. believing it could use the Boxers to bolster its own power base “Toward the Republic” is informed by the deep desire for against the West.As a result, the eight Western countries joined true democracy and a true republic.At the same time, it together in an armed attack against China in 1900, soundly reminds Chinese people of the importance of patience and defeating the Chinese army and the Boxers and pillaging the understanding as a country experiences “chaos” and other Imperial Palace. difficulties in its transition to democracy.Regardless of the The eight Western nations insisted on punishing the cost, democracy is the natural direction for mankind, and the Boxers’ conservative defenders by calling for the execution of only kind of government that can give us a China that is truly 175 Qing officials, including the Empress Dowager, who fled prosperous, stable, just and clean. In this respect “Toward the to Xi’an and begged for mercy.Following negotiations by Republic” serves as an essential textbook for China’s progress LiHongzhang, the Qing government agreed to depose the toward a free and democratic system. Empress, and the other senior officials were executed or com- Of course the series is not without its flaws, the greatest of mitted suicide.A government crackdown also eliminated the which is its depiction of the historical figure Du.This remnants of the Boxers, now that it was clear they could serve political chameleon is molded into a moral knight who holds no useful purpose. From an objective viewpoint, this eradica- high the torch of righteousness. His mercurial opportunism is tion of the corrupt and moribund Qing dynasty was good for transformed into unyielding adherence to principle. Originally China, and if only Cixi had been executed along with her offi- a Qing Dynasty official,Yang supported reforms under Kuang cials, Chinese history might have taken a more beneficial turn. Hsu upon returning to China from his studies abroad, then Another example of “hegemonic Western interference” was backed the constitutional monarchy under Yuan Shikai, and in the diplomatic memoranda opposing Yuan Shikai’s restoration his old age became a member of the Communist Party of the monarchy and refusing to recognize the new government through the sponsorship of Zhou Enlai.This is the man whom under Cixi.The memoranda clearly implied support for the Yuan Shikai decried on his deathbed with the words, “Yang reformist faction headed by the deposed emperor Kuang Hsu Du, how you have misled me!” and opposition to Cixi’s conservative rule. Opposition to People like Yang Du embody the type of Chinese who in the Yuan’s “constitutional monarchy” was in effect opposition to name of patriotism submit themselves to a slavery more China’s move backward, and support for China’s progress debased than that required by any emperor.They substitute toward a more enlightened government. devotion to a tyrant for devotion to the welfare of their people What was the motivation for these diplomatic memoranda? and their country.Patriotism – love of country – is a natural Was it a fear of China becoming too great and powerful? Was it condition. But the patriotism of the slave is in vain, because he a desire to plunge China into chaos and backwardness? What if is not empowered to be a true citizen of his own country.The it was just the opposite: that Western countries over and over fate of the Boxers illustrates the tragedy of those who blindly again sent the message that they wanted to see a China that was and vainly espouse patriotism, as opposed to those like Yang stable and progressive and participating in the most enlightened Du who cynically exploit it to their own ends. Perhaps Yang international trends? A hundred years later we still see the Du’s favorable portrayal in the series is due to the fact that he Chinese government criticizing the West for its “interference” was a native of Hunan, like many of the people involved in this under remarkably similar circumstances. production; and perhaps due to the fact that he was a member If China had at the outset taken a less reactionary view,it of the Party. might have enjoyed much smoother progress.We can see that In spite of its shortcomings, “Toward the Republic” Japan eventually rose to become an economic and political constitutes an important milestone in Chinese television. Every power rivaling the West as a result of its accepting with greater Chinese should make a point of watching this series to humility the warnings and advice of the West.In the meantime, compare, to reflect, to awaken. how many decades of progress have the Chinese people lost through failed experiments such as the 1898 Reform Translated by Chen Pokong and Stacy Mosher Movement, the 1911 Revolution and the April 5th Movement? If history could be revised, it would be tempting to envision * This is an English version of an article originally published in the China that might have developed if the late Qing dynasty the October 12, 2003 issue of World Journal Weekly