The Spirit of Independence: A Primer of Korean Modernization and Reform

38. [Foreign] Relations after the Sino-Japanese War

38. [Foreign] Relations after the Sino-Japanese War The Chinese suffered a series of defeats. They were routed out of Ŭiju [in northern Korea] and crossed the Yalu River into China, but they lost Chiu-lien Cheng and Feng-huang Cheng [cities in southern Manchuria] in succession. The formidable batteries at Lushun [Port Arthur] had been considered by foreign countries as invincible, but they fell all at once, shocking Peking and alarming the people. The entire country was surprised and world opinion changed overnight. At the outset , foreign powers had considered China to be a giant nation. Although Britain and France had since marched into Peking and shattered China’s dignity, it was considered a really ludicrous act that puny Japan dared to start a war with China. Japan was expected to have difficulty even defending its own country, and its foolhardiness was criticized. To everyone’s surprise, however, Japan won every battle, driving China into a corner. Foreign powers then changed their views and praised Japan ’s righteousness, while they rebuked China for its stubbornness and lethargy and refused to show any concern for China’s grave difficulty. China was indeed helpless. Earlier, China had admired Great Britain for its wealth and power but failed to study the reasons for—and emulate— the British success. Instead, it accorded special favors to the British to buy their goodwill with the intention of relying on their support. In the event of any serious difficulty, China felt that it could count on British help and did not worry. China asked for assistance at this time [following its military setbacks], but Britain was not about to sacrifice reality in favor of sentiment . [Britain] observed neutrality and refused to intervene. As the [war] situation reached a critical phase, without [the British intervention ] that China had hoped for, China had no other choice but to sue for peace with Japan. 182 At Shimonoseki [ Japan], Li Hung-chang endured humiliation and begged as best he could. [By China’s agreeing] to pay reparations of 200 million taels [about $127 million], a peace treaty between Japan and China was signed on April 28, 1895, at Shumpanrō [Inn], Shimonoseki. The first article [of the treaty] stipulated that China explicitly recognized Korea as a truly self-governing independent state without any qualification whatsoever. Anything that might impair the [Korean] right of independence was to be eliminated and the past practice of sending yearly a so-called tribute was completely abolished. Thereafter, the [official] contacts between the two nations of Korea and China ceased, and there was no interference in each other’s affairs. The door of the Chinese Hall in Naktong [in downtown Seoul] that once was [the center of] powerful influence was closed and abandoned; the banner bearing the yellow dragon was gone, leaving only the naked flagpole . The unbearable arrogance of the Chinese disappeared and their merchants in the streets became dispirited. The prominent men of influence who used to worship China and behaved like faithful slaves of Yüan Shih-k’ai in search for wealth and status now had to disappear with bowed heads. The sinister power of China retreated like a dark cloud blown away by a gust. Subsequently, the Yŏng’ŭn Gate [the gate to welcome the celestial blessing], also known as the Yŏnju Gate, was dismantled and the Gate of Independence replaced it, while the Detached Palace of the South [that had been used as the Chinese military headquarters] was remodeled as the Altar of the Circular Mound. Chosŏn [the name of the country] was changed to Taehan (“Great Korea”), and the use of the Chinese calendar-year name [the Chinese emperor’s reign title] was abolished; instead, Kaeguk [“Since the Founding of the Nation”], Kŏnyang [“Establishing the Sun”], and Kwangmu [“Martial Brilliance”] were selected by Korea itself.62 His Majesty [Kojong] acquired the title of emperor to recover his status as an equal of other monarchs in the world.63 On December 13, 1898, Hsü Shou-peng was newly appointed as Chinese minister, and he arrived in Seoul and was received by his majesty the emperor to present credentials from the Chinese emperor, which read: The Emperor of China respectfully inquires after the health of the Emperor of Korea. Our two nations are in Asia and are connected by land and water. For hundreds of years, we have been related to each other in good and bad...