Leung, Yuen-sang, “The Shanghai-Tientsin Connection: Li Hung-Chang's Political Control over Shanghai during the Late Ch'ing Period” (1986)

Title : “The Shanghai-Tientsin Connection: Li Hung-Chang's Political Control over Shanghai during the Late Ch'ing Period”

Author(s) : Leung, Yuen-sang

Year : 1986

Type : Journal article

Subject : History

Keywords : political

Journal : Chinese Studies

Volume : 4

Number : 1

Start page : 315

End page : 331

Language:Name : English

Support : Print

Abstract : Political power of Li Hongzhang (Li Hung-chang) in the Lower Yangtze Valley was established through informal interpersonal connections: regional ties, collegial relations and fellow examination graduates, and a modern transportation-communication network. Geography and government intent prevented significant interprovincial contacts in imperial China until the arrival of the steamship, telegraph, and railroad. Some have pointed to Li Hongzhang, governor-general of Zhili, who had considerable influence in Shanghai as an example of this post-Taiping regionalism. Li's influence in Shanghai was enhanced by modern communications and a flow of personnel, but the functional control of the region, and, to a degree, Li's power, were still controlled from Beijing. Documentation: Based on Li's works and secondary sources.