China`s Modern History Textbooks` Perception of the First Sino-Japanese War

Abstract

The First Sino-Japanese War was an important turning point incident for China`s early modern history. The Middle School`s Chinese History textbook, published by the People`s Education Press in 1956, mentions that the USA and Japan invaded Korea, and that under the support of USA, Japan staged war against China. It also says that, although the Qing troops fought bravely, Qing was defeated in the war because LiHongzhang (李鴻章) of the Qing government implemented a policy of selling the country and heavily depended on foreign countries. In addition, published after the People`s Republic of China was established, the history textbook deleted the prior textbooks` statement that Joseon was a Chinese territory. The textbook, published in 1979, mentions that, from the viewpoint of struggle of classes, with regard to the Japanese aggression, the Qing government`s internal conflict and efforts to cope with the war were seen as negative, and that some troops` passive anti-war attitudes, some troops` patriotic anti-war movements, and other internal conflicts within China were explained in detail. The 1992 history textbook of Middle School gives a detailed explanation of the activities of Zuobaogui(左寶貴) and Dengshichang(鄧世昌) and other patriotic troops, but does not nearly describe figures who played negative roles in the war. The current history textbook of Middle School simplified the First Sino-Japanese War and the Treaty of Shimonoseki into a structure of Japanese aggression vs. the anti-aggression struggle of patriotic troops and populace, and emphasized patriotism.