Background
Yüan Shih-k'ai was born September 16, 1859 in People's Republic of China.
Yüan Shih-k'ai was born September 16, 1859 in People's Republic of China.
Having failed twice to obtain the chü-jen degree (the second level of the traditional examination system), he purchased a title and used family connections to acquire a post with a maritime defense unit in Shantung Province.
Though educated in the classics, Yüan Shih-k'ai preferred the strenuous life.
Having failed twice to obtain the chü-jen degree (the second level of the traditional examination system), he purchased a title and used family connections to acquire a post with a maritime defense unit in Shantung Province
Sino-Japanese War Yüan's opportunity to prove his abilities came as a result of the Sino-Japanese rivalry in Korea.
In 1882, when an uprising provided Japan with an opportunity to consolidate its position, Yüan played a leading role in the successful Chinese intervention.
During the turbulent years leading up to the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, he remained on duty in Korea.
China's defeat underscored the necessity of military reform.
As commander of the Newly Created Army (a linear descendant of Li Hung-chang's Anhwei Army), Yüan, aided by German officers, introduced Western principles of training and organization.
Yüan deftly overcame criticism of hostile officials and temporarily succeeded in keeping powerful friends at court while also developing a favorable reputation among reformers.
However, during the Hundred Days Reform of 1898, Yüan had to choose between these increasingly polarized elements.
Yüan resisted pressure from the court, where a controlling faction was sympathetic to these antiforeign zealots.
He thereby emerged as the strongest military leader in North China and, equally important, a man in the good graces of the foreign powers.
In November 1901 he succeeded the late Li Hung-chang as governor general of the metropolitan province of Chihli and as high commissioner of military and foreign affairs in North China.
Yüan's increasing power caused acute apprehension among his enemies, and by August 1907 hostile forces in the court had deprived him of his high positions and transferred from his command four of his six army divisions.
The death of the empress dowager in November 1908 removed his strongest supporter, and on Jan. 2, 1909, he was forced into retirement.
Rise to the Presidency The Wuchang uprising of Oct. 10, 1911, gave Yüan opportunity for revenge.
Imperiled by the wildfire spread of revolt through South China, the desperate court begged him to save the dynasty.
In Peking, the infant emperor was forced to abdicate in favor of a republic, and in Nanking, Sun Yat-sen was persuaded to resign the provisional presidency in favor of Yüan Shih-k'ai.
Following his inauguration on March 12, 1912, Yüan interpreted the provisional constitution to enhance his personal power and to thwart the desire of those who favored a Western-style republic.
Strengthened by a £125 million loan from a foreign consortium, Yüan went on to ban the Kuomintang and seize the provinces under its control.
Resistance to this move, the so-called "second revolution, " was brief and ineffectual.
Exactly three months later, he dissolved the National Assembly and replaced it with a "political council, " which drafted a "constitutional compact" granting dictatorial powers to the president.
Yüan was made president for life.
Yüan's domestic triumphs soon were overshadowed by threats from abroad.
The outbreak of World War I in 1914 preoccupied the European powers and left Japan a free hand in China.
Japan lost no time in seizing the German concessions in Shantung and in presenting Yüan with the Twenty-one Demands, which would turn China into a protectorate.
Yüan stalled as long as he dared but finally capitulated to all but the most severe of the demands.
On Jan. 1, 1916, Yüan Shin-k'ai became the Hung-hsien emperor.
Even Yüan's staunchest supporters found it difficult to accept his imperial pretensions.
Following a series of revolts in southwestern China, Yüan set aside the throne.
His reign had lasted 83 days.
The reestablishment of the republic failed to restore Yüan's power.
In a sense, this may indeed have been true.
Another major source is Ralph L. Powell, The Rise of Chinese Military Power, 1895-1912 (1955).
Useful background material is in Li Chien-nung, The Political History of China, 1840-1928 (1956), and O. Edmund Clubb, 20th Century China (1964).
Yuan Shikai married nine more concubines throughout the course of his life. He had 17 sons and 15 dauthers.
