The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895: Perceptions, Power, and Primacy

by S. C. M. Paine

Overview

This book examines the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-5, a significant event in world history virtually ignored in Western literature. Japan so rapidly defeated China that citizens of Europe suddenly perceived Japan, not only as the dominant power of Asia, but also as a key international player. Western disgust with Chinese military performance led to their rapidly growing intrusions on Chinese sovereignty while Japan soon became an ally of the ruling superpower, Great Britain. To the present day, China is still struggling to reverse the judgment of this war and restore its regional dominance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521617451
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/11/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	428
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.98(d)

About the Author

S. C. M. Paine is Associate Professor of Strategy and Policy at the US Naval War College and author of Imperial Rivals: China, Russia, and Their Disputed Frontier, winner of the 1997 Jelavich Prize for diplomatic history.

Table of Contents

Part I. The Clash of Two Orders: The Far East on the Eve of War: 1. The reversal of the Far Eastern balance of power; 2. The decline of the old order in China and Korea; 3. The rise of a new order in Russia and Japan; Part II. The War: The Dividing Line between Two Eras: 4. The beginning of the end: the outbreak of hostilities; 5. Japan triumphant: the battles of P'yongyang and the Yalu; 6. China in disgrace: the battles of Port Arthur and the Weihaiwei; Part III. The Settlement: The Modern Era in Far Eastern Diplomacy: 7. The treaty of Shimonoseki and the Triple Intervention; 8. The era of global politics; 9. The cultural dimensions of the Sino-Japanese War; Epilogue: perceptions, power, and war; Bibliographic essay.

Editorial Reviews

"...an important (and) engaging book...that delights and informs." David Curtis Wright, The International History Review

"This is a very welcome book that promises to become the standard work on a strangely neglected topic in English. It is a tour de force, employing primary sources in an abundance of languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, German, and French). It is meticulous, well reasoned, and convincingly argued." Journal of Japanese Studies

"...well constructed, researched, and argued...This book is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the events and the region in which the Sino-Japanese war took place and especially for those with a professional interest in the topic." -China Review International, Katherine K. Reist, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

"Arguably the first comprehensive treatment of the subject in English ever, this work provides a political, diplomatic, cultural, and military survey of the dramatic confrontation between Japan and China that overturned the entire balance of power in the Far East." - The NYMAS Review

From the Publisher