ABSTRACT
The yangwu movement primarily emphasized borrowing Western science and technology to strengthen China. One Chinese historian argues that "objective analysis" of the circumstances surrounding 19th century Westernization cannot support the earlier charge that Westernization stemmed from the suppression of the Taipings and "the collusion of feudal strength with the invasion of foreign capitalism." Liu Xuezhao continues with an analysis of the groups supporting Westernization. Identifying them as yangwu bureaucrats and landlord-class reformers, he states that both groups studied the West with the aim of creating "a prosperous country and a strong military." In emphasizing the "new Westernization policy," the right wing—the yangwu bureaucrats—aimed to protect Qing dynasty rule. The defeat of the Taiping tianguo and other uprisings thrust Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, and Li Hongzhang into positions of military authority and regional political leadership. The initiation and development of Westernization thought came with the conclusion of the Second Opium War—and particularly after the Taiping tianguo was defeated.".
