The Earliest Western-Trained Engineers in China’s Iron and Steel Industry

Abstract

Early industrialization of iron and steel production in China began with establishment of the Hanyang Iron Works at the end of the nineteenth century, which in the early twentieth century became the Hanyehping Coal and Iron Limited Company. In order to develop its own expertise, the Hanyehping Company sent some ten Chinese students to Western countries to study metallurgy. These students would later become the first generation of Chinese iron and steel engineers and play a crucial role in the modernization of iron and steel technologies and industrialization in China. This article focuses on some foreign study experiences of these engineers and their subsequent working lives in China, from 1894 to 1925, thus providing insight into how the modern Chinese iron and steel industry was established and how the earliest efforts to transplant Western metallurgy technology in China were made.

Appendix

1.1 The Far Eastern Problem (Yefah CHEN 程义法 CHENG Yifa)

[This historical document is reprinted from Colorado School of Mines Magazine, vol. 1, no. 5 (1911), pp. 4–5, with permission.]

The political dilemma between the West and the East will be probably the last vital problem concerning the human race. Tracing back our history, we can review some of the most critical stages of the human drama. The first notable one was that between the Persians and the Greeks; how the ancient Shah repeatedly threw immense troops into the democratic peninsula; how the brave Spartans won the last day, and how their inimitable record has excited wonder and admiration even to the present generation. The second was that between the Romans and Carthaginians; how the three wars, waging on land and on water, between the passages of the Alps and among the tribes of the Iberians, at last brought the African commonwealth into humiliation, and how “Carthage should be destroyed” has been practiced by many a statesman of the late ages. The third was the union of the 13 colonies and the independence of this great republic; how the brave warriors and the brilliant thinkers laid down for once and for all the foundation of this inseparable and irresistible union. The fourth contact began half a century ago and is going on, that between the East and the West. By reason of the population of the two races, the intricacy of the different governments concerned in and its far reaching consequences, this will be the greatest and the last disturbance among the family of nations and will foreshadow all others of the past history.

Through her successive adverse fortunes in forced wars, China on the eve of 1894 exposed her helplessness to the world, and her supposed strength and power once more passed into mystery. Thenceforth innumerable concessions, indemnity, request and demands came in black and white, but if unfulfilled, on the end of the sword. So much have the Easterners suffered; so much have the Westerners profited. The writer has often wondered how the winner could conscientiously exact such unjust treatment from his temporary down-trodden foe, while in the eyes of the Creator, both are his created and are therefore, by natural ties, brothers. In this connection we may recall the far-sightedness of the American statesman, John Hay. When the nations were discussing the tearing up of old Cathay into piecemeals, seemingly that nothing but iron and blood could determine the supremacy of disputes, he, representing the Stars and Stripes, intervened and at last prevented such a rash step. Were such a resolution passed in the council of nations, the conquered will suffer bodily while the conqueror morally, tarnishing his conscience and rendering his moral sense dull and indifferent.

So much for the dark age of the present era. Japan, being a younger and therefore more active of the Asiatics, realized her paralyzed situation. Through her visitors, returned students and travelers, she noticed the superiority of the Western civilization. During the following 30 years she reformed old systems, learned new ways, abolished ruinous customs and installed profitable undertakings. Severe was the opposition, difficult was the trial, but she labored patiently, silently and consistently. In the meanwhile, Russia, being unable to obtain an ice-free port on the Baltic and on the Black, was concentrating her attention on eastern Asia. Korea thus became the buffer state between these two powers. Should the hermit kingdom fall into the hands of the czar, Japan would be sooner or later overrun by the Cossacks. Here, self-protection was necessary for self-preservation. The consciousness of appalling danger stimulated preparation against war which took place finally with unexpected end.

So much is for the awakening of the East. Japan has climbed up. The next question is: Is she going to be the leader of Asia? Her dealings in these 3 years have clearly demonstrated her unfitness. Her primary motive has been one of self-gratification. Being exhausted in the late war, she is trying all her means to restore her spent wealth, without due regard for the rights of other nations. Her secret unequal taxation of merchandise in Manchuria, her arbitrary building of unlicensed railways and her disguised merchants, spying forbidden and tactical places everywhere, have much lowered her esteem in the eyes of nations. Moreover, her population and her dominion is too insignificant for leadership. Can one man hold the voice of 20? She has advanced, indeed, but her advance is that of time, not of kind. Give China the sufficient time and she will outdo her wee sister in the long run. With the long and yet inaccessible coast line, China cold attack and defend, trade and communicate. With her inestimable natural wealth, she could develop and supply. Her size and her population alone is sufficient to watch over other nations in war or in peace. Nothing but time will prove the validity of the above supposition.

Granted that time and opportunity are both in her favor, some might still question her tendency, whether she would stand for might or for right. Since a nation is an aggregate of people, the latter’s characteristics can largely determine those of the former. Why are the remarks of a Westerner on us? Are they not that we are peace-loving and self-satisfied? In fact it was self-satisfaction that kept us back in civilization, and peace-loving that make us to tolerate humiliation. Possibly nothing human is so unchangeable as the national character. The luxury of the Frenchman today is as famous as during the reign of Louis XVI. The sea-faring of the Englishman is as prominent as that by Sir Walter Raleigh. Possessing these qualities, China shall protect her own rights, but not intrude upon those of others. Unlike Japan, a casual success will stimulate her to look for rainy days, and resume her responsibility in the Eastern affairs.

Such is the destiny of China as assigned to her by the Creator. Shall America join hands with China for the uplifting of mankind? Has America not the same motives? Are you not peace-loving and satisfied with your puritan land? At present foreign aggressions are still going on. From the aggressions come disputes, from the disputes comes war, from war comes woe to mankind. The natural cycle of events will not cease until each nations keeps within her own bounds. Wisely you have declared: “America for the Americans!” Shall you not be wiser to help us to declare: “China for the Chinese!”?

Lastly, what is the highest sense of conquering a people? In ancient times, it was the enslaving of the conquered; in mediaeval, the control over the conquered; in modern, the trade with the conquered, but at present, the conversion of the conquered. Nothing but firm friendship can be derived from the similarity of belief. Shall you not convert us? Shall you not bring the lost sheep to your Master? We are ready to surrender before our Father. The day will come when light and truth shall diffuse into the most obscure corner of the globe. Then we shall see two nations, one young and one old, one on the right shore and one of the left of the mighty Pacific, shall preserve order and peace, shall hold the equilibrium of nations and shall see the cease of the talk of the Far Eastern problem.