The Awakening of China

Railways, new schools and military reforms supply W. A. P. Martin with signs that China is entering a period of profound social change. Writing from Peking in 1906, he presents a historical survey that begins with the empire's geography and provinces, then follows its dynasties before turning to relations with foreign powers. The account connects political events with changes in education, commerce and religion, including overseas study and proposals for girls' schools.

A later passage examines the aftermath of China's defeat by Japan and the struggle over reform at the imperial court. Martin describes the young emperor's new measures and the Empress Dowager's return to direct power in 1898. His expectations rest heavily on Western methods and Christianity, assumptions that shape his interpretation throughout the opening. Readers interested in accounts of China written during this period can compare his confidence in modernization with the tensions he records between reformers and conservative officials.