The Gongche Shangshu petition movement against the Treaty of Shimonoseki

Background. The Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed in April 1895, ended the First Sino-Japanese War with a decisive Japanese victory. It imposed heavy reparations and territorial cessions on China. The defeat and treaty terms sparked outrage among Chinese intellectuals, who viewed the Self-Strengthening Movement as a failure. This dissatisfaction fueled support for radical political changes, setting the stage for the petition movement.

The Petition. On April 22, 1895, five days after the treaty's signing, civil examination candidates led by Kang Youwei submitted a ten-thousand-word petition to the Guangxu Emperor. The petition opposed the Treaty of Shimonoseki and called for reforms. This action, known as the Gongche Shangshu, is considered the first modern political movement in China, marking a transition from traditional thinking to reformist advocacy.

Mass Protest. Following the Qing government's refusal to accept the petition, thousands of Beijing scholars and citizens protested against the treaty on May 2, 1895. The demonstration occurred in front of the Ducha Yuan. Although the movement itself failed to change the treaty, it raised the attention of the emperor and influenced scholars to support reforms or revolution.