KWANG-SU, or KUANG-HStr. The reign title of Tsai Then. the present Em peror of China. Ile is the son of Ch'un I-hwan (commonly known as Prince Ch'nn') , the sevrnth son of the Emperor who reigned as Taokwang and who (lied in 1850. Kwang-sit was born in 1872, ascended the throne in 1875. married in 1889, and in the same year assumed the govern ment of the Empire. The troubles of his reign began early. In 1876 China had to pay a large indemnity and make many concessions to Great Britain because of the murder of a British con sular officer on the borders of Burma in the pre ceding year. In 1SS4 difficulties with France arose over a dispute about Tongking: Formosa was blockaded: the forts at Fu-ebow and a num ber of Chinese war-vessels anchored there were destroyed. In 1894-95 occurred the disastrous war with Japan, resulting in the loss of Formosa. This was followed by the seizure of Kiao-ehau by Germany (1897). the occupation of Port Ar thur by Russia (1898). and the conditional ces sion to Great Britain of Wei-hai-wei. In ISK acting on the advice of a number of youne schol ars whom he had summoned to his side, the Emperor proclaimed a large number of reforms, but so numerous and so sweeping were they that the Empress Dowager became alarmed, deposed the Emperor. revoked his edicts. and condemned
the young reformers to death. Six of them were beheaded. hut many escaped. Then began the `Boxer' movement. which resulted, in 1900. in the murder of many missionaries, the destruc tion of much property, including the legations in Peking, and the siege of the Ministers and many refugees in the British Legation, necessitat ing large European and American armies, who destrtoyet1 Taku forts, and captured Tien-tsin and Peking, all of which was paid for by a large indemnity. Yet unudi progress has been made during the reign. The Mohammedan rebellion in the northwest was suppressed, and territory. lost to China for a time, including liulja, was recov ered. Railways and telegraphs introduced and have spread rapidly, mines have been opened, manufactures introduced, a postal service in augurated. and the entire country practically thrown open to foreign trade.