ate resistance. It was
laid waste by the T'aip'ing rebels in 1853, and was recaptured by the
imperial forces in 1858.

CHINO-JAPANESE WAR (1894-95). The causes of this conflict arose out of
the immemorial rivalry of China and Japan for influence in Korea. In the
16th century a prolonged war in the peninsula had ended with the failure
of Japan to make good her footing on the mainland--a failure brought
about largely by lack of naval resources. In more modern times (1875,
1882, 1884) Japan had repeatedly sent expeditions to Korea, and had
fostered the growth of a progressive party in Seoul. The difficulties of
1884 were settled between China and Japan by the convention of Tientsin,
wherein it was agreed that in the event of future intervention each
should inform the other if it were decided to despatch troops to the
peninsula. Nine years later the occasion arose. A serious rebellion
induced the Korean government to apply for military assistance from
China. Early in June 1894 a small force of Chinese troops were sent to
Asan, and Japan, duly informed of this action, replied by furnishing her
minister at Seoul with an escort, rapidly following up this step by the
despatch of about 5000 troops under Major-General Oshima. A complicated
situation thus arose. Chinese troops were present in Korea by the
request of the government to put down rebellion. The Japanese controlled
the capital, and declined to recognize Korea as a tributary of China.
But she proposed that the two powers should unite to suppress the
disturbance and to inaugurate certain specified reforms. China
considered that the measures of reform must be left to Korea herself.
The reply was that Japan considered the government of Korea "lacking in
some of the elements which are essential to responsible independence."
By the middle of July war had become inevitable unless the Peking
government were willing to abandon all claims over Korea, and as Chinese
troops were already in the country by invitation, it was not to be
expected that the shadowy suzerainty would be abandoned.

At Seoul the issue was forced by the Japanese minister, who delivered an
ultimatum to the Korean government on the 20th of July. On the 23rd the
palace was forcibly occupied. Meanwhile China had despatched about 8000
troops to the Yalu river. The outbreak of war thus found the Japanese
in possession of Seoul and ready to send large forces to Korea, while
the Chinese occupied Asan (about 4