Beiyang Army

The Beiyang Army (Chinese: 北洋軍; pinyin: Běiyáng-jūn; literally "North Ocean Army") was a powerful, Western-style Imperial Chinese Army created by the Qing Dynasty government in the late 19th century. It was the centerpiece of a general reconstruction of China's military system. The Beiyang Army played a major role in Chinese politics for at least three decades and arguably right up to 1949. It made the Xinhai Revolution possible, and by dividing into warlord factions (Chinese: 北洋軍閥; pinyin: běiyáng jūnfá) ushered in a period of regional division.

Read more about Beiyang Army:  Origins Under Li Hongzhang (to 1900), Yuan Shikai's Ascendancy (1901–1908), The Beiyang Army Under Manchu Control (1909–1910), The 1911 Revolution, Beiyang Clique in Power (1911–15), Fragmentation of The Beiyang Army (1916–18), High Warlordism (1919–1925), Northern Expedition

Famous quotes containing the word army:

    The contention that a standing army and navy is the best security of peace is about as logical as the claim that the most peaceful citizen is he who goes about heavily armed. The experience of every-day life fully proves that the armed individual is invariably anxious to try his strength. The same is historically true of governments. Really peaceful countries do not waste life and energy in war preparations, with the result that peace is maintained.
    Emma Goldman (1869–1940)