To what extent was conservative opposition the main reason for the failure of the Hundred Days’ Reform (1898)?

The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that conservative opposition was the main reason for the failure of the Hundred Days’ Reform. The conservative ruling elite condemned the reform as too radical and proposed a more moderate and gradualist course of change. Candidates may refer to the rallying of conservative forces behind the Empress Dowager, Cixi. With the army on her side, Cixi carried out a coup and imprisoned the emperor in his palace. Traditionalist Confucian scholars also considered the reforms impetuous and believed they tried to do too much too soon. The reforms also threatened the position of powerful ministers and bureaucrats. Other relevant factors may be addressed, for example the reformers’ inexperience resulting in unplanned and ambitious reforms, but with a focus on the issue in the question. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that conservative opposition was the main reason for the failure of the Hundred Days' Reform. This was a relatively popular question with some excellent responses. Stronger responses discussed conservative opposition in depth before considering the other factors that contributed to its failure. Weaker responses tended to rush their discussion of conservative opposition. Although the level of detailed knowledge about the reasons for the failure of the movement was generally high, some candidates did not seem to know as much about conservative opposition as they did about the other factors.