Treaty of Shimonoseki

Quick Facts: Who was Treaty of Shimonoseki?

Subject:

Treaty of Shimonoseki

Known for:

1895 treaty ending the First Sino-Japanese War, ceding Taiwan and indemnity to Japan.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Treaty of Shimonoseki (Japanese: 下関条約, Hepburn: Shimonoseki Jōyaku), also known as the Treaty of Maguan in China or the Treaty of Bakan (馬關條約, Bakan Jōyaku) in Japan, was signed in Shimonoseki, Japan, on April 17, 1895, between the Empire of Japan and the Qing dynasty. The treaty ended the First Sino-Japanese War, in which the Japanese decisively defeated the Chinese land and naval forces.

Career & Major Achievements

The treaty was signed at the Shunpanrō hotel by Count Itō Hirobumi and Viscount Mutsu Munemitsu for Japan and Li Hongzhang and his son Li Jingfang on behalf of China. The peace conference took place from March 20 to April 17, 1895, and the treaty followed and superseded the Sino-Japanese Friendship and Trade Treaty of 1871.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It consisted of 11 articles which provided for the termination of China's tributary relations with Korea; required that China pay an indemnity of 200 million taels and cede Taiwan (Formosa), the Penghu (Pescadores) Islands, and the Liaodong Peninsula to Japan; and opened four cities (Shashi, Chongqing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou) to Japan as trading ports.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1895: 1895 Milestone — The Treaty of Shimonoseki (Japanese: 下関条約, Hepburn: Shimonoseki Jōyaku), also known as the Treaty of Maguan in China or the Treaty of Bakan (馬關條約, Bakan Jōyaku) in Japan, was signed in Shimonoseki, Japan, on April 17, 1895, between the Empire of Japan and the Qing dynasty.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Treaty of Shimonoseki

True or False: “True or false: The Treaty of Shimonoseki required the Qing dynasty to cede Taiwan, the Penghu Islands, and the Liaodong Peninsula to Japan.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): This is true; the treaty's terms were highly punitive, forcing the Qing dynasty to relinquish these vital territories to the Empire of Japan.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abd El-Razzak El-Sanhuri — Historical peer (Born in 1895) (1895): Pioneering Egyptian jurist, celebrated for authoring the revised Civil Code of 1948.
• Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah — Historical peer (Born in 1895) (1895): Founder of modern Kuwait, he oversaw its transition to an independent state.
• Abanindranath Tagore — Historical peer (Born in 1871) (1871): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Alexander Scriabin — Historical peer (Born in 1871) (1871): Russian composer and pianist, known for his highly dissonant, mystical, and color-coded musical language.

Frequently Asked Questions about Treaty of Shimonoseki