ukiyoe by Mizuno Toskikata depicting Admiral Ding Ruchang surrendering to Admiral Ito at the Battle of Weihaiwei

The Battle of Weihaiwei was a 23 day siege with a major land and naval component during the First Sino-Japanese War. It took place between 20 January and 12 February 1895 in Weihai, Shandong Province, China) between the forces of Meiji Japan and Qing China. The battle was fought in severe winter cold which developed into an overpowering snow storm on 31 January 1895 and 1 February 1895. Temperatures dropped to minus 26 degrees Celsius. Combatants Qing Empire (China) Empire of Japan Commanders Li Hongzhang Yamagata Aritomo Strength 630,000 men Beiyang Army, Beiyang Fleet 240,000 men Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Navy Casualties 35,000 dead or wounded 13,823 dead, 3,973 wounded The First Sino–Japanese War (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zh... Ukiyo-e (浮世絵, a Japanese term meaning pictures of the floating world) is a style of painting, but is more commonly associated with a type of woodcut printmaking that became popular in Japan in the 18th and 19th centuries. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Weihai (威海; pinyin: wēihǎi, also Weihaiwei) is a seaport city on the Bohai Gulf in north-east Shandong province, China. ... Shandong (Simplified Chinese: 山东; Traditional Chinese: 山東; pinyin: Shāndōng; Wade-Giles: Shan-tung) is a coastal province of eastern Peoples Republic of China. ... Iwao Oyama (During the Russo-Japanese War) Oyama Iwao (大山 å·Œ Ooyama Iwao) (born 10 October 1842 - 10 December 1916) was a Japanese field marshal, and one of the leaders of the Meiji Restoration. ... Li Hongzhang (February 15, 1823 – November 7, 1901) was a Chinese general who ended several major rebellions, and a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire. ... Ting Ju chang (pinyin: Ding Ruchang) was the commander of the Chinese Beiyang Fleet during the Battle of the Yalu River in the first Sino-Japanese War. ... Combatants Qing Empire (China) Empire of Japan Commanders Li Hongzhang Yamagata Aritomo Strength 630,000 men Beiyang Army, Beiyang Fleet 240,000 men Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Navy Casualties 35,000 dead or wounded 13,823 dead, 3,973 wounded The First Sino–Japanese War (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zh... Combatants Japan China Commanders Admiral Tsuboi Kozo Strength 3 cruisers 1 cruiser, 2 gunboats Casualties 0 (killed & wounded) 1,100 (killed & wounded) The Battle of Pungdo (Japanese: 豊島沖海戦) was the first naval battle of the First Sino-Japanese War. ... Combatants Japan China Commanders Major General Oshima Yoshimasa Strength 4,000 3,500 Casualties 82 (killed & wounded) 500 (killed & wounded) The Battle of Seonghwan (Japanese: 成歓作戦) was the first major land battle of the First Sino-Japanese War. ... Combatants Japan China Commanders Field Marshal Yamagata Aritomo General Li Hongzhang Strength 10,000 13,000 – 15,000 Casualties 102 (killed), 433 (wounded), 33 (missing) 2,000 (killed); 4,000 (wounded) The Battle of Pyongyang (Japanese: 平壌作戦) was the second major land battle of the First Sino-Japanese War. ... The Battle of the Yalu River, also called simply The Battle of Yalu took place on September 17, 1894. ... Combatants Japan China Commanders Field Marshal Yamagata Aritomo General Sung Cheng Strength 10,000 15,000 Casualties 4 (killed), 140 (wounded) The Battle of Jiulingchieng (Japanese: 鴨緑江作戦) was a minor land battle of the First Sino-Japanese War between the forces of of Meiji Japan and Qing China. ... Combatants Japan China Commanders Lieutenant General Yamaji Motoharu General Li Hongzhang Strength 15,000 13,000 Casualties 29 (killed), 233 (wounded) 4,500 (killed) The Battle of Lüshunkou was a major land battle of the First Sino-Japanese War. ... Combatants Qing Empire (China) Empire of Japan Commanders Li Hongzhang Yamagata Aritomo Strength 630,000 men Beiyang Army, Beiyang Fleet 240,000 men Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Navy Casualties 35,000 dead or wounded 13,823 dead, 3,973 wounded The First Sino–Japanese War (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zh... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Weihai (威海; pinyin: wēihǎi, also Weihaiwei) is a seaport city on the Bohai Gulf in north-east Shandong province, China. ... Shandong (Simplified Chinese: 山东; Traditional Chinese: 山東; pinyin: Shāndōng; Wade-Giles: Shan-tung) is a coastal province of eastern Peoples Republic of China. ... Emperor Mutsuhito Mutsuhito or Mitsuhito (睦仁), the Meiji Emperor (明治天皇, literally wise ruling heaven emperor) (3 November 1852–30 July 1912) was the 122nd Emperor of Japan. ... The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: ; Pinyin: QÄ«ng cháo; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), occasionally known as the Manchu Dynasty, is a Chinese term for the Empire of the Great Qing (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: dàqÄ«ngguó), founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Background

The Imperial Japanese Army's Second Army under command of Field Marshal Oyama Iwao, and consisting of the 2nd Provincial Division (Sendai) under Lieutenant General Sakuma, and the 6th Provincial Division (Kumamoto) – less its 12th Brigade, which was still at Lushunkou, under Lieutenant General Kuroki Tamemoto landed without resistance at Jungcheng (modern Jiurongcheng) in Shandong Province from 20 – 24 January 1895. The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... Iwao Oyama (During the Russo-Japanese War) Oyama Iwao (大山 å·Œ Ooyama Iwao) (born 10 October 1842 - 10 December 1916) was a Japanese field marshal, and one of the leaders of the Meiji Restoration. ... See Sendai (disambiguation) for other places whose name is Sendai Sendai (仙台市; -shi) is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan and the largest city in the Tohoku region. ... Categories: Cities in Kumamoto Prefecture | Japan geography stubs ... Lüshunkou (旅顺口), or Lüshun Port, is a southernmost district of Dalian City of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Shandong (Simplified Chinese: 山东; Traditional Chinese: 山東; pinyin: Shāndōng; Wade-Giles: Shan-tung) is a coastal province of eastern Peoples Republic of China. ... (Redirected from 20 January) January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Following its defeat at the Battle of Yalu and loss of its head base in the Battle of Lushunkou, the remnants of the Beiyang Fleet regrouped at the naval base of Weihaiwei, on Shandong Peninsula opposite Lushunkou. Combatants Japan China Commanders Lieutenant General Yamaji Motoharu General Li Hongzhang Strength 15,000 13,000 Casualties 29 (killed), 233 (wounded) 4,500 (killed) The Battle of Lüshunkou was a major land battle of the First Sino-Japanese War. ... Ding Yuan, the flagship of Beiyang Fleet The Beiyang Fleet (Traditional Chinese: 北洋艦隊; Simplified Chinese: 北洋舰队; Pinyin: Bêiyáng Jiàndùi) was one of the four modernised Chinese navies in the late Qing Dynasty. ... Weihai (威海; pinyin: wēihǎi, also Weihaiwei) is a seaport city on the Bohai Gulf in north-east Shandong province, China. ... The Shandong Peninsula (sim. ... Lüshunkou (旅顺口), or Lüshun Port, is a southernmost district of Dalian City of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

The ground conflict

The Japanese army converged on the town of Weihai along two routes, facing vigorous resistance from the Chinese Beiyang Army, who defended the town with 68 artillery pieces in twelve land fortifications, and who could call on additional support from the naval vessels anchored only 2000 meters offshore. Japanese Major General Odera fell in this battle to take the forts, which lasted some nine hours on 1 February 1895, and the deserted town was occupied by Japanese forces the following day. The Beiyang Army (北洋軍 běiyáng-jūn) was a powerful and Western-appearing Chinese military force created by the Qing dynasty government in the late 19th century. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

The naval conflict

The Chinese Beiyang Fleet had 15 warships at the naval base of Weihaiwei. These included the ironclad warships Dingyuan and Zhenyuan, and 13 torpedo boats. The Imperial Japanese Navy had 25 warships and 16 torpedo boats, and thus had a numerical advantage. In addition, the Japanese fleet could call on fire support from the army, who could fire down on the anchorage from the captured land forts. Ironclad warships, frequently shortened to just ironclads, were wooden ships or ships of composite construction (wooden planking on iron frames) sheathed with thick iron plates for protection against gunfire. ... The Dingyuan (Traditional Chinese: 定遠; Simplified Chinese: 定远; Hanyu Pinyin: ) was a Chinese battleship and the flagship of the Imperial Beiyang Navy. ... -1... A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to launch torpedoes at larger surface ships. ... The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) (: 大日本帝國海軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国海軍 or 日本海軍 Nippon Kaigun) or sometimes referred to as the Combined Fleet was the Navy of Empire of Japan (Dai Nippon Teikoku) from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japans constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling...

As a Chinese defeat appeared certain, Japanese Admiral Ito Sukeyuki made an appeal to Beiyang Fleet Admiral Ting Ju-ch'ang, who was a personal friend. In his letter, he expressed his regret that the old acquaintances had been obliged to meet each other in hostility, appealed to the Ting's enlightened patriotism by pointing out the retrogressive policy which Ting had been called upon to defend and which could only end in disaster, and then counseled him to prevent a certain defeat and unnecessary loss of life by capitulating. Ito further advised Ting to become Japan's honored guest till the end of the war, and then return to his native land in order to aid China in setting her policy on a sound basis. When Ting read this message he was visibly moved, and said to his attendants: "Kill me," meaning probably that he wished to die alone and let all others surrender. Ting responded: "I am thankful for the admiral's friendship, but I cannot forsake my duties to the state. The only thing now remaining for me to do is to die." Ting Ju chang (pinyin: Ding Ruchang) was the commander of the Chinese Beiyang Fleet during the Battle of the Yalu River in the first Sino-Japanese War. ...

The Japanese fleet began a series of attacks from 7 February 1895. Night attacks by Japanese torpedo boats sank the Dingyuen and 3 other vessels. Of the 13 Chinese torpedo boats which attempted to escape towards Yentai, 6 were destroyed and the remaining 7 captured by the Japanese. The Ching-yuen was sunk on 9 February 1895. February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

On the morning of 12 February 1895, Admiral Ting, formally surrendered the remaining Beiyang Fleet ships in the harbor and the remaining Chinese-held forts and stores to the Japanese. Ting requested that the Chinese and foreign mlitary advisors, troops, and civilians on land and sea around Weihaiwei be allowed to depart unmolested, and proposed that the commander of the British China squadron should guarantee the faithful performance of the conditions of surrender. February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

On receipt of this letter Admiral Ito held a council, in which many of his officers (as well as the Imperial Army offcers) advised that the Chinese should not be allowed to leave, but be taken prisoners of war. The admiral, however, had so high an estimate of Ting's personality and service to his country and so deep a sympathy with his difficult position that he insisted that Ting's request be granted. Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ...

Aftermath of the battle

Ting refused Ito's personal offer of political asylum in Japan, and committed suicide. Power lines leading to a trash dump hover just overhead in El Carpio, a Nicaraguan refugee camp in Costa Rica Under international law, a refugee is a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her...

The Japanese flag was hoisted on the surrendered battleship Zhenyuen, cruisers Ping-yuen, Tsi-yuen, and Kwang-ping, and six gunboats. With the fall of Weihaiwei the Japanese navy completely annihilated the Northern Chinese Fleet, and gained an absolute control of the Gulf of Pohai.

The Battle of Weihaiwei is regarded as the last major battle of the First Sino-Japanese War, since China entered into peace negotiations with Japan shortly thereafter. However, the Battle of Yingkou and a number of minor battles would take place before the Treaty of Shimonoseki ending the war was signed. The Shunpanrō hall where the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed The Treaty of Shimonoseki (Japanese: 下関条約, Shimonoseki Jōyaku), known as the Treaty of Maguan (T. Chinese: 馬關條約, S. Chinese: 马关条约;) in China, was signed at the Shunpanrō hall on April 17, 1895 between the Empire of Japan and the Qing Empire. ...

References

• Chamberlin, William Henry. Japan Over Asia, 1937, Little, Brown, and Company, Boston, 395 pp.
• Jane, Fred T.The Imperial Japanese Navy (1904)
• Kodansha Japan An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1993, Kodansha Press, Tokyo ISBN 4-06-205938-X
• Lone, Stewart. Japan's First Modern War: Army and Society in the Conflict with China, 1894-1895, 1994, St. Martin's Press, New York, 222 pp.
• Paine, S.C.M. The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895: Perception, Power, and Primacy, 2003, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA, 412 pp.
• Warner, Dennis and Peggy. The Tide At Sunrise, 1974, Charterhouse, New York, 659 pp.
• Wright, Richard N. J.The Chinese Steam Navy 1862-1945, 2000 Chatham Publishing, London, ISBN 1861761449