Surviving Troubled Times on the Borders of China: Sheng Shicai as a Successful Warlord in Xinjiang, 1931–34

Ethnicity, religion, and geopolitics affect historians’ interpretations of the history of Xinjiang, a very chaotic frontier region of China that did not come fully under the control of the People’s Republic of China until recent decades. The case of Sheng Shicai, an early Republican Era Chinese military officer, shows how professional training and, most importantly, the ability to capitalize on emerging opportunities contributed to his military success in Xinjiang from 1931 to 1934. This paper analyzes the Republic of China’s government documents, Sheng and his acquaintances’ memoirs, newspaper articles, and other sources to examine how Sheng applied his military training and employed regional and foreign military forces to win battles in northern Xinjiang. Professional military training helped officers to utilize their resources efficiently and take advantage of their geopolitical situations. Amid numerous talented Chinese military officers, Sheng rose in rank and successfully secured Xinjiang as a part of the Republic of China even when Xinjiang’s geopolitics seemed extremely challenging. This study highlights the value of Sheng’s military prowess, something that the literature has not previously appreciated.

When a Global War Befell a Global City: Recent Historiography on Wartime Shanghai

Shanghai was the first Chinese city to bear the full brunt of Japanese aggression during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945). This historiographical article reviews the development of the study of wartime Shanghai in Chinese- and English-language academia in the past two decades. In the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai’s history during World War II has long been a favorite topic for academic historians. In the English-speaking world, however, the history of Shanghai’s wartime experience has only recently become a popular research topic. This article introduces many significant works related to wartime Shanghai, lays out important areas of inquiry, and identifies key historiographical trends. Its conclusion offers some suggestions on how the study of wartime Shanghai can be further advanced in the future.

The Development and Impact of Hong Taiji’s Artillery Corps (1631–1643)

This study retraces the development of the Later Jin/Qing artillery corps between 1631 and 1642, examines the factors that led to its success, and evaluates its military and socio-political impact. The newly established artillery corps, under the direction of the talented Hong Taiji, learned effectively from its participation in sieges and developed the relevant military knowledge. By 1642, it had turned from an auxiliary force into a full-fledged unit that played a decisive role in siege warfare. The success of the Qing artillery corps greatly facilitated the Qing conquest of China (1644–1683). Moreover, the military performance of the artillery corps in the time period led to the multiple expansions and the ultimate institutionalization of the Han Eight Banner Army (baqi Hanjun).