Century of humiliation

Okay kiddo, imagine you have a big brother who is very strong, and you are very small. Now imagine your brother always beating you up and taking your things. He won't let you play with his toys or wear his clothes, no matter how much you beg and plead. You feel sad and embarrassed because you can never win against him.

Now imagine that your big brother is not just one person but a whole bunch of big brothers, and they are not just taking your toys, but taking over your whole house and country. They tell you what to do, what to eat, and what to learn. They make fun of your language and your customs. They make you feel weak and stupid, like you can never be as good as them.

Well, this is kind of what happened to China a long time ago. For more than a hundred years, from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, China was bullied and invaded by many other countries, especially European and Japanese powers. They forced China to give up its land, its resources, and its independence. They humiliated China in many ways, making it feel inferior and helpless.

This period of history is called the Century of Humiliation, because it was a time when China was treated with disrespect and cruelty. Many Chinese people felt ashamed and angry about what was happening to their country. They wanted to fight back and regain their dignity. Some of them tried to modernize China and learn from the West, so that they could defend themselves better. Others wanted to rebel against the foreign invaders and kick them out of China. It was a difficult and painful time for China, but it also marked the beginning of a new era of Chinese history, one in which China would rise again and become a major player in the world.