Final answer:
Efforts to modernize in semi-colonized China were met with opposition and skepticism, but Chinese civilization experienced rapid intellectual and cultural growth during this period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ideas of modernity in semi-colonized China were met with opposition from government officials and skepticism from the Chinese people. Confucian officials saw science and technology as a threat to their power, while many Chinese were reluctant to allow foreign investment in their country. The defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War dealt a blow to the Self-Strengthening Movement and raised questions about the effectiveness of modernization efforts.
Despite these challenges, Chinese civilization experienced rapid intellectual and cultural growth during this period. Efforts to modernize included expanding revenues, implementing farming techniques, and creating new forms of currency. The era also saw the development of dynamic new forms of art and music. These intellectual traditions and cultural forms became the foundation for Chinese politics, education, and art in the ancient world.