The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864)
The Taiping Rebellion
resulted from many factors, which included the decline of the
Qing dynasty, the enormous population pressures that China faced
in the mid-nineteenth century, and the introduction of Western
ideologies and religions into Chinese society.
[Left: The Taiping Army Commanders]
The Taiping Tianguo [Kingdom of Heavenly Peace], had been
established by a leader named Hong Xiuquan (1812-1864) and his
followers. Hong Xiuquan was a scholar who wanted to become an
official. He had taken and failed the grueling civil service
examinations three times. During the last part of this process
he had begun to have visions, and grew to believe that he was
the brother of Jesus Christ, and decided to form a new kind of
community based on some of the Christian precepts, such as the
10 Commandments. As Hong began to attract followers, the
government began to repress this new movement. In response,
Hong established the Taiping Tianguo and his followers created
an army that within two years of fighting pushed the boundaries
from Guangxi to the old Ming capital of Nanjing. Hong and his
lieutenants did not continue their march at once, and they
created a new imperial system in Nanjing.
The Qing dynasty was in disarray by the Taiping Rebellion and
the ongoing Western Incursion.
However, they were saved by the rise of local armies that were
organized by loyal scholar-gentry including:
Zeng Guofan {1811-1872), Li Hongzhang (18323-1901) and Zuo
Zongtang (1812-1885). These local armies were also supported by
foreigners, such as Frederick Townsend Ward and Charles George
"Chinese" Gordon, in particular during the fighting
for Shanghai.
In 1864 the Taipings were defeated by these loyal defenders
of the realm. Yet, the Taiping legacy was
pervasive and controversial for many years after their defeat.
Was this rebellion more than a sectarian revolt? Was it the
beginning of a social and political revolution? The significance
of the Taiping Rebellion showed that the Qing dynasty, as system
set up by foreign conquerors could meet severe challenges. The
best proof of this was not just the victory over the Taipings,
but the fact that Non-Manchu, Chinese troops defended them.
Ironically, the consequences of locally fighting a rebellion
that threatened central rule was that decentralization in China
became a fact during these last years of the Qing.
Links:
Western
Incursion, Zeng
Guofan (1811-1872)
