Introduction
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Taiping Rebellion was a tremendous civil war in Southern China in late Qing Dynasty, which started in 1850 and ended in 1864. It was a rebellion of the improper Christian - Hong Xiuquan fighting against the ruling Manchu -Qing Dynasty. It was a rebellion led by Hong Xiuquan, who was affected by the Western thinking - the bible. He found that under Qing Dynasty's ruling, people lived in torment. This rebellion caused the deadliest conflict in history, at least 20 million of people died, they were mainly civilians (rf1 ).
Hong established the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom with its capital at Nanjing. The Kingdom's army controlled large parts of southern China, at its height ruling about 30 million people. The rebel agenda included social reforms such as shared "property in common," equality for women, and the replacement of Confucianism,Buddhism and Chinese folk religion with their form of Christianity.
Hong established the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom with its capital at Nanjing. The Kingdom's army controlled large parts of southern China, at its height ruling about 30 million people. The rebel agenda included social reforms such as shared "property in common," equality for women, and the replacement of Confucianism,Buddhism and Chinese folk religion with their form of Christianity.
~BACKGROUND OF LATE QING DYNASTY~
The status of Qing Dynasty before Taiping Rebellion
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During the late years of Qianlong's reign, the Qing government saw a return of rampant corruption.
In 1796 open rebellion by the White Lotus Society against the Qing government broke out. The White Lotus Rebellion continued for eight years, until 1804, and marked a turning point in the history of the Qing Dynasty. In the late time under Qianlong's ruling, he was tired of governance, therefore the ruling of Qing Dynasty resulted as recession. Having several reasons behind, he trusted a official called Heshen very much who brought corruption to the whole country. As Qianlong began to grow older and older, Heshen started to monopolize the power and led the corruption of the country.
For society and economy, the population at that time increased sharply, and even more than the farmland area needed. So the area for farming began to decrease and no longer to support the large population. The increase in population also turnt out the problem of inflation on food and land prices. The citizens soon met the problem of poverty.
Not only that but also army, the Eight Banners soldiers and Red Banners soldiers were corrupt and weak. The people began to realize the real ability of their national army when White Lotus Rebellion fought against them. Being ruled by this kind of rulers, people started to fight against them.
In 1796 open rebellion by the White Lotus Society against the Qing government broke out. The White Lotus Rebellion continued for eight years, until 1804, and marked a turning point in the history of the Qing Dynasty. In the late time under Qianlong's ruling, he was tired of governance, therefore the ruling of Qing Dynasty resulted as recession. Having several reasons behind, he trusted a official called Heshen very much who brought corruption to the whole country. As Qianlong began to grow older and older, Heshen started to monopolize the power and led the corruption of the country.
For society and economy, the population at that time increased sharply, and even more than the farmland area needed. So the area for farming began to decrease and no longer to support the large population. The increase in population also turnt out the problem of inflation on food and land prices. The citizens soon met the problem of poverty.
Not only that but also army, the Eight Banners soldiers and Red Banners soldiers were corrupt and weak. The people began to realize the real ability of their national army when White Lotus Rebellion fought against them. Being ruled by this kind of rulers, people started to fight against them.
The External Pressure Given To the Late Qing Dynasty
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The Qing struggled with the concept of international and state to state relations. Before the 18th century, China was the most influential country in the East Asia . However , in the 18th century , the European empires gradually expand across the world, as European states developed stronger economies built on maritime trade. European colonies had been established in nearby India and on the islands that are now part of Indonesia, whilst the Russian Empire advanced into the areas north of China. The Qing respond for a time in establishing the Canton System, which restricted and controlled maritime trade and the Treaty of Nerchinsk (1689), which stabilized relations with Czarist Russia.
The First Opium War revealed the outdated state of the Chinese military. The Qing navy, composed entirely of wooden sailing junks, was severely outclassed by the modern tactics and firepower of the British Royal Navy. The Qing surrender in 1842 marked a decisive, humiliating blow to China. The Treaty of Nanjing, which demanded reparation payments, allowed unrestricted European access to Chinese ports, and ceded Hong Kong Island to Great Britain. It revealed many inadequacies in the Qing government and provoked widespread rebellions against the already hugely unpopular regime.
The First Opium War revealed the outdated state of the Chinese military. The Qing navy, composed entirely of wooden sailing junks, was severely outclassed by the modern tactics and firepower of the British Royal Navy. The Qing surrender in 1842 marked a decisive, humiliating blow to China. The Treaty of Nanjing, which demanded reparation payments, allowed unrestricted European access to Chinese ports, and ceded Hong Kong Island to Great Britain. It revealed many inadequacies in the Qing government and provoked widespread rebellions against the already hugely unpopular regime.
As Western nations continued to grow technologically, especially through printing journals and newspapers, communication was more widespread. Thus, the global society was united through this force. In order to assure a good life for their citizens, countries needed to rely on trade and on technological advancements, which ultimately determined how well in the world a country stood.
Keeping in mind the interactions of nations in this period, John W. Cell notes in his essay stated that "Europe and the World in an Expanding World Economy, 1700—1850", that war and trade were somewhat dependent on each other. Nations had to defend their ships while also establishing territories elsewhere to ensure successful trade for themselves. By the middle of the 17th century, the "foundations of the modern world system had been laid."
Keeping in mind the interactions of nations in this period, John W. Cell notes in his essay stated that "Europe and the World in an Expanding World Economy, 1700—1850", that war and trade were somewhat dependent on each other. Nations had to defend their ships while also establishing territories elsewhere to ensure successful trade for themselves. By the middle of the 17th century, the "foundations of the modern world system had been laid."
The area of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Hong Xiuquan as a leader of Taiping Rebellion
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At the age of thirty-seven, Hong Xiuquan failed on multiple occasions to pass the imperial examinations Hong experienced an illness and then after spending many days in bed, he recovered with a changed personality. Hong Xiuquan claimed that the illness he had following his imperial examinations was in fact a vision to the effect that he was the younger brother of Jesus. After this vision, he felt it was his duty to spread his interpretation of Christianity and overthrow Manchu rule. Hong's associate Yang Xiuqing was a former firewood merchant from Guangxi, who claimed to be able to act as a voice of God, in order to direct the people and gain political power. American Baptist missionary Issachar Jacox Roberts became a teacher and an adviser to Hong.
The Believes of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Hong Xiuquan as the leader of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom claimed that they obeyed ,admired and believed in the combination of Western Christianity, Great Harmony in Confucianism in China, farmers egalitarianism.