The Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion
Origins of Rebellion Changes from outside(impact-response); changes from inside as well Expanded Population, flood and famine, gangs of pirates secret society Demographic pressure: late 17th century-late 18th century doubled from 150 million to over 300 million 1850s 430 million Organization of militia system Militia, braves, bandits, vagrants
Origins of Rebellion • Changes from outside (impact-response); changes from inside as well. • Expanded Population, flood and famine, gangs of pirates, secret society • Demographic pressure: late 17th century-late 18th century doubled from 150 million to over 300 million; 1850s 430 million • Organization of militia system • Militia, braves, bandits, vagrants
Anti-Foreignism The rejection of Western technology -popular sentiment(min xin)was more important than weaponry in making a strong country The conservatives maintained that in all the prosperous times China did not learn from the barbarians why must China emulate the West? Technology and human worlds(new buildings and fengshui) The fear of imperialism -a steady encroachment on China like a silkworm
Anti-Foreignism • The rejection of Western technology – popular sentiment (min xin) was more important than weaponry in making a strong country. • The conservatives maintained that in all the prosperous times China did not learn from the barbarians, why must China emulate the West? • Technology and human worlds (new buildings and fengshui) • The fear of imperialism– a steady encroachment on China like a silkworm
Hong Xiuquan The founder of the God-Worshiped Society Hong Xiuquan(1814 64)and his experience A failed licentiate(1827, age 14; 1836, 1837, 1843 Hong,'s christianity: pamphlet Good words to exhort the age before 1847 Hong s illness after the fourth failure and a symbolic fantasy image of Good Words, a direct call from God Political implications embodied in good Words: disaster resulted from moral decline and low-point of dynastic cycle Hong s fantasies in terms of christian doctrine: the second son of the God, the younger brother of Jesus
Hong Xiuquan • The founder of the God-Worshiped Society Hong Xiuquan (1814- 64) and his experience. • A failed licentiate (1827, age 14; 1836, 1837, 1843) • Hong’s Christianity: pamphlet “Good words to exhort the age” before 1847. • Hong’s illness after the fourth failure and a symbolic fantasy image of Good Words, a direct call from God. • Political implications embodied in Good Words: disaster resulted from moral decline and low-point of dynastic cycle. • Hong’s fantasies in terms of Christian doctrine: the second son of the God, the younger brother of Jesus
The Heavenly Kingdom Hongs writings in 1840s: conversion of chinese people into Christianity, and to reconcile Christianity with the Confucian tradition God -tian(heaven)vs. the mandate of heaven Hong' s missionizing journey to hakka community in hills with his friends, lower-level scholars God Worshiper's Society: Christianity religious teaching anti Manchu- to set up a new order of brotherhood and sisterhood among gods children In 1851, Hong proclaimed himself heavenly King: 20,000 true believers
The Heavenly Kingdom • Hong’s writings in 1840s: conversion of Chinese people into Christianity, and to reconcile Christianity with the Confucian tradition. • God – tian (Heaven) vs. the Mandate of Heaven • Hong’s missionizing journey to Hakka community in hills with his friends, lower-level scholars • God Worshiper’s Society: Christianity religious teaching + antiManchu – to set up a new order of brotherhood and sisterhood among God’s children • In 1851, Hong proclaimed himself Heavenly King; 20,000 true believers