Topic > The Impact of the Taiping Rebellion in China

IndexTaiping Rebellion in ChinaTaiping BeliefsEffects of the RebellionConclusionThe Taiping Rebellion in ChinaThe Taiping Revolution was a profound political and spiritual disturbance that was probably the most important event in China during 19th century. The rebellion was a massive civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864. It was a thousand-year movement against the ruling Qing Manchu dynasty. The rebellion devastated 17 provinces and killed approximately twenty million people. It also irrevocably altered the Qing dynasty. This research paper analyzes in detail the causes of the rebellion, the events that took place during the rebellion, and the effects of the rebellion on China as a nation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Taiping Rebellion began under the influence of Hong Xiuquan who lived from 1814 to 1864. The leader of the revolution was greatly influenced by Christian teachings, and was said to have had many visions from God. Xiuquan believed he being the son of God and a younger brother of Jesus, sent to reform China. Hong's friend took advantage of his friend's ideas and organized a religious group that worshiped God in China. Hong decided to join the religious group among the poor peasants of Guangxi in 1847. Three years later, after joining the religious group, Hong led the rebellion which turned out to be the deadliest conflict in history (Michael, 1966). The Taiping took their beliefs from many alternative sources. Many of these beliefs reflected ancient philosophical theory, and some came from ancient writings defining ideal systems that had never been practiced. The alternative concepts were of Western origin. Clearly this mix of concepts was terribly powerful. Since they introduced the concepts mentioned above, the Taiping could promise their followers a completely new system. Their revolutionary program was terribly broad. He introduced notions of common property, reform, equal standing of girls, self-discipline from narcotics, tobacco and alcohol, calendar reform, literary reform and, most notably, a brand new political-military organization of society. Hong had its capital in Nanjing. The kingdom's army controlled most of the southern parts of China and had to rule over 30 million people. The rebellion was based on the agenda of social reforms among the people, equality in society, and the replacement of other religions such as Buddhism and Chinese folk religion with Christianity. Social changes were to allow for shared ownership and equality for women who were considered a minority group in society at that time. Taiping Beliefs Those who participated in the Taiping Rebellion took their beliefs from different sources. Their beliefs reflected ancient Confucianism, and others also came from traditional writings describing activities and systems never practiced in China's history. The rebellion has also torn some beliefs from Western countries. The fusion of ideas from different origins meant that the resistance operated under very strong influence as they introduced ideas that had never been discussed before. Because of their new invention of ideas, the Taiping promised their followers a completely new system. They had a far-reaching innovative agenda. The program touched on the reasons for the rebellion such as social reforms, notions of sharing property and equal position for women. The rebellion also had strategies to help combat the opium, tobacco and alcohol abuse that was sweeping China due to the health implications.Above all, calendar reform and literary reform along with a new political-military organization in society were other strategies implemented by the rebellion. The reforms were based on the Christian origins which were followed by the members of the group (Foster, 1951). China was so large that the government had difficulty controlling its sprawling dominions. Given the increase in the number of revolts in the nineteenth century, they posed a challenge to the state, which was also weakened by demographic challenges and foreign invasion. During the rebellion, politics, society's social interactions, and economic life were all disrupted. Yang Xiuqing, who was Taiping's minister of state, attempted to take over much of Taiping's power, a situation which resulted in Yang and many of his other followers being killed. Hong ordered the assassination of Changhui, the general who had killed Yang since he began to be arrogant. The first general's murder aroused fear among other generals, including Shi Dakar, who even abandoned Hong in fear of his life. Shi Dakar brought many of Hong's followers with him. An attempt by the Taipings to regain their forces in 1860 by taking Shanghai was stopped by the Western trained army which always proved victorious during every war. The army was commanded by the American adventurer Fredrick Townsend Ward and later by the British officer Charles George. Hong began to feel ill and refused all pleas to escape. He decided to commit suicide in June 1864 even before he could install his 15-year-old son as Tianwang. Periodic resistance continued in other parts of China until 1868 (Ch'en, Michael, & Chang, 1966). The Taiping religious group paid little attention to New Testament ideas of compassion, forgiveness, and redemption. Taipang Christians rather emphasized the wrathful God of the Old Testament who required worship and obedience. Evil deeds such as prostitution, adultery, and slavery were prohibited as in the Old Testament Bible. The rebellion had a well-organized army with strict rules governing the soldiers on duty. Rewards were given to soldiers loyal to the rebellion. At one point during the rebellion, approximately 100,000 Taipang followers preferred death to capture. Confucianism greatly influenced the religion of the Taipang although much of their borrowing from traditional religions may have been subconscious. Propaganda and essay writing during the rebellion depended as much on Confucianism as on Christianity. The Chinese could therefore easily accept God as a father figure since ancestor worship had been a common practice for them for many years (Edkins, 2013). The Taiping style was to raise an army and incite the population to rebel. They were first successful when they captured Hupeh, after he had been held in the city of Yungan by the emperor's militia. The Taiping rebellion attempts in the same campaign to conquer Kwangsi and Hunan were never successful. The initial result was counterbalanced by numerous defeats by the practical forces at sea, where the emperor was well equipped and with better material sources. Initially, the Taiping's goal was to conquer Nanjing and extend their dominion to all of China. The rebellion faced many challenges, such as the change of leaders and strong factional divisions. The kings of the Taiping Rebellion were selected on the basis of purity and devotion to Christianity. For example, Yang Hsiu-Ch'ing managed to become the eastern king and later the leader of the entire region. Initially he was a charcoal burner but thanks to his devotion and purity he became the king of the entire kingdom. Initially, the answer.