Changes

== Taiping rule ==

== Taiping rule ==

The Taiping form of government was ostensibly, and initially, egalitarian, applying a primitive communism. No wages were paid, no private property allowed. Artisans were organized into 'Heavenly Battalions' whose products went to the state. Land was allotted to the peasants, but surpluses were taken by the state. It was puritanical, with opium, gambling, and prostitution banned. It adopted a progressive approach to women. Women could take examinations, serve in the army, and were entitled to the same education as men. Foot-binding was abolished. The Taiping had a positive attitude to 'foreign brothers' (and supposed fellow Christians); but suffered disappointment as the foreign powers rejected such Taiping advances as were made, and, after the Second Opium War (1857-60) the powers consciously lent support to the Qing.

The Taiping form of government was ostensibly, and initially, egalitarian, applying a primitive communism. No wages were paid, no private property allowed. Artisans were organized into 'Heavenly Battalions' whose products went to the state. Land was allotted to the peasants, but surpluses were taken by the state. It was puritanical, with opium, gambling, and prostitution banned. It adopted a progressive approach to women. Women could take examinations, serve in the army, and were entitled to the same education as men. Foot-binding was abolished. The Taiping had a positive attitude to 'foreign brothers' (and supposed fellow Christians); but suffered disappointment as the foreign powers rejected such Taiping advances as were made, and, after the Second Opium War (1857–60) the powers consciously lent support to the Qing.

The Taiping state was ruled by six kings: the Heavenly King (Hong Xiuquan) was assisted by Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Kings, and Assistant King Shi Dakai.

The Taiping state was ruled by six kings: the Heavenly King (Hong Xiuquan) was assisted by Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Kings, and Assistant King Shi Dakai.

==Qing responses to the Taiping ==

==Qing responses to the Taiping ==

They appointed 'new men' - members of provincial gentry - to command new armies. In 1853 Zeng Guofan (1811-72) was appointed to raise troops in the ''Xiang'' or [[Hunan Army]], to combat the Taiping. Zeng was a Confucian scholar, implacably opposed to the Taiping; he built up an officer core of trusted men, established arsenals and a river fleet, and methodically began to encircle Taiping forces.  His chief protégé was [[Li Hongzhang]] (1823-1901) who was appointed to raise an army in [[Anhui]], the ''Huai'' or Anhui army, similar to Zeng's forces. Li became governor of the key eastern province of [[Jiangsu]] in 1862 where he made use of Western and Chinese-Western forces to combat the Taipings around [[Shanghai]] and [[Hangzhou]]. The Anhui army participated in the final defeat of the Taiping in 1864 and went north to finish the [[Nien]] rebels. Li went on to become the key political figure in China for the remainder of his life.  

They appointed 'new men' - members of provincial gentry - to command new armies. In 1853 Zeng Guofan (1811–72) was appointed to raise troops in the ''Xiang'' or [[Hunan Army]], to combat the Taiping. Zeng was a Confucian scholar, implacably opposed to the Taiping; he built up an officer core of trusted men, established arsenals and a river fleet, and methodically began to encircle Taiping forces.  His chief protégé was [[Li Hongzhang]] (1823-1901) who was appointed to raise an army in [[Anhui]], the ''Huai'' or Anhui army, similar to Zeng's forces. Li became governor of the key eastern province of [[Jiangsu]] in 1862 where he made use of Western and Chinese-Western forces to combat the Taipings around [[Shanghai]] and [[Hangzhou]]. The Anhui army participated in the final defeat of the Taiping in 1864 and went north to finish the [[Nien]] rebels. Li went on to become the key political figure in China for the remainder of his life.  

Traditional Chinese 'Green Banner' regular forces had proved useless against the Taiping. The brunt of the considerable fighting was by  militias, Manchu Banner forces and the 'new armies' of Zeng and Li. The success of these regional armies, together with the devolution of responsibility to provinces, and the collection by the provinces of a new tax (''lijin'') on goods transported, was to have major long-term  implications for China.

Traditional Chinese 'Green Banner' regular forces had proved useless against the Taiping. The brunt of the considerable fighting was by  militias, Manchu Banner forces and the 'new armies' of Zeng and Li. The success of these regional armies, together with the devolution of responsibility to provinces, and the collection by the provinces of a new tax (''lijin'') on goods transported, was to have major long-term  implications for China.