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Line 29: − Initial nature of Taiping government+ − - ostensibly, and initially, egalitarian, applying a primitive communism. No wages, no private property. Artisans organised into 'Heavenly Battalions' whose products went to the state. Land was allotted to the peasants, but surpluses were taken by the state. + − - puritanical. Opium, gambling, prostitution banned.+ − - progressive approach to women. Women could take examinations, serve in the army, entitled to same education as men. Foot-binding abolished+ − - positive attitude to 'foreign brothers' (and supposed fellow Christians); but disappointment as foreign powers rejected such Taiping advances as were made, to support the Qing after second Opium War+ − - state was ruled by six kings: the Heavenly King (Hong Xiuquan) assisted by Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Kings, and Assistant King (Shi Dakai)+ + + + + + − 1853: Northern Expedition sent from Nanjing to destroy the Qing forces and occupy Beijing. Instead of fighting directly north it detoured west, failed to take the provincial capital Kaifeng, and by October 1853, and the outbreak of the harsh north China winter, had only reached Tianjin (Tientsin). Like the French in 1812 and the Germans in 1941, the south Chinese troops were worn down by the cold, were defeated in 1854 by Qing troops under the Mongol general Senggeinqin, and the final remnants were defeated in 1855. In 1854 & 55 fighting moved up and down the middle Yangtse, as Wuhan was captured twice and lost twice. + − 1856: the Taiping court was riven by rivalry between the Eastern King (Yang Xiuqing, former charcoal burner) and the Northern King (Wei Changhui, a former merchant). Hong Xiuquan, though increasingly remote from matters of government, confided to Wei his fears of Yang's increasing power; Wei then purged Yang and tens of thousands of his supporters. The Taiping general and Assistant King Shi Dakai, one of the most capable leaders, returned to Tianjin, the Wei faction attempted to kill him; forces loyal to Hong Xiuquan subsequently captured and executed Wei. Hong also became suspicious of Shi Dakai, who fled Nanjing to Sichuan, where he maintained rebellion on his own account until his death in 1863.+ − Reasons for Taiping decline+ − - they were “inept and ill-directed” (J.K.Fairbank) − - failure to hold on to territories that they occupied while advancing north − - failed to finish off the Qing in 1852 following the fall of Nanjing − - failure to establish early and adequate contact with foreign powers presenting themselves as attractive alternative to Qing − - alienated the gentry and administrative classes by their anti-Confucian iconoclasm, thus depriving themselves of effective administrators − - inept generalship and division of forces in 1853-4 − - purges and internal bloodshed of 1856 − - abandonment of egalitarianism and increasing luxury and corruption amongst leadership
no edit summary
The Taiping Rebellion and consequent civil war took place in [[China]] between 1850 and 1864. It is believed to have been the most destructive civil war in history, causing up to 60 million deaths.
The Taiping Rebellion and consequent civil war took place in [[China]] between 1850 and 1864. It is believed to have been the most destructive civil war in history, causing up to 60 million deaths.
The Taiping army had a strong central core of efficient soldiers, largely of the Zhuang nationality. It was able to play upon Han Chinese resentment of 'foreign' (Manchu) rule, and Taiping nationalism was symbolised by the establishment of their capital at Nanjing (and by abolition of the servile 'queue', or pigtail). They were supported on their march north by spontaneous peasant risings, accompanied by the burning of land ownership deeds and the killing of landlords. The millenarian monotheistic ideology of the Taiping movement gave cohesion to the movement (but the destruction of Confucian temples, family shrines etc alienated many).
The Taiping army had a strong central core of efficient soldiers, largely of the Zhuang nationality. It was able to play upon Han Chinese resentment of 'foreign' (Manchu) rule, and Taiping nationalism was symbolised by the establishment of their capital at Nanjing (and by abolition of the servile 'queue', or pigtail). They were supported on their march north by spontaneous peasant risings, accompanied by the burning of land ownership deeds and the killing of landlords. The millenarian monotheistic ideology of the Taiping movement gave cohesion to the movement (but the destruction of Confucian temples, family shrines etc alienated many).
== 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 organised 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 (1856-60) 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 Northern Expedition ==
In 1853 the Northern Expedition was sent from Nanjing to destroy the Qing forces and occupy Beijing. Instead of fighting directly north it detoured west, failed to take the provincial capital Kaifeng, and by October 1853, and the outbreak of the harsh north China winter, had only reached Tianjin. Like the French in 1812 and the Germans in 1941, the south Chinese troops were worn down by the cold, were defeated in 1854 by Qing troops under the Mongol general Senggeinqin, and the final remnants were defeated in 1855. In 1854 & 1855 fighting moved up and down the middle Yangtse, as [[Wuhan]] was captured twice and lost twice.
== Splits within the Taiping leadership ==
In 1856 the Taiping court was riven by rivalry between the Eastern King (Yang Xiuqing, a former charcoal burner) and the Northern King (Wei Changhui, a former merchant). Hong Xiuquan, though increasingly remote from matters of government, confided to Wei his fears of Yang's increasing power; Wei then purged Yang and tens of thousands of his supporters. The Taiping general and 'Assistant King' Shi Dakai, one of the most capable leaders, returned to Nanjing, where the Wei faction attempted to kill him; forces loyal to Hong Xiuquan subsequently captured and executed Wei. Hong also became suspicious of Shi Dakai, who fled Nanjing to Sichuan, where he maintained rebellion on his own account until his death in 1863.
== Reasons for Taiping decline ==
According to the eminent sinologist J.K. Fairbank, the Taiping were “inept and ill-directed” They failed to hold on to territories that they occupied while advancing north. They failed to finish off the Qing in 1852 following the fall of Nanjing, while the regime was on its knees. They failed to establish early and adequate contact with foreign powers presenting themselves as an attractive and supportable alternative to the Qing. They alienated the gentry and administrative classes by their anti-Confucian iconoclasm, thus depriving themselves of effective administrators. Poor strategic direction and inept generalship led to the division of their forces in 1853-4. The court became increasingly paranoid and prone to purges and internal bloodshed, while at the same time eaglitarianism was abandooned and the rulers gave themselves up to luxury, corruption and debauchery.
- flexibility of response to the rebellion by the Qing court
- flexibility of response to the rebellion by the Qing court