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Line 46: − - flexibility of response to the rebellion by the Qing court − Qing responses to the Taiping+ − - appointment of Zeng Guofan (Tseng Kuo-fan) (1811-72) in 1853 to raise troops, Xiang or Hunan Army, to combat the Taiping. Zeng was a Confucian scholar, implaccably opposed to the Taiping; he built up an officer core of trusted men, established arsenals and a river fleet, and methodically began to encirclke Taiping forces. His chief protege was Li Hongzhang (Li Hung-chang) (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. He visited Newcastle and Cragside in 1896 as part of a world tour. − - 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 Guofan and Li Hongzhang. The success of these regional armies, together with the devolution of responsibility to provinces, and the collection by provinces of a new tax (lijin) on goods transported, was to have severe long-term implications for China. − - the Qing court was at war with Britain and France 1857-60. Once the conflict was settled to western satisfaction, the powers abandoned their neutral stance towards the Taiping. − Foreign action against the Taiping: the Ever Victorious Army and 'Chinese Gordon'+ − 1860: Chinese Shanghai merchants finance Shanghai Foreign Arms Corps led by US adventurer Frederick Townsend Ward (d 1862), initially western but increasingly Chinese troops; renamed 'Ever Victorious Army'. Brritish and French troops were also stationed in the Shanghai area and active against Taiping. Following Ward's death, and an unsatisfactory American replacement, the Imperial authorities requested the British to second an officer to the Ever Victorious Army. Charles Gordon was sent, and led the EVA with some success, including the capture of Suzhou in Nov 1863. The Ever Victorious Army was disbanded in 1864. + + + − The '''Taiping Rebellion''' was a rebellion in 1850 led by [[Hong Xiuquan]], who had received a Christian upbringing. Its goal was to overthrow the Chinese [[Qing Dynasty]] and replace it with a "Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace". The rebellion enjoyed widespread initial success, causing massive destruction throughout much of southern and central China and capturing many major cities. + − Although an appeal for an alliance with their fellow Christians was made to the British and French forces engaged against Chinese imperial forces at the same time in the [[Opium War]], no serious thought was given to such an alliance by the Europeans. − − Tens of millions of people are believed to have died as a consequence of the Taiping Rebellion, both as a result of fighting and the capture of cities, with no prisoners being taken by either side, and through the [[famine]]s resulting from the devastation of the Chinese countryside.
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== 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 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 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 (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.
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.
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.
At the same time the Qing authorities were developing a more flexible response to the threats they faced.
==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, implaccably 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 protege 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.
== The 'Ever Vicctorious Army' and 'Chinese Gordon' ==
In 1860 Chinese Shanghai merchants financed a private militia, the Shanghai Foreign Arms Corps led by the American adventurer Frederick Townsend Ward (d 1862). This initially employed Western troops, but was increasingly Chinese (with western officers); after achieving some scuuesses it was renamed the 'Ever Victorious Army'. British and French troops were also stationed in the Shanghai area and active against the Taiping. Following Ward's death, and an unsatisfactory American replacement, the Imperial authorities requested the British to second an officer to the Ever Victorious Army. [[Charles Gordon]] was sent, and led the Ever Victorious Army with some success, including the capture of Suzhou in Nov 1863. The Ever Victorious Army was disbanded in 1864. However, the actions of Gordon and his troops were peripheral to the main conflict, which involved vast Chinese armies, and ended with the siege and storming of Nanjing in 1864.
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Wars]]
[[Category:Wars]]