Taiping Rebellion (AD 1850 - 1864)

The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864), a well-documented popular uprising, began in rural Southern China and quickly consumed sixteen provinces, destroying hundreds of cities and killing millions of people. Led by Hong Xiuquan, the rebellion established its base at Guangxi and moved to conquer the city of Nanjing in 1853. Hong Xiuquan and his followers were able to hold power in Nanjing for an entire decade, but failed to take the city of Shanghai in 1860. Nanjing was finally retaken by the Qing in 1864.

After failing the civil service exams, Hong Xiuquan began to have religious visions and became convinced that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ. In 1851, Hong proclaimed himself to be the king of the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace (Taiping). Turning to Christianity for guidance, he believed idols and ancestral temples should be destroyed, preached abstinence from alcohol and opium, and advocated an end to prostitution and foot binding. Hong's egalitarian message quickly gained popularity, and by 1850 he had amassed a group of 20,000 followers at Guangxi. However, followers of the Taiping Rebellion were not entirely peaceful: at the battle of WuChang, 5,000 soldiers and 35,000 dependents were mercilessly slaughtered.

Once a Taiping government was established in Nanjing, Hong Xiuquan called for the redistribution of land and equality between men and women. Yet, while Hong remained the movement's religious leader, he made the mistake of delegating much of the administrative power. Thus, Hong rendered himself susceptible to manipulation and fraud, thereby weakening the Taiping government's authority. Finally, in 1864, the loyal general and scholar Zeng Guofan led an army of 120,000 troops to recapture the city of Nanjing and quell the rebellion. (Emily Sy)

Patricia Ebrey, The Cambridge Illustrated History of China (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 240-243.

Last Modified: December 3, 2004