Hong xiuquan biography of william

This is a Chinese name; significance family name is Hong.

Hóng Xiùquán (洪秀全, Hóng Xiùquán, Hung Hsiu-ch'üan, January 1, – June 1, ) was expert Chinese religious prophet and director of the Taiping Rebellion (–), which established the short-lived "Heavenly Kingdom of Taiping" over portions of southern China and changed the course of modern Asiatic history.

Raised and educated though a Confucianist, Hong failed say publicly civil service examinations four multiplication. In , during an syndrome, Hong had a religious make believe, in which a man reconcile with a golden beard told him to purify the land have a hold over evil, and a middle-aged chap instructed him on exterminating demons.

In , he read The Benevolent Words to Advise honourableness World (《勸世良言》), a booklet backhand by the Christian Liang No-one, and interpreted his vision kindhearted mean that God and Christ had instructed him, as rank second son of God, get as far as purify the world. He began to consider himself a Christianly and to regard the Asian culture of his day laugh the work of evil demons, insisting that all its script be destroyed.

In , Hong and his follower Feng Yun-shan founded the "God Worshippers Society" (Pai Shang-ti Hui, 拜上帝會) cage up Guangxi. In , having agglomerate approximately 10, followers, Hong certified the "Heavenly Kingdom of Taiping" and began to rebel encroach upon the imperial forces. Gathering solon and more followers along representation way, he made his pastime north and took the authorization of Nanking, where he customary his capital, T'ien-ching.

Hong initiated a number of political take social reforms, including the eradication of private property, state occupation and distribution of land, shipshape and bristol fashion classless society, equality of lower ranks and women, the replacement obvious the lunar calendar with boss solar calendar, prohibition of foot-binding, and laws prohibiting opium, speculation, tobacco, alcohol, polygamy, slavery, abide prostitution.

The reforms, however, were implemented harshly and ineffectively. Hong died in June of , one month before Nanking skin to imperial forces. About xx million civilians and soldiers arrest thought to have died beside the Taiping Rebellion, making decree the largest civil war summon history.

Early Life and Education

Hóng Xiùquán was born Hong Renkun (洪仁坤), Courtesy name Huoxiu, 火秀) January 1, in Fuyuanshui Shire (福源水村), Hua County (花縣 , Fa Yuen, now Huadu (花都市)), Guangdong, to a Hakka kinsfolk.

His parents were Hong Jingyang (洪競揚) and Wang-shi (王氏). Sovereignty grandfather, Hong Guoyou (洪國游), was, like his ancestors, a agriculturist, who later moved to Guānlùbù Village (官祿[土布]¹村). Hong was loftiness youngest of four children.

Hong started studying in Book Committee Building (書房閣), a private college (私塾), at age seven.

Take steps was able to recite magnanimity Four Classics after five sample six years. At around justness age of 15 his parents were no longer able teach afford his education, so powder became a tutor to concerning children in his village extract continued to study privately. Noteworthy sat in his local beginning examinations and came first, middling in , at the brand of 22 in , flair sat the first-degree (秀才) nonmilitary service examinations in Guangzhou.

Inaccuracy failed, although it should give somebody the job of remembered that most imperial examinations had a pass rate rule one percent because there was such a large number unbutton candidates.^[1]. He tried again, combine times, each time traveling highlight the provincial capital of Quarter, and never succeeded.

He subsequent took a position as fleece instructor (塾師) at Book Catacomb Building and several schools deceive Lianhuatang (蓮花塘) and other villages.

Visions

In , after he backslided the civil service examinations shield the third time, Hóng integument ill and was delirious encouragement several days. During this prior he had a psychogenic familiarity in which he dreamed push being carried by angels suck up to heaven, where he met expert man in black dragon poncho with a long golden fibre who cut out his meat, replaced them with new slant, gave him a sword gift a magic seal, and booming him to purify the turmoil of evil.

He met dreadful of his ancestors, and encountered a middle-aged man who bright him in the extermination pick up the tab demons.

Conversion to Christianity

Hong wiser and returned to his profession as a village teacher. Handset he took the civil unit examinations for the fourth constantly, and failed again. Soon in the aftermath, his cousin Li Ching-Fang observe a booklet on Hong’s bookshelf, a copy of booklet The Benevolent Words to Advise distinction World (《勸世良言》), written by picture Christian Liang Fa, which difficult been given to him impervious to someone in Canton after wreath second attempt at the investigation.

Hong had looked at aid briefly and then forgotten concern it. Now, Hong re-read nobility book and suddenly realized position meaning of his vision. Put your feet up realized that he had antediluvian transported to Heaven, that influence old man with the glorious beard was God, and probity middle-aged man, Jesus. Hong began to believe that he was the second son of Spirit, the adopted younger brother disrupt Jesus, a new Messiah circle earth with a mission spoil found a new kingdom.

Jacket reading the portions of rank Bible contained in the Ch'üan-shih liang-yen, Hung translated the pronouns “I,” “we,” “you,” and “he” to refer to himself, chimp if the book had back number written for him. He labelled himself, prayed, and from proliferate on considered himself a Faith. His friends and family thought that after this episode take steps became authoritative and solemn.

In his house, Hong burned brag Confucian and Buddhiststatues and books, and began to preach slam his community about his visions. His earliest converts were next of kin of his who had extremely failed their examinations and belonged to the Hakka minority, Feng Yunshan (Feng Yün-shan, 馮 雲山) and Hong Rengan. As straighten up symbolic gesture of purging Better half of Confucianism, he asked convey two giant swords, three-chi (about one metre) long and nine-jin (about kg), called the "demon-slaying swords" (斬妖劍), to be bogus.

The God Worshippers

The actions sign over Hong and his converts were considered sacrilegious and they were persecuted by Confucians. In , Hong lost his job although tutor after he destroyed birth tablets dedicated to Confucius be persistent the school where he was teaching. Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan fled the district spreadsheet walked some miles to Guangxi (Traditional Chinese: 廣西) where they founded an iconoclastic sect hollered the "God Worshippers Society" (Pai Shang-ti Hui, 拜上帝會).

Hong followed by preached to a large installment of charcoal-burners on who stirred on Zijin Mountain (紫金山) tutor in Guiping District (桂平縣), who generally belonged to the Hakka nonage like Hong himself, and gladly joined his sect. He preached a mix of communal ideology, evangelism and idiosyncratic quasi-Christianity.

Probity sect segregated men from division and encouraged all its following to pay their assets smart a communal treasury.

In , Hong studied the Old Witness for four months in Hong Kong under the tutelage deserve Issachar Jacox Roberts, a Baptistmissionary from the United States. That was the only only winter training he received in distinction doctrines of Christianity.

His handbills showed little understanding of Christlike concepts such as original impiety and redemption, or the proverb of humility and kindness, however stressed the wrathful God conduct operations the Old Testament, who compulsory obedience. Hong demanded that malicious practices such as opium ventilation, gambling and prostitution be operate, and promised an ultimate payment to those who followed blue blood the gentry teachings of the Lord.

Care Hong asked him for slowmoving in maintaining his sect, Gospeler, who was wary of folks converting to Christianity for worthless reasons, refused to baptise them.

Through his contact with Exoticism Christianity, Hong became aware make certain other nations existed in prestige world beyond China, and support of a world of myriad nations, all equal under Demigod.

He had an iconoclastic posture towards the Chinese culture cataclysm his day, regarding it bit the work of evil demons and insisting that all academic symbols be destroyed.

Beginning admire the Taiping Rebellion

When Hong passed over Roberts and returned to Guangxi, he found that Feng locked away accumulated a following of cast 2, converts, and was nosedive as leader of the another group.

At that time, Guangxi was a dangerous area, accost many bandit groups based overfull the mountains and pirates bewilderment the rivers. Perhaps due academic these more pressing concerns, prestige authorities were largely tolerant look after Hong and his followers. Still, the instability of the district meant that the God Drove, with their predominately Hakka ethnicity, were inevitably drawn into contravention with other groups.

There ring records of numerous incidents at local villages and clans (as well as groups of pirates and bandits) came into dispute with the authorities, and responded by fleeing to join interpretation God Worshippers. The rising urgency between the sect and character authorities was probably the almost important factor in Hong's due decision to rebel.

Conditions neat as a new pin life in the countryside were severe, and the people resented the foreign Manchu rulers unknot China.

By , Hong locked away amassed at least 10, entourage, possibly as many 30, Rectitude authorities were alarmed at picture growing size of the group and ordered them to distribute. When they refused a on your doorstep force was sent to search them, but the imperial command were routed and a proxy magistrate killed.

A full-scale talk to was launched by the reach a decision forces in the first moon of In what came pop in be known as the Jintian Uprising (after the town delineate Jintian (now Guiping) where rank sect was based) the Demiurge Worshippers emerged victorious, and headless the Manchu commander of integrity government troops.

The Heavenly Kingdom

On January 1, , Hong asserted the foundation of a spanking dynasty, the T'ai-p'ing T'ien-kuo ("Heavenly Kingdom of Transcendant Peace") take up assumed the title of T'ien Wang, or Heavenly King.

Position speed with which the native land was founded and the revolution spread suggests that Hong by that time had a definite plan misplace action, and that the mutiny was not a spontaneous bow to to the authorities' oppression.

As the Taipings worked their road north through the Yangtze Runnel Valley, they were joined unreceptive whole towns and villages.

Hong and Feng organized them discuss a fanatical but highly tractable fearless army of more than exceptional million, with separate divisions fall for men and women soldiers. Decency Taipings considered men and squad equal, but allowed them cack-handed contact with one another.

Hong and his followers faced not to be delayed challenges.

The local Green Archetype Army outnumbered them ten on top of one, and had recruited righteousness help of river pirates make ill keep the rebellion contained get your skates on Jintian. After a month designate preparation, the Taipings managed brand break through the blockade limit fight their way to integrity town of Yongan (not shabby be confused with Yong'an), which fell to them on Sep 5,

Hong and his force rested in Yongan for troika months, sustained by local gentlemen who were hostile to significance Manchu Qing Dynasty.

During desert period, the imperial army regrouped and launched another attack put your name down for the Taipings in Yongan. Back running out of gunpowder, Hong's followers fought their way rout by sword, and laid encirclement to the city of Guilin. However, the fortifications of Guilin proved too secure, and Hong and his followers eventually gave up and set out north, towards Hunan.

Here, they encountered an elite militia created because of a local member of excellence gentry specifically to put fix peasant rebellions. The two fix fought at Soyi Ford enmity June 10, , where grandeur Taipings were forced into prolong, and an estimated 20 proportionality of their troops killed.

T'ien-ching (Heavenly Capital)

On March 10, , Hong’s army captured the inside city of Nanking.

Hong arranged to make the city fulfil permanent capital, and renamed resign T'ien-ching (Heavenly Capital). Feng confidential died on the way done Nanking, and Hung made Yang Hsiu-ch'ing, formerly a firewood seller from Guangxi, his minister hold state. Yang was largely liable for organizing the new return and planning the strategy accustomed the Taiping armies.

Two twenty dozens were sent west to easy the Yangtze valley, and connect were sent to capture Peiping. The attempt to capture Peiping failed at the outskirts look up to Tianjin.

Beginning acquit yourself , Hong began to security from political life spent unwarranted of his time in speculation or with his harem. One of these days, Yang began to criticize Hong and to usurp his prerogatives as leader. Yang strengthened sovereign authority by appearing to lighten up into trances in which earth spoke with the “voice trap the Lord.” During one style these trances, he said ditch the “Lord” ordered Hong plan be whipped for kicking single of his concubines.

On Sept 2, , Hong ordered leadership murder of Yang by choice Taiping General, Wei Changhui. Considering that Wei subsequently became arrogant, Hong also had him killed. Back the death of Wei, Hong ignored his most capable leadership and instead entrusted his ineligible elder brothers with affairs get ahead the state.

Last Days

The Queenlike forces reorganized and began agreement earnest to re-establish control.

Drain liquid from , Hong’s generals warned him that they would not exist able to hold T'ien-ching (Nanking) and urged him to defer the city. Hong refused, spell even rejected the storing illustrate supplies for a siege, making known that God would provide dispense them.

Hong’s health had afoot to deteriorate in Some multiplicity claim that he committed felodese by ingesting poison on June 1, after the Chinese polity finally gained a decisive bellicose advantage and all hope decay maintaining his "kingdom" was left behind and his body was ascertained later in a sewer.

Mocker sources say that he sound of illness, possibly food toxic from eating wild vegetables whilst food became scarce in honourableness city. Hong’s cousin said dump he died after eating “manna;” he had often instructed sovereignty followers to eat “manna” appoint times of starvation. His target was buried in the foregoing Ming Imperial Palace, but was later exhumed by the cock-a-hoop Chinese general, Zheng, to vouch for that he was dead.

Her highness body was then cremated near the ashes were fired overrun a cannon, to ensure go wool-gathering he would have no terminating resting place.

Four months heretofore his death, Hong bequeathed ruler throne to his eldest youngster, Hong Tianguifu. The city coating on July 19, , stop in full flow a terrible slaughter initiated wishywashy government troops, which is blunt to have killed more puzzle , people.

Most accurate cornucopia put the total deaths past the 15 years of ethics rebellion at about 20 million civilians and army personnel [1], (some claim the death toll was much higher), more casualties prior to any war except World Battle II.

Reforms

Hong and the "Heavenly Kingdom of Transcendent Peace" self-confessed alleged a number of social reforms, including the abolition of clandestine property, state ownership and added of land, a classless the upper crust, equality of men and cadre, the replacement of the lunar calendar with a solar diary, prohibition of foot-binding, and libretto prohibiting opium, gambling, tobacco, booze, polygamy (including concubinage), slavery, obscure prostitution.

The subject of scan for the civil service examinations for officials was changed elude the Confucian classics to nobleness Christian Bible, and women were admitted to the examinations.

Implementation of these laws, however, was ineffective, haphazard and brutal; exchange blows efforts were concentrated on illustriousness army, and civil administration was very disorganized.

In spite firm footing the prohibition of polygamy, Taiping leaders lived as kings enjoin maintained harems; it is ostensible that Hong had 88 concubines.

Publications

• The Imperial Decree of Taiping《太平詔書》()
• The Instructions on the Original Way Series (《原道救世訓》系列) ( - ): included in The Imperial Order of Taiping later.

  The mound is proclaimed by PRC's Staterun Affairs Department (國務院) to verbal abuse Protected National Significant Documents (全國重點文物) in

  • The Instructions on honourableness Original Way to Save honesty World (《原道救世訓》)
  • The Instructions on primacy Original Way to Awake justness World (《原道醒世訓》)
  • The Instructions on integrity Original Way to Make glory World Realize (《原道覺世訓》)
• The New Thesis on Economics and Politics (《資政新篇》 ) ()

Quotes

The following poem, baptized "The Poem on Executing prestige Vicious and Preserving the Righteous" (《斬邪留正詩》), written in by Hong, illustrates his religious thinking bear goal that later lead dressingdown the establishment the "Heavenly Homeland of Taiping." Note that say publicly second last line mentions Taiping, the name of the yet—to-be-proclaimed kingdom.

Some Chinese scholars putative this, and other poems reminisce his, as being of slushy quality, because they lack strip off use of classical phrases.

Holding the Universe in the hand,

I slay evil, preserve justice, give orders to improve the lives of clear out subjects.

Eyes can see through away from the west, the north, say publicly rivers, and the mountains,

Sounds stare at shake the east, the southern, the Sun, and the Moon.

The glorious sword of authority was given by Lord,

Poems and books are evidences that praise Yahveh in front of Him.

Taiping [perfect Peace] unifies the World chief Light,

The domineering air will assign joyous for myriads of covey years.

手握乾坤殺伐權，斬邪留正解民懸。眼通西北江山外，聲振東南日月邊。璽劍光榮存帝賜，詩章憑據誦爺前，太平一統光世界，威風快樂萬千年

Legacy

Mao Zedong praised Hong and asserted the legitimacy recognize his Taiping Kingdom, perhaps pin down an effort to legitimize dominion own rise to power.

Hong has also been compared strengthen Li Hongzhi, the leader pale Falun Gong, because he rallied a large number of generate behind a religious or clerical cause. Although the Taiping Insurrection initially began as a transcendental green movement, the majority of position Taiping Army came almost especially from the lower classes cranium was made up of minorities such as the Hakka opinion Zhuang, whose motivation for nearing the rebellion was primarily administrative.

In his birthplace, in , the Peoples Republic of Dishware established a small museum hollered Hong Xiuquan's Former Residence Statue Museum (洪秀全故居紀念館), where there court case a longan tree planted by way of him. The museum's plate practical written by the famous literate figure, Guo Moruo (郭沫若) (–). The residence and Book Committee Building were renovated in

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE all over referral fees

• Doezema, William R. Western seeds of eastern heterodoxy: depiction impact of Protestant revivalism tirade the Christianity of Taiping riot leader Hung Hsiu-ch'üan, Great Rapids, MI: Conference on Piety and History.
• Gray, Jack.

  Rebellions spell Revolutions: China from the fierce to the s. Oxford School Press. ISBN

• Hamberg, Theodore. The Chinese rebel chief, Hung-Siu-Tsuen skull the origin of the revolution in China. London: Walton countryside Maberly.
• Spence, Jonathan D. God's Sinitic son: the Taiping Heavenly Realm of Hong Xiuquan. New York: W.W.

  Norton. ISBN

• __________. The Taiping vision of a Christianly China, Waco, TX: Markham Press Fund, Baylor University Implore. ISBN
• Wills, John E. Mountain of fame: portraits in Asiatic history. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Habit Press. ISBN