About this episode

The episode discusses the early movements and challenges faced by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom from January 1851 to June 1852.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has been proclaimed — but proclamations don't feed armies. As such, its Divine Host will enjoy all of 11 days before sheer arithmetic forces them back onto the road. What follows is eight months of movement through the hills and river valleys of Guangxi: not quite a military campaign, not quite a refugee march. When they finally stop, it will be inside the walls of a city called Yong'an - "Eternal Peace." There, for the first time, the blueprint of the kingdom they have been promising can at last be seen in outline. Kings will be named, & time itself will be reordered... But the walls keep closing in, and ahead - always ahead - is the only path left. Time Period Covered:Jan. 1851 – June 1852 Major Historical Figures:Taiping Heavenly Kingdom:Hong Xiuquan, Heavenly King, Second Son of God [1814–1864]Feng Yunshan, South King, Architect of the God-Worshipping Society [1815–1852]Yang Xiuqing, East King, Voice of God the Father [d. 1856]Xiao Chaogui, West King, Voice of Jesus Christ [d. 1852]Wei Changhui, North King [1823–1856]Shi Dakai, Wing King [1831–1863]Luo Dagang, pirate-turned-general [fl. 1851–1853] Qing Dynasty:Saishangga, Imperial Commissioner…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Stewart

Topics covered

• Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
• Chinese history
• military campaigns
• refugee movements
• 19th century China

Keywords

• Taiping Rebellion
• Hong Xiuquan
• Guangxi
• Yong'an
• 19th century
• Chinese history
• military campaign
• refugee march

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Qing Dynasty

Books & works: The Visions of Hung-Siu-tshuen and the Origin of the Kwang-si Insurrection, Ch. 6, The Taiping Rebellion, The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10

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