The kingdom of Heavenly Peace

[Dimentio]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_Ping_Rebellion

I think this conflict is interesting, given that the Tai Ping practised quite progressive policies from a heretical fundamentalist perspective. Also, 20-30 million people were killed, which make this onslaught the second greatest since WW2.

[RedStarOverChina]

Yes, they did seem progressive compared to the Qings in many aspects.

But in the end it was just another peasant uprising that's been repeated a couple of dozen times throughout Chinese history.

[Dimentio]

Yes, they did seem progressive compared to the Qings in many aspects.

But in the end it was just another peasant uprising that's been repeated a couple of dozen times throughout Chinese history.

And Hitler was just another fascist politician?

[RedStarOverChina]

What's that supposed to mean?

What I meant was that the Tai Ping rebellion failed to destroy the Fengjian (roughly meaning Feudal) system. Instead, like all previous peasant uprisings, they inherited much of the Fengjian system's structure, once they defeat the ruling class and "settle down". The leader of the rebellion was crowned Emperor, and ws given hundreds of concubines.

Peasant rebellions were often romanticised in China...Though as Mao and others pointed out, each time they failed to make a substantial difference, due to the so-called "small peasant mentality"--They simply could not see beyond the Fenjian system. The best they could ever hope for was a "benevolent Emperor".

[Sentinel]

From what I read here, it sounds like an extremely moral-puritanic, anti-sex theocracy established by a megalomaniac who thought he was God and made himself an autocrat. Of course, private property was abolished, but as all lands were controlled by the theocratic state, I'm not sure what that was good for exactly.

The declaration that the society was 'classless' and that the sexes were equal is a bit interesting, as is of course the abolition of slavery. Certainly it seems there were some characteristics that could be deemed progressive involved in the rebellion.

However, it would seem like a new, 'unofficial' ruling class consisting of Hong's generals, and untouched by the laws, was formed.. Generally, this is an interesting chain of events I'd like to hear more about, the wiki article is hardly enough to form a consistent picture of it.

[Sendo]

it takes more than a wikipedia article to get learned on this topic and its context. REsidue is on the money here. In many ways progressive, but one of countless peasant, semi-utopian movements that has been crushed. Egomania also made the leadership make a host of strategic blunders.

As far as its puritanical nature, it was there. But it wasn't fundamentally different (and certainly no worse) than the extremely brutal and chauvinist gender climate that prevailed in most of China until the 1950s.