Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
(1851–1861)
太平天囯
God's Heavenly Kingdom
(1861)
上帝天囯
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of the Heavenly Father, Heavenly Brother, and Heavenly King
(1861–1864)
天父天兄天王太平天囯
1851–1864
Seal of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
太平天囯之璽
  Outline of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
  Held at various time during the Taiping Rebellion
  Early period
  Late period
CapitalTianjing (now Nanjing)
Religion
God Worshipping Society
GovernmentTheocratic absolute monarchy
Taiping Heavenly King 
• 1851–1864
Hong Xiuquan
• 1864
Hong Tianguifu
Kings/Prince 
• 1851–1852
Feng Yunshan (South King)
• 1851–1856
Yang Xiuqing (East King)
• 1851–1852
Xiao Chaogui (West King)
• 1851–1856
Wei Changhui (North King)
• 1851–1863
Shi Dakai (Wing King)
• 1859–1864
Hong Rengan (Shield King)
Historical eraLate modern period
11 January 1851
19 March 1853
1856
19 July 1864
• Capture of Hong Tianguifu
25 October 1864
CurrencyShengbao (cash)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Qing dynasty
Qing dynasty
Today part ofChina
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Royal seal of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Traditional Chinese太平
Simplified Chinese太平天国
Literal meaning
  • Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace
  • Greatly Peaceful Heavenly Kingdom

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, or the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace (1851–1864), was a theocratic absolute monarchy which sought to overthrow the Qing dynasty. The Heavenly Kingdom, or Heavenly Dynasty,[1][a] was led by Hong Xiuquan. Its capital was at Tianjing, present-day Nanjing. The unsuccessful war it waged against the Qing is known as the Taiping Rebellion.

A self-proclaimed younger brother of Jesus Christ[3] and convert to Protestant Christianity, Hong Xiuquan led an army that controlled a significant part of southern China during the middle of the 19th century, eventually expanding to a size of nearly 30 million people. The rebel kingdom announced social reforms and the replacement of Buddhism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion, and Islam by his form of Christianity, holding that he was the second son of God and the younger brother of Jesus. The Taiping areas were besieged by Qing forces throughout most of the rebellion. The Qing government defeated the rebellion with the eventual aid of French and British forces.

  1. ^ Spence (1996), Chapter 22: "Hong Xiuquan ordered his troops and followers to drop the name Taiping, and instead to use the one word "Heavenly", to pay proper homage to God the Father. As Li later phrases his unease: The Heavenly King always used heavenly words to admonish people. We, his officials, did not dare to challenge him, but let him give what names he wanted. Calling them "Heavenly Dynasty, Heavenly Army, Heavenly Officials, Heavenly People, Heavenly Commanders, Heavenly Soldiers and Royal Troops""
  2. ^ 太平天国の階級構成原理とその基本性格
  3. ^ Michael, Franz H.; Chang, Chung-li (1966), The Taiping Rebellion: History and Documents, I: "History", Seattle: University of Washington Publications on Asia. p. 35 [ISBN missing]


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