Ep. 282 | The Taiping Rebellion (Part 3)

After seizing the all-important city of Nanjing in March 1853 and basking in the afterglow of this victory, the Taiping leadership launches two military expeditions, one to the north to capture the capital, Beijing, and the other to the west.  In this episode, we'll see how those two ventures pan out.

Then in 1856, comes the first major political crisis that happens at the very top of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom leadership. Meanwhile, the foreign powers operating in China, namely Britain and France, scheme to make the best of the Qing Dynasty's bad situation.

As always, the terms from the episode are listed below, or available to download!

Listen On Your Favorite Podcast Player


Terms in Episode

Pinyin/TermChineseEnglish/Meaning
Nánjīng南京Capital of Jiangsu Province. Also capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Zhènjiāng镇江City in Jiangsu Province
Yángzhōu扬州City in Jiangsu Province
Tāizhōu台州City in Jiangsu Province
Chángzhōu常州City in Jiangsu Province
Wúxī无锡City in Jiangsu Province
Sūzhōu苏州City in Jiangsu Province
Nántōng南通City in Jiangsu Province
Hóng Xiùquán洪秀全1814-1864, Chinese revolutionary and leader of the Taiping Rebellion. Claimed to be God's son and the younger brother of Jesus Christ
Hakka客家Hakka, a Han Chinese subgroup whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Taiwan, Hainan and Guizhou
Miáo苗族a group of linguistically-related peoples living in Southern China and Southeast Asia, which are recognized by the government of China as one of the 56 official ethnic groups. The Miao live primarily in southern China's mountains, in the provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan
Zhuàng壮族
Xiàng Róng向荣1801-1856, a Chinese military general and politician
Qíshàn岐山1786-1854, Mongol noble and official of the late Qing dynasty, best known for negotiating the Convention of Chuanbi on behalf of the Qing government with the British during the First Opium War of 1839–42
Guǎngdōng广东Province in southernmost China
Guǎngxī广西Province in southwest China just west of Guangdong
Húnán湖南Province in south-central China, north of Guangdong
Húběi湖北Province in central China north of Hunan
Jiāngsū江苏Coastal province, north of Zhejiang
Jiāngxī江西Province in China located just west of Fujian
Yáng Xiùqīng杨秀清1821-1856, The Eastern King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. He had a direct pipeline to the Lord God
Zhèngzhōu郑州Capital city in Henan Province
Qìnyáng沁阳City just north of Zhengzhou on the other side of the Yellow River, formerly called Huaiqing
Huáiqìng怀庆The former name of Qinyang City in Henan Province
Zhílì province直隶省The former name of Hebei Province
Tiānjìn天津Major city just southeast of Beijing
Qīng清朝Final dynasty in Chinese imperial history 1644-1911
Sengge Rinchen僧格林沁1811-1865, Qing Mongol nobleman and general who served the dynasty brilliantly in a number of battles during the Second Opium War and the Taiping and Nian Rebellions.
Lǐ Kāifāng李开芳1826-1855, Taiping military leader from the early days who won many battles but met his Waterloo during the Northern Expedition and was later captured and executed by the Qing authorities
Niǎn Rebellion捻乱an armed uprising that took place in northern China from 1851 to 1868, contemporaneously with Taiping Rebellion (1851–1864) in South China. The rebellion failed to topple the Qing dynasty, but caused immense economic devastation and loss of life that became major long-term factors in the collapse of the Qing regime in the early 20th century.
Jiāng Zhōngyuán江忠源1812-1854, a scholar and soldier from Hunan who fought for the Qing and against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom during the Taiping Rebellion
Zēng Guófān曾国藩1811-1872, Chinese statesman and military general of the late Qing dynasty. He is best known for raising and organizing the Xiang Army to aid the Qing military in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion and restoring the stability of the Qing Empire
Tiānjīng天京The city of Nanjing. It was renamed Tianjing after the Taiping Rebels took the city of Nanjing
Xiāngtán湘潭City in Hunan
Yuèzhōu岳州City in Hunan, today called Yueyang
Wǔhàn武汉Mega-city in Hubei province comprised of Hankou, Hanyang and Wuchang
Jiǔjiāng九江a prefecture-level city located on the southern shores of the Yangtze River in northwest Jiangxi Province
Lake Póyáng鄱阳湖Lake in northern Jiangxi Province, China's biggest if zI'm not mistaken.
Hóngwǔ emperor洪武帝Founder of the Ming Dynasty, known also as Zhu Yuanzhang
Qín Rìgāng秦日纲Guangxi Hakka who joined up with Hong Xiuquan early and reported directly to Hong.
Wéi Chānghuī韦昌辉1823-1856, the North King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom during the Taiping Rebellion
Shí Dákāi石达开1831-1863, The Wing King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. One of the five key leaders of the Taiping's. More of him in Part 3
Battle of Jiāngnán一破江南大营Also referred to as "The First rout of the Jiangnan Army Group". Qing general Xiang Rong was able to lead his troops in an encirclement of the Taiping capital at Tianjing after it was seized in battle by the Taipings. The outcome of this first of two battles led to a breakout by the Taiping army and the defeat of Xiang Rong's army.
Hakka-Punti Clan Wars土客械斗a conflict between the Hakka and Cantonese people in Guangdong, China between 1855 and 1867. The wars were fierce around the Pearl River Delta, especially in Toi Shan of the Sze Yup counties. The wars resulted in roughly a million dead with many more fleeing for their lives
Shùnzhì顺治帝First Qing emperor to rule in Beijing, reigned 1643-1661
Kāngxī康熙帝Son of Shunzhi Emperor, reigned 1661-1722
Zhèjiāng浙江Coastal province in China
Hóng Rénfā洪仁发Hong Xiuquan's eldest brother
Hóng Réndá洪仁大Hong Xiuquan's second-eldest brother
Hóng Xuānjiāo洪宣娇Also referred to as Yáng Xuānjiāo. Alleged sister (or perhaps "daughter" of Hong Xiuquan. A legendary martial artist and military leader who led a Taiping women's army
Xiāo Cháoguì萧朝贵1820-1852, The Eastern King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. He had a direct pipeline to Jesus

Resources


Enjoy the show and want to support the CHP?

Join the Teacup Patreon

Make a Direct Donation

Buy Laszlo a Cup of Coffee


Previous
Previous

Ep. 283 | The Taiping Rebellion (Part 4)

Next
Next

Ep. 281 | The Taiping Rebellion (Part 2)