The White Lotus led impoverished settlers into rebellion, promising personal salvation in return for their loyalty. Barend Joannes Ter Haar has argued that the term "White Lotus" was used primarily by Ming and Qing imperial bureaucrats to disparagingly explain a wide range of unconnected millenarian traditions, rebel movements, and popular religious practices. The White Lotus Rebellion (Chinese: ; pinyin: Chun ch bi lin jio q y, 17941804) was a rebellion initiated by followers of the White Lotus movement during the Qing dynasty of China. He simply and quietly disappeared. On assuming effective power in 1799, however, Emperor Chia Ch'ing (reigned 17961820) overthrew the Ho-shen clique and gave support to the efforts of the more vigorous Manchu commanders as a way of restoring discipline and morale. The grew in number and power and eventually, into a serious concern for the government. BJ Ter Haar has argued that the term "White Lotus" was used primarily by Ming and Qing imperial bureaucrats to disparagingly explain a wide range of unconnected millenarian traditions, rebel movements, and popular religious practices. . Some of these militia groups were further trained as attack armies to seek out the rebels, whose forces were thinned by offers of amnesty to the rank and file and of rewards for the capture of the leaders. Snow Lotus | Frisco TX [4] The term was only used by the millenarian rebels under intense pressure during government interrogations. . In its last stage, the Qing suppression policy combined pursuit and extermination of rebel guerrilla bands with a program of amnesty for deserters. By the mid-19th century, the Qing dynasty had been in power for over a century, and the elites and many of their subjects felt they had a heavenly mandate to remain in power. - systematic program of pacification followed, Causes and effects of internal challenges; Wh, taiping (Taip'ing) rebellion: reasons for the, taping rebellionconsequences for Chinese soc, tongzhi restoration and self-strengthening mo, collectivisation (maintenance of power, stali, John Lund, Paul S. Vickery, P. Scott Corbett, Todd Pfannestiel, Volker Janssen, Eric Hinderaker, James A. Henretta, Rebecca Edwards, Robert O. Self. When the Manchu tribes of Manchuria (now Northeast China) conquered China some 500 years later in the 17th century and proclaimed the Qing dynasty, the White Lotus Read More Yuan dynasty In China: Foreign religions Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . Another major contributing factor to the downfall of the Qing dynasty was European imperialism and China's gross miscalculation of the power and ruthlessness of the British crown. Definition 1 / 6 - rebellion began in 1794; rebellion initiated by followers of the White Lotus movement during the Qing dynasty of China - large groups of rebels claiming White Lotus affiliations rose up within the mountainous region that separated Sichuan province from Hubei and Shaanxi provinces Contents 1 Daze Village Uprising 2 Rebellion of the Seven States 3 Llin 4 Chimei 5 Yellow Turban Rebellion 6 Five Pecks of Rice Rebellion 7 An Shi Rebellion 8 Red Turban Rebellion 9 Li Zicheng's Rebellion 10 Revolt of the Three Feudatories Chien-lung In 1794, one instance of a derivative sect of the White Lotus, the Eight Trigrams arose in the form of underground meditation teachings and practice in Shandong province, not far from Beijing (Zhili) near the city of Linqing. What anecdote, or short personal story, does Didion tell at the beginning of the essay "Georgia O'Keeffe"? The crippled Qing dynasty clung to power for another decade, behind the walls of the Forbidden City, but the Wuchang Uprising of 1911 put the final nail in the coffin when 18 provinces voted to secede from the Qing dynasty. In 1794, one instance of a derivative sect of the White Lotus, the Eight Trigrams arose in the form of underground meditation teachings and practice in Shandong province, not far from Beijing (Zhili) near the city of Linqing. During much of that time, China was the single, undisputed superpower in East Asia, with neighboring lands such as Korea, Vietnam, and an often-reluctant Japan trailing in its cultural wake. The group later reemerged in the late 18th century in the form of an inspired Chinese movement. . The Red Turban Rebellion which took place in 1352, was led by the White Lotus group. When the White Lotus Rebellion (1796-1804) occurred, the dynasty was forced to turn to peasant soldiers to suppress the rebels in central and southern China, since the regular army lacked the necessary strength and morale. The government had to depend on more Han Chinese recruits (Green Standard) since there were not enough Manchu. As you might expect, the collapse of China's Qing dynasty was a long and complex process. Not until the Qianlong emperor died in 1799 was Heshen removed and the war really prosecuted. Where this rebellion took place and the Qing Empires reaction: What brought about the collapse of this once-mighty empire, ushering in the modern era in China? The Rebellion is estimated to have caused the deaths of some 100,000 rebels.[1][2]. Update now. When they congregate and oppose the government, they are rebels; when they disperse and depart, they are civilians once more. It broke out in 1794, and was at full height in 1796, among impoverished settlers in the mountainous region that separates Sichuan province from Hubei and Shaanxi provinces. ", Dai, Yingcong. The Qianlong emperor ordered that the Eight Banner armies, whether they had Manchu or Han banners, were not to be used to suppress internal uprisings, so the Qing mainly relied on the Han Chinese Green Standard Army and Han militias in order to suppress rebellions such as the White Lotus. The French Revolution was now the French "rebellion" or "chaos," but in fact, the existence of leased territories and foreign concessions provided plenty of fuel and varying degrees of safety for radical opponents. [6], The Qing commanders sent to repress the rebellion had a difficult time putting down the White Lotus. This internecine war lasted over ten years, at a cost of tens of thousands of lives and an expenditure, by the government alone, of two hundred million taels in money. The White lotus (Bailian Jiao, ) was a Buddhist political and religious movement that believed in a universal female divinity, the "Unborn Old Mother" who would gather all of her children towards the end of the millennium, into one large family. He declared that to prevent the capture of the young prince when a child, he had fled with him and concealed him beyond the borders of China. Due to their brutality, the Qing troops were soon nicknamed the "Red Lotus" Society. "Issues and Trends in China's Demographic History." Eventually, the Qing armies and the peasants united, but they were unable to defeat the foreign powers. Since then, this book has become an invaluable source because it has enabled scholars to understand the beliefs of these groups. The British under Queen Victoria were a huge market for Chinese teas, but the Qing refused to engage in trade negotiations, rather demanding that Britain pay for the tea in gold and silver. The end of the White Lotus Rebellion in 1804 also brought an end to the myth of military invincibility of the Manchu, perhaps contributing to the greater frequency of rebellions in the 19th century. . By 1387, after more than thirty years of war, their leader, Zhu Yuanzhang had liberated all of China. Administrators also seized and destroyed sectarian scriptures used by the religious groups. Without a clear enemy to fight against, brutality against civilians became more common. A pattern emerged of growing rice in the valley bottoms, corn on the lower mountain slopes, and Irish potatoes on the higher land. One such official was Huang Yupian (), who refuted the ideas which were found in the scriptures which expressed orthodox Confucian and Buddhist views in A Detailed Refutation of Heresy ( Pxi Xingbin), which was written in 1838. Kublai Khan The calamitous Opium Wars seemed to prove that the alien ruling dynasty had lost the Mandate of Heaven and needed to be overthrown. Ordinary Han Chinese felt little loyalty to the Qing rulers, who still presented themselves as conquering Manchus from the north. The White Lotus society (Bailianjiao) was a religious cult already in existence in the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty (11271279). Other White Lotus spinoffs include the Eight Trigrams, the Tiger Whips, and the Yihequan (Boxers). #ga-ad {display: none;} }, Page last modified: This took place during the Qing Dynasty, and lasted from 1796 to 1804. At first the Ch'ing administration, under the control of Ho-shen, sent inadequate and inefficient imperial forces to suppress the ill-organized rebels. The young pretender, Wang Fa-sheng, was never any other than a puppet in the hands of the leaders. It is only as historical sources look back upon these events do they began to summarize the various aspects of these uprisings as the "White Lotus rebellion.". Japan stripped away Taiwan, took effective control of Korea (formerly a Chinese tributary) following the First Sino-Japanese War of 189596, and also imposed unequal trade demands in the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki. During the Qing dynasty, inventions continued to emerge despite the turbulent uprisings and conflicts such as the White Lotus Rebellion, the First Opium War, and the Taiping Rebellion. Qing control weakened and prosperity diminished by the 19th century. Within China, dissent grew, and the empire began to crumble from within. [10], The Qing commanders who were sent to repress the rebellion had a difficult time putting down the White Lotus. Wang Lun likely failed because he did not make any attempts to raise wide public support. Led by Lin Qing (; 1770-1813) and Li Wencheng, the revolt occurred in the Zhili, Shandong, and Henan provinces of China. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. When the last Chinese dynastythe Qing dynastyfell in 19111912, it marked the end of the nation's incredibly long imperial history. International imperialism brought the Opium Wars (1840-42 and 1856-60), Sino-French War (1884-85), Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and Boxer War (1898-1900). Here, the White Lotus led impoverished settlers into rebellion, promising personal salvation in return for their loyalty. Talking about Yuan's decline and fall, you should learn something about White Lotus Society. https://www.thoughtco.com/fall-of-the-qing-dynasty-195608 (accessed March 4, 2023). Due to their brutality, the Qing troops were soon nicknamed the "Red Lotus" Society. ." Rather than following the path of Japan's Meiji Restoration and modernizing the country, Cixi purged her court of modernizers. Consequently, a person's actual participation in sectarian activities had no impact on his or her arrest; what really mattered was whether monetary demands were met or not. It was an organized religion, which was once popular in Yuan Dynasty. from Hubei and Shaanxi provs. It broke out (1796) among impoverished settlers in the mountainous region that separates Sichuan prov. Save up to $6,685 on one of 9 used Lotus Evora 400s in Frisco, TX. The White Lotus Society is traditionally considered to have first appeared during the 14th century under Mongol rule. By that time, however, the regular government forces were too ridden with corruption to be of any use. J.D., University of Washington School of Law, B.A., History, Western Washington University. After 48 years, official Zeng Guofan studied and was inspired by the dynasty's methods during the White Lotus Rebellion while considering ways to defeat the Taiping movement. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. An independent military force, the militia proved difficult to disband, and frequently it turned against the dynasty in the early 20th century. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. How did the Rebellion impact Qing society? One such official was Huang Yupian (), who refuted the ideas found in the scriptures with orthodox Confucian and Buddhist views in A Detailed Refutation of Heresy ( Pxi Xingbin), which was written in 1838. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. The White Lotus Rebellion Another important rebellion launched by members of the White Lotus Society was the White Lotus Rebellion . Beginning as enslavement protests, the eventual rebellion gained growing support and sympathy from many citizens. Issues and Trends in China's Demographic History. White Lotus Rebellion, (17961804), large-scale uprising in the mountainous regions of central China that contributed to the decline of the Qing dynasty (16441911/12). The White Lotus Society is traditionally considered to have first appeared during the Jin dynasty founded by Huiyuan in Mountain Lu, Jiujiang. . Throughout the 1820s and 1830s, the area of the boundary between Henan and Anhui was perpetually plagued by White Lotus revolts, the White Lotus rebels were frequently in league with the area's brigands and salt smugglers. Although the rebellion was finally crushed by the Qing government after eight years of fighting, it marked a sharp decline in the strength and prosperity of the Qing dynasty. [6] The term was only used by the millenarian rebels under intense pressure during government interrogations. Dr. Kallie Szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture. id A systematic program of pacification followed: the populace was resettled in hundreds of stockaded villages and organized into militias. _____ us amazing stories about her youth in Hong Kong. The White Lotus peasant rebellion broke out in 1795 (White Lotus was the name of a secret society that had first fought against the Mongols). Main article: White Lotus Rebellion Beginning in 1794, two decades after Wang Lun's failed uprising, a movement also arose in the mountainous region that separates Sichuan from Hubei and Shaanxi in central China as tax protests. The White Lotus society (Bailianjiao) was a religious cult already in existence in the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty (1127-1279). A White Lotus rebellion known as the Red Turban Uprising helped Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming dynasty, capture Beijing, but he turned against the group once he had achieved imperial power. All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Although the rebellion was finally crushed by the Qing government after eight years of fighting, it marked a sharp decline in the strength and prosperity of the Qing dynasty. A second major contributor was internal turmoil, expressed in a series of devastating rebellions beginning in 1794 with the White Lotus rebellion, and ending with the Boxer Rebellion of 18991901 and Wuchang Uprising of 19111912. Motivated by millenarian Buddhists who promised the immediate return of the Buddha, it erupted out of social and economic discontent in the impoverished provinces of Hubei, Shaanxi, and Sichuan (including modern Sichuan and Chongqing). White Lotus Rebellion, Chinese anti-Manchu uprising that occurred during the Ch'ing dynasty. The rebellion began in 1794, when large groups of rebels claiming White Lotus affiliations rose up within the mountainous region that separated Sichuan province from Hubei and Shaanxi provinces. And so the war was waged. What should be done with these revolutionary cultists? Matt, I think religion played an important rule in peasants' rebellion in ancient China. [2][3], The White Lotus Rebellion was initiated as an antitax protest led by the White Lotus Society, a secret religious society. XIX Century Civil Wars. At the . ThoughtCo. His rule covered a span of 63 years, a reign lo, Kublai Khan [citation needed], For the 14th-century rebellion also related to the White Lotus, see, Last edited on 14 February 2023, at 03:10, "Civilians Go into Battle: Hired Militias in the White Lotus War, 17961805", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_Lotus_Rebellion&oldid=1139241640, Dai, Yingcong. This rebellion grew rapidly under Lin Chi-hieh and other leaders, oue of whom was a woman surnamed Wang, until there were a hundred thousand rebels in arms, who fought with varying fortune against an at least equal number of imperialist solidiers. "Civilians Go into Battle: Hired Militias in the White Lotus War, 1796-1805. The White Lotus bands mainly used guerrilla tactics, and once they disbanded, they were virtually indistinguishable from the local population. This page was last updated at 2022-12-21 05:40 UTC. The Qing dynasty promoted itself as a conquering force, ruling China for 268 years before collapsing in 19111912. The Qianlong Emperor (r. 173596) sent Helin (, brother of Heshen) and Fuk'anggan to quell the uprising. The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . How might this yearning relate co Milton's mention of "the thought of lost happiness" in lines 545554-555455? After both died in battle in 1796, Beijing sent new officials but none were successful. These militia groups were later instrumental in defeating the Taiping rebellion. When they congregate and oppose the government, they are rebels; when they disperse and depart, they are civilians once more. He did not distribute captured wealth or food supplies, nor did he promise to lessen the tax burden. "Rebellion and Religious Identity: The Case of the White Lotus Uprising (17961804)", This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 03:10. He did not distribute captured wealth or food supplies, nor did he promise to lessen the tax burden. Vast sums of money earmarked for the campaign against the rebels, however, were embezzled by the imperial favourite Heshen and his friends. // Fsl Appointment Management Package, Will Interest Rates Go Down In 2023, Articles W