A decree by the Daoguang Emperor admitted, "it was extortion by local officials that goaded the people into rebellion" By threatening the arrest of people who engaged in sectarian activities, local officials and police extorted money from people. 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. The White Lotus Rebellion was initiated as an antitax protest led by the White Lotus Society, a secret religious society. This rebellion wasn't the direct down fall of 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. 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. https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/white-lotus-rebellion, "White Lotus Rebellion Rapid and often reckless development of the Shensi uplands, however, often led to soil erosion, rapid loss of fertility, and declining crop output. 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. Qing rule gradually collapsed during the second half of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th, due to a complicated interplay between internal and external factors. Beginning as enslavement protests, the eventual rebellion gained growing support and sympathy from many citizens. The White Lotus society (Bailianjiao) was a religious cult already in existence in the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty (1127-1279). Wang Lun likely failed because he did not make any attempts to raise wide public support. Asia for Educators, Columbia University, 2009. These militia groups were later instrumental in defeating the Taiping rebellion. Social uprisings against the Qing began with the White Lotus uprising in 17961820. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. The White Lotus War (1796-1804) in central China marked the end of the Qing dynasty's golden age and the fatal weakening of the imperial system itself. Sun Yat-Sen was elected the first president of China, and the Republican era of China had begun. The White Lotus Rebellion White Lotus (Pai-lien chiao) sectarianism appealed to Chinese, most notably to women and to the poor, who found solace in worship of the Eternal Mother who was to gather all her children at the millennium into one family. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The White Lotus Society is traditionally considered to have first appeared during the Jin dynasty founded by Huiyuan in Mountain Lu, Jiujiang. Strong rebel leaders began to have major impacts on the ability of the Qing to rule. The Qing dynasty promoted itself as a conquering force, ruling China for 268 years before collapsing in 19111912. _____ us amazing stories about her youth in Hong Kong. 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. As a result of such technological improvements, the Chinese population exploded, increasing from just shy of 178 million in 1749 to almost 359 million in 1811; and by 1851, the population in Qing dynasty China was close to 432 million people. At first, farmers in regions adjacent to Mongolia worked for the Mongols, but eventually, the people in the overcrowded Hubei and Hunan provinces flowed out and into the region. [2][3]. There the foreign powers essentially controlled trade and the military, although technically they remained part of Qing China. . The White Lotus Society is traditionally considered to have first appeared during the 14th century under the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The White Lotus Secret Society and the Demise of Mongol Rule in China It apparently began as a tax protest led by the White Lotus Society, a secret religious society that forecast the advent of the Buddha, advocated restoration of the native Chinese Ming dynasty, and promised personal salvation to its followers. By 1804 the area was again placed under imperial control by the local militia. Approximately 7,000 Banner troops were sent in from Manchuria in combination with Green Standard Army soldiers from Guizhou and Yunnan as well as tens of thousands of local mercenaries.[9]. 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. Kublai Khan Corrections? Forty-eight years later, Zeng Guofan, leader of Hunan-based Xiang Army studied the Qing government's methods during the White Lotus Rebellion and he was inspired by them while he was considering ways to suppress the Taiping Rebellion. 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. At the . Though many movements and rebellions were considered by imperial bureaucrats to have been led by White Lotus Society leaders, there is reason to doubt that the White Lotus Society had any organizational unity. The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . ", Dai, Yingcong. The White Lotus is a syncretic religious and political movement which forecasts the imminent advent of the "King of Light" , i.e., the future Buddha Maitreya. White Lotus Rebellion | Infoplease - Fact Monster In 1805, the imperial authorities suppressed the White Lotus Rebellion by instituting a combination of military and social policies. In the closing years of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, they organized resistance to the foreign overlords, and now they are doing so again, but against the reigning Ming Dynasty! 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."[7]. By 1387, after more than 30 years of war, their leader, Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the North China Plain and occupied the Yuan capital Khanbaliq (present-day Beijing). White Lotus - Wikiwand The rebellion was started by some elements of the millenarian Tianli Sect () or Heavenly Principle Sect, which was a branch of the White Lotus Sect. The White Lotus rebellion began when large groups of Chinese rioted in 1794. [9], A systematic program of pacification followed: the populace was resettled in hundreds of stockaded villages and organized into militias. The river flooded constantly, and other natural disasters also occurred. The White Lotus Rebellion (Chinese: ; pinyin: Chun ch bi lin jio q y, 17941804) was a rebellion that occurred during the Qing Dynasty of China. It was an organized religion, which was once popular in Yuan Dynasty. The government had to depend on more Han Chinese recruits (Green Standard) since there were not enough Manchu. The elites' self-proclaimed position as outsiders contributed to their eventual demise. Led by Lin Qing (; 1770-1813) and Li Wencheng, the revolt occurred in the Zhili, Shandong, and Henan provinces of China. One of the tools they used to stay in power was a very strict restriction on trade. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Unable to build up a support base, he was forced to quickly flee all three cities that he attacked in order to evade government troops. This Liu Chi-hieh set up a youth named Wang Fa-sheng, whom he represented to be a member of the Chu family and a descendant of the Ming emperors, as the rightful sovereign of the people. 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. The White Lotus Rebellion 1796-1804 In the densely forested border area between the provinces Hubei, Sichuan and Shaanxi, a lot of homeless peasant refugees(liumin, see also shed people) had gathered to escape the grip of landowners, creditors and tax collectors. What should be done with these revolutionary cultists? ", Dai, Yingcong. This page was last updated at 2022-12-21 05:40 UTC. With its weaknesses exposed, China began to lose power over its peripheral regions. Only after 1800 did the Qing government adopt new tactics that established local militias (tuan) to help surround and destroy the White Lotus. This book has since become an invaluable source in understanding the beliefs of these groups. Soon the new migrants began to outnumber the indigenous people, and conflict over local leadership grew and grew strong. An independent military force, the militia proved difficult to disband, and frequently it turned against the dynasty in the early 20th century. ", McCaffrey, Cecily. In 1794, a similar movement arose in the mountainous region that separated Sichuan province from Hubei and Shaanxi provinces in central China, initially as a tax protest. "[5] When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. List of rebellions in China | Military Wiki | Fandom Other White Lotus spinoffs include the Eight Trigrams, the Tiger Whips, and the Yihequan (Boxers). Issues and Trends in China's Demographic History. Without a clear enemy to fight against, brutality against civilians became more common. The end of the White Lotus Rebellion in 1804 also brought an end to the myth of the military invincibility of the Manchus, contributing to the increasing frequency of rebellions in the 19th century. 22 Feb. 2023 . The Qianlong Emperor (r. 173596) sent Helin (, brother of Heshen) and Fuk'anggan to quell the uprising. Here, the White Lotus led impoverished settlers into rebellion, promising personal salvation in return for their loyalty. Omissions? ", in, Zhang Shucai (1992). #ga-ad {display: none;} Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). The term was only used by the millenarian rebels under intense pressure during government interrogations. White Lotus Rebellion Flashcards | Quizlet However, the date of retrieval is often important. The young pretender, Wang Fa-sheng, was never any other than a puppet in the hands of the leaders. Then a turn of fortune and successive victories of the imperialists would almost annihilate their armies and crush all their hopes. When Chinese peasants raised a huge anti-foreigner movement in 1900, called the Boxer Rebellion, they initially opposed both the Qing ruling family and the European powers (plus Japan). [6] //]]>. In particular, the court marked itself off from its subjects in certain religious, linguistic, ritual, and social characteristics, always presenting themselves as outside conquerors. Nothing is known of his end. 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.". The White Lotus Society is traditionally considered to have first appeared during the 14th century under Mongol rule. [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. [9], 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. This is a list of major rebellions that have occurred in China from 209 BCE to present times. The White Lotus Rebellion was initiated as an antitax protest led by the White Lotus Society, a secret religious society. A systematic program of pacification followed in which the populace was resettled in hundreds of stockaded villages and organized into militia. Used Lotus Evora 400 for Sale in Frisco, TX | Edmunds "Reluctant guerrillas in early nineteenth century China: the White Lotus insurgents and their suppressors. Nevertheless, where can you catch hints that the -angel longs for his former state? List of battleships of the United States Navy, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, http://www.scribd.com/doc/37359117/Bodycount-Final, http://books.google.com/books?id=Md801mHEeOkC&pg=PA9, History of Chinese Culture on History.com. 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. Due to their brutality, the Qing troops were soon nicknamed the "Red Lotus" Society. 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. The Red Turban Rebellion which took place in 1352, was led by the White Lotus group. The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . from Hubei and Shaanxi provs. Many partisans joined and the society grew rapidly until 1794, when it broke out into the rebellion that subsequently spread over Hupeh and Western China under Liu Cbi-hieh and cast a gloom over the close of the long and brilliant reign of Kien-lung. ", Without any clear enemy to fight, brutality against civilians became more common. The leader, herbalist and martial artist Wang Lun, led an uprising that captured three small cities and laid siege to the larger city of Linqing, a strategic location on the north-south Grand Canal transportation route. These three Atlantic RevolutionsAmerican, French, and Haitianwere part of a broader world crisis at the end of the eighteenth century. It broke out (1796) among impoverished settlers in the mountainous region that separates Sichuan prov. They are not like some external tribe . In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Rather than following the path of Japan's Meiji Restoration and modernizing the country, Cixi purged her court of modernizers. Having attained the Mandate of Heaven and the status of Emperor, he took the title Hongwu and founded a new dynasty - the Ming. "White Lotus Rebellion Sometimes whole provinces were subdued by them, and it looked as if their efforts were going to be successful, and Western China, if no other part, would remain theirs. It took nine years of warfare and great loss. id Wang Lun likely failed because he did not make any attempts to raise wide public support. Not until the Qianlong emperor died in 1799 was Heshen removed and the war really prosecuted. The Red Turban Rebellion which took place in 1352, was led by the White Lotus group. Rather, it consisted of uncoordinated roving bands using hit-and-run guerrilla tactics. The White Lotus society (Bailianjiao) was a religious cult already in existence in the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty (11271279). 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. 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. Chien-lung | Encyclopedia.com 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. 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 Last Emperor, 6-year-old Puyi, formally abdicated the throne on Feb. 12, 1912, ending not only the Qing dynasty but China's millennia-long imperial period. 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). Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/fall-of-the-qing-dynasty-195608. The dynasty had to resort to a strategy of removing all food supplies from the countryside and collecting the peasants into a series of armed stockades. A smaller precursor to the main rebellion broke out in 1774, under the leadership of the martial-arts and herbal-healing expert Wang Lun in Shandong province of northern China. Since then, this book has become an invaluable source because it has enabled scholars to understand the beliefs of these groups. Other White Lotus spinoffs include the Eight Trigrams, the Tiger Whips, and the Yihequan (Boxers). Sun Yat-Sen emerged as China's first "professional" revolutionary, having gained an international reputation by being abducted by Qing agents in the Chinese Embassy in London in 1896. ." 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). [4] The term was only used by the millenarian rebels under intense pressure during government interrogations. Bailianjiao (www.chinaknowledge.de) however it was indirectly responsible because it was the catalyst for the other rebellions that occurred in the future. It had cost the lives of countless civilians and regular troops, including more than 400 high officers, and consumed more than 200 million liang /tael, which corresponded to four times the annual revenues of the state treasury. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Qing Dynasty Inventions & Innovations - Totally History White Lotus Rebellion, (1796-1804), large-scale uprising in the mountainous regions of central China that contributed to the decline of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911/12). Though many movements and rebellions were considered by imperial bureaucrats to have been led by White Lotus Society leaders, there is reason to doubt that the White Lotus Society had any organizational unity. ThoughtCo. In response, the Qing Empress Dowager Cixi clamped down hard on reformers. Having attained the Mandate of Heaven and the status of Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang named his period of reign "Hongwu" (thus he was known as the Hongwu Emperor) and founded a new dynasty the Ming dynasty. A major contribution to the downfall of the last dynasty were external forces, in the form of new Western technologies, as well as a gross miscalculation on the part of the Qing as to the strength of European and Asian imperialistic ambitions. But as oue leader fell or was captured, another replaced him, and as the rebellion was extinguished in one place, it blazed out in another. Bailianjiao (www.chinaknowledge.de) In 1774, one instance of a derivative sect, the Eight Trigrams arose in the form of underground meditation teachings and practice in Shandong province, not far from Beijing near the city of Linqing. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. The Fall of China's Qing Dynasty in 19111912. Talking about Yuan's decline and fall, you should learn something about White Lotus Society. He did not distribute captured wealth or food supplies, nor did he promise to lessen the tax burden. The Red Turban Rebellion which took place in 1352, was led by the White Lotus group. Eventually, the rebellion was crushed by the Qing elites; but the White Lotus organization remained secret and intact, and advocated for the overthrow of the Qing dynasty. Where this rebellion took place and the Qing Empires reaction: A decree by the Daoguang Emperor admitted, "it was extortion by local officials that goaded the people into rebellion" By threatening the arrest of people who engaged in sectarian activities, local officials and police extorted money from people. "Rebellion and Religious Identity: The Case of the White Lotus Uprising (17961804)", This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 03:10. 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. [citation needed]. Szczepanski, Kallie. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"uAtwiiQKDz3pej8tikjjXf8qtftBywxw48FuRjxp2JM-86400-0"}; This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/White-Lotus-Rebellion, Ancient Origins - The White Lotus Society and the Demise of Mongol Rule in China, GlobalSecurity.org - White Lotus Rebellion 1796-1804. Administrators also seized and destroyed sectarian scriptures which were used by the religious groups. Administrators also seized and destroyed sectarian scriptures used by the religious groups. 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. The government had to depend on more Han Chinese recruits (Green Standard) since there were not enough Manchu. The White Lotus War: Rebellion and Suppression in Late Imperial China Tibet has been an independent country throughout the historical period and since time immemorial according to Tibetans' own myth-based sense of, Xinjiang (shnjyng) or Sinkiang (shnjyng, snkyng) [Chinese,=new frontier], officially Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Mandarin Xinjiang U, For more information on Chinese history and culture, seeVol. Qing control weakened and prosperity diminished by the 19th century. Szczepanski, Kallie. 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. Wang Lun likely failed because he did not make any attempts to raise wide public support. Szczepanski, Kallie. What was the White Lotus rebellion and what did it do to the dynasty The experience of suppressing the rebellion led to improvement in the organization and training of the militia, as many of their leaders wrote extensively on mobilization, enlistment and local defense methods. Actual participation in sect activities had no impact on an arrest; whether or not monetary demands were met, however, did. Buddhist sects, such as the White Lotus sect, a group that attracted many followers among the Chinese lower classes. 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. A decree from the Emperor Daoguang admitted, "it was extortion by local officials that goaded the people into rebellion" Using the arrest of sectarian members as a threat, local officials and police extorted money from people. "White Lotus Rebellion [4], Though many movements and rebellions were considered by imperial bureaucrats to have been led by White Lotus Society leaders, there is reason to doubt that the White Lotus Society had any organizational unity. Ming events - Europa Universalis 4 Wiki - Paradox Wikis