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. The White Lotus Society is traditionally considered to have first appeared during the Jin dynasty founded by Huiyuan in Mountain Lu, Jiujiang. It apparently began as a tax protest led by the White Lotus Society, a secret religious society that forecast the advent . These militia groups were later instrumental in defeating the Taiping rebellion. The Emperor Qianlong (Ch'ien-lung) (reigned 173599) sent Helin, brother to the infamously corrupt eunuch Heshen and Fukangan, related by marriage to the Emperor, to quell the uprising. 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. At the . Omissions? Dr. Kallie Szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture. [10], The Qing commanders who were sent to repress the rebellion had a difficult time putting down the White Lotus. 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. 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 nine-years long White Lotus war had devastated a large number of districts in Central China. The Qianlong Emperor (r. 173596) sent Helin (, brother of Heshen) and Fuk'anggan to quell the uprising. "The Fall of China's Qing Dynasty in 19111912." [9] 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. 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). It took almost ten years and huge financial waste to defeat the badly equipped White Lotus Rebellion (1795-1804), partly by legitimizing militias led by local Hn Chinese elites. [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. Since then, this book has become an invaluable source because it has enabled scholars to understand the beliefs of these groups. 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 1796-1804 In the deeply forested border area between the provinces Hubei, Sichuan and Shaanxi, a lot of homeless "floating" people (liumin ) had gathered to escape the grip of landowners, creditors and tax collectors. The Qing commanders who were sent to repress the rebellion had a difficult time putting down the White Lotus. Where this rebellion took place and the Qing Empires reaction: His rule covered a span of 63 years, a reign lo, Kublai Khan 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. 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. [12] 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. In response, the Qing Empress Dowager Cixi clamped down hard on reformers. from Hubei and Shaanxi provs. The rebels are all our own subjects. 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 The White Lotus society (Bailianjiao) was a religious cult already in existence in the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty (1127-1279). . 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. "Issues and Trends in China's Demographic History." Local disaffection broke out in the so-called White Lotus Rebellion of 1796-1804, which was centerd in the Szechwan- Shensi- Hupeh- Honan border regions. 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. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. The White Lotus society (Bailianjiao) was a religious cult already in existence in the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty (1127-1279). Under the Ming and the Qing, the movement existed in small, secret congregations and its doctrines were spread through baojuan ("precious volumes . "Tianlijiao ", in. XIX Century Civil Wars. (2020, August 27). Since then, this book has become an invaluable source because it has enabled scholars to understand the beliefs of these groups. 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. The grew in number and power and eventually, into a serious concern for the government. ThoughtCo. "The Fall of China's Qing Dynasty in 19111912." 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. The White Lotus bands mainly used guerrilla tactics, and once they disbanded, they were virtually indistinguishable from the local population. Without a clear enemy to fight against, brutality against civilians became more common. View original page. That history stretched back at least as far as 221 BCE when Qin Shi Huangdi first united China into a single empire. In 1805, the imperial authorities suppressed the White Lotus Rebellion by instituting a combination of military and social policies. The Qing had forbidden agriculture in the northern regions, which were left to the Mongol pastoralists, but the introduction of new world crops such as potato and maize opened the northern region plains farming. Ch'ien-lung (1711-1799) was the fourth emperor of the Ch'ing, or Manchu, dynasty in China. Then a turn of fortune and successive victories of the imperialists would almost annihilate their armies and crush all their hopes. The group later reemerged in the late 18th century in the form of an inspired Chinese movement. "White Lotus Rebellion "Civilians Go into Battle: Hired Militias in the White Lotus War, 1796-1805. [5] According to Ter Haar, it is clear that the "White Lotus" rebels of the uprisings that occurred between 1796 and 1804 did not voluntarily use the term "White Lotus" to refer to themselves or their movement. Matt, I think religion played an important rule in peasants' rebellion in ancient China. One of the tools they used to stay in power was a very strict restriction on trade. in, Gaustad, Blaine C. "Prophets and pretenders: inter-sect competition in Qianlong China. White Lotus sectarianism appealed to other 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. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/fall-of-the-qing-dynasty-195608. All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Led by Lin Qing (; 1770-1813) and Li Wencheng, the revolt occurred in the Zhili, Shandong, and Henan provinces of China. Rather, it consisted of uncoordinated roving bands using hit-and-run guerrilla tactics. Only after 1800 did the Qing government adopt new tactics that established local militias (tuan) to help surround and destroy the White Lotus. 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). The rebellion grew in number and power and eventually, into a serious concern for the government. Only after 1800 did the Qing government adopt new tactics that established local militias (tuan) to help surround and destroy the White Lotus. [6] The group forecast the advent of Maitreya, advocated restoration of the native Chinese Ming Dynasty, and promised personal salvation to its followers while promising the return of the Buddha.[7]. Strong rebel leaders began to have major impacts on the ability of the Qing to rule. 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! Actual participation in sect activities had no impact on an arrest; whether or not monetary demands were met, however, did. The Fall of China's Qing Dynasty in 19111912. As one Qing official complained:[9]. By 1804 the area was again placed under imperial control by the local militia. France seized Southeast Asia, creating its colony of French Indochina. Wang Lun likely failed because he did not make any attempts to raise wide public support. Administrators also seized and destroyed sectarian scriptures which were used by the religious groups. 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. Eventually, the Qing armies and the peasants united, but they were unable to defeat the foreign powers. The White Lotus society (Bailianjiao) was a religious cult already in existence in the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty (1127-1279). 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. Nevertheless, where can you catch hints that the -angel longs for his former state? [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. When they congregate and oppose the government, they are rebels; when they disperse and depart, they are civilians once more. 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]. This took place during the Qing Dynasty, and lasted from 1796 to 1804. The Rebellion is estimated to have caused the deaths of some 100,000 rebels.[1][2]. As one Qing official complained:[6], "The rebels are all our own subjects. (February 22, 2023). . White Lotus Rebellion, Chinese anti-Manchu uprising that occurred during the Ch'ing dynasty. 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. Szczepanski, Kallie. 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. 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. Chien-lung Wang Lun likely failed because he did not make any attempts to raise wide public support. Omissions? Corrections? 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. Update now. 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 members dedicated themselves to the overthrow of the alien Manchu and to the return of the previous Ming dynasty (13681644). 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 This book has since become an invaluable source in understanding the beliefs of these groups. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. The young pretender, Wang Fa-sheng, was never any other than a puppet in the hands of the leaders. Others began to openly call for the overthrow of the existing regime and replace it with a constitutional rule. This page was last updated at 2022-12-21 05:40 UTC. 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. [2][3], The White Lotus Rebellion was initiated as an antitax protest led by the White Lotus Society, a secret religious society. This humiliation showed all of China's subjects, neighbors, and tributaries that the once-mighty China was now weak and vulnerable. What started as a local rebellion grew into a serious political crisis, as the central government was no longer able to operate its military machine. Not until the Qianlong emperor died in 1799 was Heshen removed and the war really prosecuted. https://www.thoughtco.com/fall-of-the-qing-dynasty-195608 (accessed March 4, 2023). The rebellion was ended by the deaths of some 100,000 rebels. The White Lotus Rebellion was initiated as an antitax protest led by the White Lotus Society, a secret religious society. There the foreign powers essentially controlled trade and the military, although technically they remained part of Qing China. The ethnic Manchu rulers of China's Qing dynasty reigned over the Middle Kingdom beginning in 1644 CE, when they defeated the last of the Ming, up until 1912. [4] The term was only used by the millenarian rebels under intense pressure during government interrogations. Issues and Trends in China's Demographic History. The White Lotus Rebellion Another important rebellion launched by members of the White Lotus Society was the White Lotus Rebellion . 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. 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. The White Lotus rebellion began when large groups of Chinese rioted in 1794. When they congregate and oppose the government, they are rebels; when they disperse and depart, they are civilians once more. Social uprisings against the Qing began with the White Lotus uprising in 17961820. Ordinary Han Chinese felt little loyalty to the Qing rulers, who still presented themselves as conquering Manchus from the north. In the period after about 1680 the introduction of corn (maize) and sweet potatoes, followed in the 18th century by the introduction of the Irish potato, made upland farming possible. 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. It broke out (1796) among impoverished settlers in the mountainous region that separates Sichuan prov. The government had to depend on more Han Chinese recruits (Green Standard) since there were not enough Manchu. The group later reemerged in the late 18th century in the form of an inspired Chinese movement. 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. . 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. Administrators also seized and destroyed sectarian scriptures which were used by the religious groups. After both died in battle in 1796, the Qing government sent new officials, but none were successful. Within China, dissent grew, and the empire began to crumble from within. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. 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. 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. Other White Lotus spinoffs include the Eight Trigrams, the Tiger Whips, and the Yihequan (Boxers). (present perfect, tell). Updates? 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.