The White Lotus Society is traditionally considered to have first appeared during the 14th century under the Mongol -led Yuan dynasty. The nine-years long White Lotus war had devastated a large number of districts in Central China. Not until the Qianlong emperor died in 1799 was Heshen removed and the war really prosecuted. 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. [1] 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. "[5] Szczepanski, Kallie. Kublai Khan The Red Turban Rebellion (Chinese: ; pinyin: Hngjn Qy) was an uprising influenced by the White Lotus Society members that, between 1351 and 1368, targeted the ruling Yuan Dynasty of China, eventually leading to its overthrowing. View original page. He did not distribute captured wealth or food supplies, nor did he promise to lessen the tax burden. A systematic program of pacification followed: the populace was resettled in hundreds of stockaded villages and organized into militias. Sikh uprisings against the Mughal Empire in India, Pugachev's Revolt in the Russian Empire, and the White Lotus Rebellion in China mirrored the rebellions in the Atlantic world. XIX Century Civil Wars. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The White Lotus Society is traditionally considered to have first appeared during the 14th century under Mongol rule. We are committed to providing our patients care in the same warm, caring, and professional manner we would extend to members of our own family. 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 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. 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. [CDATA[ https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/white-lotus-rebellion, "White Lotus Rebellion The White Lotus continued to be active, and it might have influenced the next major domestic rebellion, the Eight Trigrams Uprising of 1813. Surprisingly, the ill-organized rebels managed to defeat the inadequate and inefficient Qing imperial forces. With its weaknesses exposed, China began to lose power over its peripheral regions. [1] 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. 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). Inventions Nothing is known of his end. Chien-lung After both died in battle in 1796, Beijing sent new officials but none were successful. 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. 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). Corrections? 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. 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. 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. Although the rebellion was finally crushed by the Qing government in 1804, it marked a turning point in the history of the Qing dynasty. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Red Turban Rebellion which took place in 1352, was led by the White Lotus group. The tide of the rebellion was turned by Qing leaders relying on the local gentry-raised private militias of Hunan, Hubei and Shaanxi. What anecdote, or short personal story, does Didion tell at the beginning of the essay "Georgia O'Keeffe"? from Hubei and Shaanxi provs. His rule covered a span of 63 years, a reign lo, Kublai Khan In response, the Qing Empress Dowager Cixi clamped down hard on reformers. The group later reemerged in the late 18th century in the form of an inspired Chinese movement. These militia groups were later instrumental in defeating the Taiping rebellion. 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. _____ us amazing stories about her youth in Hong Kong. In his opening speech, Satan vows never to "repent or change" (line 969696). 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). Civil conflicts including the White Lotus Rebellion (1774-1805), Xinjiang wars (1820s and 1860s) and Taiping Civil War (1850-64) broke out across Qing China. 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). The feared Manchu banners, since their conquests of the early 1700s, showed they were no longer a military force of much value, and the emperor had to recruit a new army made up of Chinese militia. (February 22, 2023). 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. As one Qing official complained: The rebels are all our own subjects. The government had to depend on more Han Chinese recruits (Green Standard) since there were not enough Manchu. The White Lotus led impoverished settlers into rebellion, promising personal salvation in return for their loyalty. By 1900, foreign powers including Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan had established "spheres of influence" along China's coastal areas. In 1805, the imperial authorities suppressed the White Lotus Rebellion by instituting a combination of military and social policies. J.D., University of Washington School of Law, B.A., History, Western Washington University. Strong rebel leaders began to have major impacts on the ability of the Qing to rule. 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. 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. Rapid and often reckless development of the Shensi uplands, however, often led to soil erosion, rapid loss of fertility, and declining crop output. [6] The White Lotus Rebellion was a rebellion initiated by followers of the White Lotus movement during the Qing dynasty of China. Sun Yat-Sen was elected the first president of China, and the Republican era of China had begun. 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. In particular, the court marked itself off from its subjects in certain religious, linguistic, ritual, and social characteristics, always presenting themselves as outside conquerors. The Red Turban Rebellion which took place in 1352, was led by the White Lotus group. After both died in battle in 1796, the Qing government sent new officials, but none were successful. Updates? "Civilians Go into Battle: Hired Militias in the White Lotus War, 1796-1805. [6], The Qing commanders sent to repress the rebellion had a difficult time putting down the White Lotus. Surprisingly, the ill-organized rebels managed to defeat the inadequate and inefficient Qing imperial forces. Rather than following the path of Japan's Meiji Restoration and modernizing the country, Cixi purged her court of modernizers. 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. As one Qing official complained:[9]. The government had to depend on more Han Chinese recruits (Green Standard) since there were not enough Manchu. Eventually, the Qing armies and the peasants united, but they were unable to defeat the foreign powers. Beginning as enslavement protests, the eventual rebellion gained growing support and sympathy from many citizens. The White Lotus bands mainly used guerrilla tactics, and once they disbanded, they were virtually indistinguishable from the local population. Rather, it consisted of uncoordinated roving bands using hit-and-run guerrilla tactics. The Qianlong Emperor (r. 173596) sent Helin (, brother of Heshen) and Fuk'anggan to quell the uprising. 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. 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. At first the Ch'ing administration, under the control of Ho-shen, sent inadequate and inefficient imperial forces to suppress the ill-organized rebels. One of the tools they used to stay in power was a very strict restriction on trade. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea. [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. He simply and quietly disappeared. 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 government had to depend on more Han Chinese recruits (Green Standard) since there were not enough Manchu. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. 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. One Qing response was to suppress the word "revolution" by banning it from their world-history textbooks. The White Lotus Rebellion was initiated as an antitax protest led by the White Lotus Society, a secret religious society. What should be done with these revolutionary cultists? When they congregate and oppose the government, they are rebels; when they disperse and depart, they are civilians once more. As one Qing official complained:[6], "The rebels are all our own subjects. Nevertheless, where can you catch hints that the -angel longs for his former state? Save up to $6,685 on one of 9 used Lotus Evora 400s in Frisco, TX. 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.[6]. [4] The term was only used by the millenarian rebels under intense pressure during government interrogations. 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 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. The White Lotus society (Bailianjiao) was a religious cult already in existence in the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty (11271279). These militia groups were later instrumental in defeating the Taiping rebellion. }, Page last modified: 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. The White Lotus rebellion was an eight year uprising that led to the downfall of the Qing dynasty. 3: China and Her National Minorities; Han. Szczepanski, Kallie. The rebellion began in 1794, when large groups of rebels claiming White . 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 grew in number and power and eventually, into a serious concern for the government. The rebellion was ended by the deaths of some 100,000 rebels. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Since then, this book has become an invaluable source because it has enabled scholars to understand the beliefs of these groups. Dr. Kallie Szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture. 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 Rebellion is estimated to have caused the deaths of some 100,000 rebels.[1][2]. This rebellion was less successful than that of the Red Turbans, and the Qing government succeeded in crushing this uprising. (2020, August 27). Updates? 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 . The balance of power had tipped decidedly away from the imperial court and toward the foreign powers. ", Dai, Yingcong. 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]. The grew in number and power and eventually, into a serious concern for the government. After both died in battle in 1796, the Qing government sent new officials, but none were successful. The river flooded constantly, and other natural disasters also occurred. The White Lotus led impoverished slaves to freedom, promising personal salvation in return for their loyalty. 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). In its last stage, the Qing suppression policy combined the pursuit and extermination of rebel guerrilla bands with a program of amnesty for deserters. 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).