Taiping Rebellion

[Ernie]

How much of China's official wariness of Christianity do you think is the result of the Taiping Rebellion and its leader's association with a version of Christianity?

Taiping Rebellion, radical political and religious upheaval that was probably the most important event in China in the 19th century. It lasted for some 14 years (1850–64), ravaged 17 provinces, took an estimated 20 million lives, and irrevocably altered the Qing dynasty (1644–1911/12).

The rebellion began under the leadership of Hong Xiuquan (1814–64), a disappointed civil service examination candidate who, influenced by Christian teachings, had a series of visions and believed himself to be the son of God, the younger brother of Jesus Christ, sent to reform China. A friend of Hong’s, Feng Yunshan, utilized Hong’s ideas to organize a new religious group

https://www.britannica.com/event/Taiping-Rebellion

[Josh]

How much of China's official wariness of Christianity do you think is the result of the Taiping Rebellion and its leader's association with a version of Christianity?

Taiping Rebellion, radical political and religious upheaval that was probably the most important event in China in the 19th century. It lasted for some 14 years (1850–64), ravaged 17 provinces, took an estimated 20 million lives, and irrevocably altered the Qing dynasty (1644–1911/12).

The rebellion began under the leadership of Hong Xiuquan (1814–64), a disappointed civil service examination candidate who, influenced by Christian teachings, had a series of visions and believed himself to be the son of God, the younger brother of Jesus Christ, sent to reform China. A friend of Hong’s, Feng Yunshan, utilized Hong’s ideas to organize a new religious group

https://www.britannica.com/event/Taiping-Rebellion

Good question. I have a hypothesis that some of China's wariness of evangelical missionaries is because of the association with a desire to then try to reform or overthrow the government to be more "Christian".

True Christianity is a threat to worldly governments, but not on the battlefield nor at the ballot box.

[Ken]

In modern Communist China I expect it has much more to do with that fact that religion represents a separate base of power and influence that they cannot control. And Christianity in specific is very western-leaning. Many of the leaders of the opposition to Communism during the Chinese Civil War like Chiang Kai-shek were also Christian which probably has something to do with it as well.

But the Chinese are even more suspicious of Islam as evidenced by their persecution of their Uyghur population and other Muslim minorities.

And the Chinese treatment of Tibetan Buddhism is also problematic despite the fact that large numbers of Chinese practice the different Chinese version of Buddhism.

[barnhart]

I read about this several months ago and was staggered by the loss of life. 20 million dead. In terms of shameful events in China connected to the name of Jesus, this ranks with the "boxer" rebellion when the British sent warships up the rivers for the missionaries and they got on them, leaving the fledgling church to suffer alone...

[Josh]

I read about this several months ago and was staggered by the loss of life. 20 million dead. In terms of shameful events in China connected to the name of Jesus, this ranks with the "boxer" rebellion when the British sent warships up the rivers for the missionaries and they got on them, leaving the fledgling church to suffer alone...

To be fair, Hong Xiuquan claimed to be the literal Son of God (and Jesus' younger brother), and it was an entirely domestic affair.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Also of note, Dr. Sun Yet-Sen, the founder of the Kuomintang of China, was almost certainly a Christian. He is regarded as the founder of Modern China.