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ernestljh 's review for:
God's Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan
by Jonathan D. Spence
There is a strong narrative voice present; while the main thread of this book is a rather biographical account of Hong Xiuquan, a man whose thoughts, philosophies and visions are central to the Taiping movement, Spence is also conscious of how outside forces, a historical and economic context also shape his journey. Neither does he deprive other vital characters of agency and decisions: from the perfidy of Yang Xiuqing, the East King, to the accounts and experiences of mercenaries, all are faithfully represented.
One focus of the book I find especially insightful is its focus on original texts and proclamations, and cross-referencing them with their intended references- the Biblical texts and verses that Hong engages in through theology. Doing so allows Spence to create an original account and focuses on what some may call microhistories- disputes between man and man, such as in the case of Lord Elgin's slight, but these are explanations for small incidents that end up shaping the foreign policy and outlook of the Kingdom.
A question I do have perhaps depends on records that are now lost or greatly inaccessible to us: since the entire operation of a proto-state and its administration invariably are beyond the micromanagement and strict control of leaders like Hong, Yang, or Shi, what picture do we have of the inhabitants of cities occupied by the Taiping? The book seems to cast them as victims of punishment, and perhaps more active when in the dying days of the Taiping they begin to sell out fleeing officials to Qing forces, but surely there are more localized acts of resistance and defiance. Soldiers too seem largely cast as automatons, following the wills and plans (flawed as they are) of high level commanders- what were their thoughts? How sincerely did many of them believe in the cause? Spence often alludes to both foreign allies and local converts being opportunists of some sort, but perhaps this could be explored in greater detail. Given that religious zealism seems subordinated to the political gain of figures like Yang, perhaps this could be explored further.
Finally, the book also often suggests that there are vestiges of Confucian thought, and that Taoism, Buddhism or even folk religion often led to a syncretic expression of belief amongst the God-Worshippers. Hong seems sympathetic to Confucian classics at some points, and a greater psychological picture could be explored. This seems to hint at an underlying stubbornness and resilience of belief systems could be a natural product of them being centuries, if not millenia old too. Not unexpected, but the radicalism of the Taiping movement could perhaps provide a moment of cross-examination with more traditional Chinese systems that Spence also seems to be familiar with.
Now the previous two paragraphs should not detract from how this book is a great and compelling overview of the Taiping Rebellion. Certainly it's not dated despite being published in 1996, and would be well complemented by the work of Meyer-Fong (who looks at the socioeconomic impact of the devastation of the conflict, apt as Spence chooses to end the book as the Taiping falls).
One focus of the book I find especially insightful is its focus on original texts and proclamations, and cross-referencing them with their intended references- the Biblical texts and verses that Hong engages in through theology. Doing so allows Spence to create an original account and focuses on what some may call microhistories- disputes between man and man, such as in the case of Lord Elgin's slight, but these are explanations for small incidents that end up shaping the foreign policy and outlook of the Kingdom.
A question I do have perhaps depends on records that are now lost or greatly inaccessible to us: since the entire operation of a proto-state and its administration invariably are beyond the micromanagement and strict control of leaders like Hong, Yang, or Shi, what picture do we have of the inhabitants of cities occupied by the Taiping? The book seems to cast them as victims of punishment, and perhaps more active when in the dying days of the Taiping they begin to sell out fleeing officials to Qing forces, but surely there are more localized acts of resistance and defiance. Soldiers too seem largely cast as automatons, following the wills and plans (flawed as they are) of high level commanders- what were their thoughts? How sincerely did many of them believe in the cause? Spence often alludes to both foreign allies and local converts being opportunists of some sort, but perhaps this could be explored in greater detail. Given that religious zealism seems subordinated to the political gain of figures like Yang, perhaps this could be explored further.
Finally, the book also often suggests that there are vestiges of Confucian thought, and that Taoism, Buddhism or even folk religion often led to a syncretic expression of belief amongst the God-Worshippers. Hong seems sympathetic to Confucian classics at some points, and a greater psychological picture could be explored. This seems to hint at an underlying stubbornness and resilience of belief systems could be a natural product of them being centuries, if not millenia old too. Not unexpected, but the radicalism of the Taiping movement could perhaps provide a moment of cross-examination with more traditional Chinese systems that Spence also seems to be familiar with.
Now the previous two paragraphs should not detract from how this book is a great and compelling overview of the Taiping Rebellion. Certainly it's not dated despite being published in 1996, and would be well complemented by the work of Meyer-Fong (who looks at the socioeconomic impact of the devastation of the conflict, apt as Spence chooses to end the book as the Taiping falls).