S01E36 Taiping Rebellion: Other Foreign Visitors to the Taiping

Chinese Revolutions: A History Podcast

S01E36 Taiping Rebellion: Other Foreign Visitors to the Taiping

In this episode, we look at more of the visitors to Hong Rengan, effective foreign minister for the Taiping.

First is Griffith John, a Welsh missionary. He came on a factfinding mission to see what Nanjing was like under the Taiping. He thought the Taiping were very wrong, religiously speaking, but he thought he saw an opportunity for missionary work, were they to win the war.

Yung Wing, an American-educated young Chinese man, came to look at the part of China held by the Taiping and ultimately used the opportunity to get access to tea growing areas rather than to join up with the rebels.

We further discuss how national characteristics ultimately poke through the revolution as nations adjust to new reality after everything changes. The more things change, the more they stay the same, as it were.

Hat tip to the Revolutions podcast by Mike Duncan for some of the insights in this episode concerning the Russian Revolution.

We're still following Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom: China, the West, and the Epic Story of the Taiping Civil War by Stephen R. Platt

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