The Chinese Revolution

Welcome to the first episode of the Chinese Revolution podcast.

This is a podcast series for those who believe that understanding China and its history is important. This show is about the Chinese Revolutions and the events leading up to them.

I was inspired by Mike Duncan’s excellent podcast series called Revolutions. A big thank you to him. Mike’s final revolution was the Russian Revolution. Since he did not...

An introduction to the Great Qing State. The Qing replaced the Great Ming and ruled from 1644 until 1911. The vast empire ruled over 400 million subjects under Manchu leadership.

When the Qing met the Europeans arriving by sea, they saw no reason to change. But owing to a focus on Confucius and classical education, Qing officials were developing more slowly than the new arrivals. This became clear with the Opium War and the reve...

In this introductory episode, the disruption of silver coins to the Qing Dynasty is discussed. The Qing collected taxes in silver but did not control silver supply or minting. As a result, Latin American revolutions impacted silver coins, changed trade flows and created economic disturbances in the Qing Dynasty just before the Opium War.

Image: "BOLIVIA, 1855 ---HALF DOLLAR SIZED SILVER COIN,UNSURE OF DENOMINATION b" by woody177...

An introductory episode about the Examination System and corruption of officials during the Qing Dynasty. The three sets of examinations required before entry into Chinese government leadership were grueling. Candidates rarely passed the examinations. The Manchu elite benefited from an alternative, easier examination system. Unsuccessful examination candidates often began rebellions. As a result, corruption, patronage and resentmen...

An introduction to the Opium War between Great Britain and the Qing Empire, including introductions of major characters. The Opium War was considered the beginning of China's Century of Humiliations. Lu Kun and William Napier do battle outside Guangzhou. Lin Zexu seizes 20,000 chests of British opium and destroys them. The British seize Hong Kong and Lin then cuts off British food and water. War is coming.

Image: "The Opium War ...

Lin Zexu's destruction of British opium causes debate in London. But the Whig government has plenty of other crises. Lord Palmerston makes demands of China and sends warships in spite of reluctance at home. Opposition to a war with China is debated in Parliament.

The British use newly seized Hong Kong as a base, battle with the Chinese by Guangzhou and bombard and then make an amphibious assault on Zhoushan Island by Shanghai. T...

The British capture Chinese forts and take Guangzhou. British trade returns to southern China. Rural peasants self-organize against the British invaders. Charles Elliott is replaced by British authorities in London.

Image: "19th Century Cannon" by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. is marked with CC0 1.0.

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In this episode, Henry Pottinger takes over as British Superintendent of Trade. The British retake Zhoushan Island, which had been abandoned by Charles Elliott and advances up the Yangtze River. Negotiations conclude the Opium War with the Treaty of Nanjing. It is now remembered as the first unequal treaty and the beginning of a century of humiliations for China.

Image: Kongma, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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In this episode, the Treaty of Nanjing and the other Unequal Treaties are discussed, as well as the growth of foreign concessions in China. During the Second Opium War, also known as the Anglo-French Expedition to China, the Imperial Summer Palace is looted and burned. China losses vast territories to Russia. These events were humiliating to China but the treaties freed its resources to battle the many rebellions growing in Qing Dy...

In this episode, the background to the Taiping Rebellion is described, as well as its founders, leaders and religious inspiration. Hong Xiuquan considered himself to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ. Influenced by Christian missionaries in Guangzhou, he and his followers found the God Worshippers Society. It grows, especially among Hakka Villages, into the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace.

Image: "Hakka Tulou, Chuxi" b...

The newly proclaimed Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace marches north towards the Yangtze River. This Taiping movement grows among the poor and discontented, but has trouble sieging cities. A local corps gives the Taiping its first defeat. The Taiping then gain strength after reaching the Yangtze and is able to sail downstream and capture cities along the way to Nanjing. The Taiping rename the city Tianjing: the Heavenly Capital. The ...

Yang Xiuqing consolidates his position among the Taiping and organizes a Northern Expedition and a Western Expedition. The gentry organize to oppose the Taiping and Zeng Guofan founds a provincial army to counterattack. The Taiping reach their high-water mark as they control central China and the Yangtze River.

Map of the Northern Expedition.

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The Taiping defeat a besieging army. Assassinations rock the Heavenly Capital. First, Yang Xiuqing, the East King, is assassinated and then the North King. The Taiping lose central strategic leadership and Taiping commanders begin to operate autonomously. The Hunan Provincial Army advances along the Yangtze River. The British are not amused with the Taiping Rebellion.

Image: "Sunset on the Yangtze River" by Stanley Zim...

The Taiping take some steps towards modernizing China. More provincial armies are formed and a Taiping warlord faces off against Qing allied warlords and the Ever Victorious Army. Nanjing falls and the Heavenly Kingdom with it. The Young Monarch is hunted and killed. The remaining Taiping ally with the Nian rebels, but are also exterminated. Some lessons for the future can be learned from this unsuccessful rebellion.

Image: "Mon...

Increased shipping in the Chinese treaty ports leads to Chinese migration abroad. Workers flock to Old Gold Mountain near San Francisco and Gold Mountain near Melbourne, Australia. The Chinese do better when they can work freely rather than as indentured coolies. Abuses and racism greet them worldwide. The Chinese learn non-violent resistance with Gandhi and self-advocacy in English speaking democracies. A national re-awakening acc...

During the 19th century, there were far more Chinese men abroad than women. Mui Tsai women were bonded to affluent Chinese families as maidservants or concubines. Amahs worked as paid domestic servants overseas. Some lived in collective sisterhoods and refused to couple with men. China Mary was a pioneer woman in Sitka, Alaska. Oei Hui-lan was the daughter of a Javanese sugar merchant and married the future Chinese Ambassador to Gr...

The Tokugawa shogunate in Japan prohibited ocean going vessels or travel between Japan and most countries. Japan rejected offers to commence trade with the West. Commodore Perry forced a first treaty on a reluctant Japan. The Samurai and country wanted to resist, but instead Japan began to open up and build a navy and build up a more western military. American desires for a new trade treaty uncover fractures among the Bakufu and wi...

Choshu rebels attack foreign ships and suffer the consequences. Choshu and Satsuma reach a secret alliance. The Bakufu plans a punitive expedition against Choshu but is out-maneuvered. The sudden death of the Emperor and a coup in the Imperial Court leads to Choshu receiving an amnesty. Choshu and Satsuma use the Imperial Pennants to defeat the Bakufu. The Tokugawa era ends in Japan with the final shoguns of Japan. The Meiji Restor...

Meiji Japan learns from the West and builds its economy, its army and the Japanese Imperial Navy. Japan begins its own gunboat diplomacy and takes control of the Ryukyu Islands. It defeats China in the Sino-Japanese War and gains Penghu and Taiwan, as well as control over Korea. Russian and Japanese tensions build. Great Britain allies with Japan and the Japanese Imperial Navy launches a sneak attack on Port Arthur (Dalian). Japan ...