THE SPLIT What magic intersection of timing,fate,and providence can found our Earthly Paradise upon the rock?The homage demanded from the foreign visitors,and the excoriation of Emperor Xianfeng and all his followers as demon dogs and foxes,cannot hide the realities of boundaries that shift in response to the exigencies of war,and of a Heavenly Capital that turns in upon itself. The Taiping leadership has followed an ambitious strategy,which has worked only in part.To capture the Demon's Den of Peking city,they have dispatched in May 1853 a dedicated Taiping army of some seventy thousand veteran Guangxi men and new recruits on a northern march, but God has not blessed the enterprise.The Qing forces have kept them guessing with false intelligence reports designed to suggest the advance of huge Qing armies to the south,while their real troops and local militia forces mount spirited defenses of small towns,slowing the marchers unex- pectedly.The terrain of northern China is unfamiliar,and progress fur- ther hampered by the Qing government's appointment of a special officer whose only task is to keep all boats on the northern shore of the Yellow River as the Taiping troops approach,making it impossible for them to repeat the triumphs of their earlier 1852 campaigns on the Yangzi.Even
THE SPLIT What rnagic intcrscction of tiΠ `ing,幺tc,and providcncc can 允und our Earthly Paradisc upon thc rockP Thc homagc dcmandcd fron△ thc forcign visitors,and thc cxc° riation of Ernpcror Xian炙 ng and aⅡ his foll° wcrs as dcmon dogs and foxcs,cannot hidc thc rcahtics of boundarics that shift in rcsponsc to thc cxigcncics of war,and° f a Hcavcnly CapitaI that turns in upon itsclf Thc iΓaiping Icadcrship has folloⅥ `cd an ambitious stratcgy,、 vhich has 帑蕊黯弼铽1瑟:t∶ Ⅰc絮显踹:i拄r二;綮 i抵 thousand vctcran Guangx1mcn and nc、 v rccru1ts on a northcrn march, 虫招 but G°d has not blcsscd thc cntcrprisc.Thc Qing凡 rccs havc kcpt thcm gucssing with falsc intclligcncc rcports dcsigncd to suggcst thc advancc of hugC Qing armics to thc s° uth,whilc thcir rcal troops and locd miIitia Forccs mount spiritcd dcfcnscs ofsmall tols ns,slowing thc rnarchcrs uncx~ pcctcdly.∶ Γhc tcrrain of northcrn China is unF1】 rnⅡ iar,and progrcss ftlr~ thcr hampcrcd by thc Qing govCrnmcnt’ s appointmcnt of a spc0al o仔 1ccr whosc Only task is to kccp all boats on thc northcrn shofc of thc Ycllov/ Rivcr as thc Taiping troops approach,1naking it impossiblc for thcn△ t。 rcpcat thc triumphs of thcir carhcr1852campaigns on thc γ'angzi.1Evcn
THE SPLIT 211 when the Taiping troops do capture medium-sized cities,Qing command- ers have now been instructed to burn all their stocks of food and gunpow- der if the Taiping storm their walls-and though some are reluctant or too tardy to comply,those who do so reduce the chances of the Taiping resting and restocking their supplies.Forced much farther to the north- west than they have planned,the Taipings at last cross the Yellow River, but are caught unprepared by savage winter weather,which freezes many in their tracks or leaves them maimed from frostbite-"crawling on the snowy,icy ground with their legs benumbed"-for they are southerners, and not equipped with proper winter clothes.Reinforcements,sent to their aid,are also checked or turned back by local Qing forces,for the Taiping have not kept a main supply route from north to south open and defended at any point on the vast battlefield.? Astonishingly,by late October 1853 one of the thrusting Taiping col- umns pushes to within three miles of the outskirts of Tianjin,from which they might have opened up a path to nearby Peking,but they can get no farther.New Qing and local forces,including Mongol cavalry,are sent against them.Despite the initial enthusiasm of many local people for the Taiping message,and the military help of secret societies and the members of new rebel organizations like the Nian-who are also locked in struggle against their landlords and the government-the Taiping blunt their pop- ularity.Their search for food and clothing grows desperate,and the mas- sacre of all one town's civilian population sends a wave of fear ahead of them.3 Swiftly though the Taiping can build defensive redoubts,for they are veterans at this kind of warfare-throwing up earthworks,digging ditches,and crisscrossing open ground with foxholes in a single day of frenzied work-the Qing are learning to encircle these encirclements, recruiting thousands of local laborers from the farming population to build a solid ring around the Taiping forces.By May 1854,with the rem- nants of the Taiping vanguard forces thus encircled,the Qing commander orders a long ditch built to divert the waters of the Grand Canal to a dried-out riverbed that flows near the Taiping fortified position.The work takes a month,but slowly as the water enters its new channel the Taiping camp turns to mud,and then to a lake;the soldiers can neither sleep nor cook,their gunpowder is waterlogged and useless,and as they climb onto roofs,cling to ladders,or float on homemade rafts,the Qing troops pick them off in groups and execute them.So,ingloriously,die the warriors after fighting and marching over a one-year period for close to two thousand miles. Had the northern campaign had full call on all Taiping resources,per-
THE SPLIT 211 、ˉhcn thc Taiping troops do capturc mcdium-sizcd citics,Qing commandcrs haⅤ c n0、 V bccn instructcd t° burn aⅡ thcir stocks of food and gunpov/- dcr if thc Taiping storlll thcir、 vaⅡ s——and though somc arc rcluCtant or too tardy to comply,thosc、 vho do so rcducc thc chanccs of thc Taiping rcsting and rcstocking thcir supphcs,Forccd much farthcr to thc north一 、Vcst than thcy havc planncd,thc Taipings at last cross thc Iˇ 'cllow Rivcr, but arc caught unprcparcd by savagc lovintcr wcathcr,which frcczcs rnany in thcir tracks or lcavcs thcn△ 1nairncd fron1frOstbitc— —‘‘craWling on thc snowy,icy ground、 vith thcir lcgs bcnumbcd” ——for thcy arc southcrncrs, and not cquippcd with propcr 、vintcr clothcs Rcinforccmcnts, scnt to thcir aid,arc als° chcckcd or turncd back by local Qing forcss, for thc Taiping havc n° t kcpt a rnain supply r° utc from north to south opcn and dcfcndcd at any point on thc vast battlcficld.2 Astonishingly,by latc Octobcr 1853onc of thc thrusting Taiping columns pushcs tli,witllln thrcc milcs ofthc outskirts of Th殉 in,from whch thcy might havc opcncd up a path to ncarby Pcking,but thcy can gct no ±arthcr。 Ncw Qing and local forccs,induding Mongol cavalfy,arc scnt against thCm Dcspitc thc initial cnthusias1m° f rnany local pcoplc for thc Taiping1ncssagc,and thc rnⅡ itary hclp ofsccrct socictiCs and thc rncmbcrs 。f ncw rcbcl organizations likc thc Nian-— who arc als° lockcd in strugglc against thcir landlords and thc govcrnmcnt— —thc冖Γaiping blunt thcir p° pularity.Thcir scarch for food and clothing grows dcspcratc,and thc1nassaclc of all onc toWn’ s civⅡ ian population scnds a、 vavc of fcar ahcad of tllcm,3 SwiRly though thc Taiping can buⅡ d dcfcnsivc rcdoubts,for thcy arc Ⅴctcrans at this kind of warfarc__throˇ Ving up carth、 vorks, digging ditchcs, and crisscrossing opcn ground lxfith f0xho1cs in a singlc day of △cnzicd work_thc Qing arC lCarning to cnordc thcsc cnordcmcns, rccruiting thousands of local laborcrs froΠ 1 thc farllaing population to bund a s。 hd ring around thc Taiping forccs By Ⅳ【ay1854,with thc rcⅡ⒈ nants ofthc Taiping vanguard凡 rccs tllus cncirclcd,thc Qing commandcr °rdcrs a long ditch buⅡ t to divcrt thc watcrs of thc Grand Canal to a dricd一 out riVcrbcd that noxx/s ncar thc Taiping forti丘 cd position。 tΓ hc 、vork takcs a month,but slowly as thc、 vatcr cntcrs its ncw channcl thc Taiping camp turns to mud,and thcn to a lakc;thc soIdicrs can ncithcr slccp n° r cook,thcir gunpowdcr is watcrloggcd and usclcss,and as thcy dimb onto rooFs,ding to laddcrs,or noat on h。 mcmadc raRs,tbc Qing troops pick thclll offin groups and cxccutc thcm,So,ingloriously,dic thc 、varriors aftcr f1ghting and marching ovcr a onc-ycar pcriod for closc to two thousand lllilcs,4 Had thc northcrn campaign had full call on all'Γ aiping rcsourccs,pcr一
The Taiping northern campaign of 1853-1855.In the summer of 1853,after Nanjing was consoli- dated as the Heavenly capital,Hong Xiuquan sent an army north to seize the Qing dynasty's capital of Peking.By October,the Taiping army of around thirty thousand men reached the suburbs of Tianjin,less than seventy miles from their goal,but here they were checked by the Qing forces and slowly driven back.After vainly fighting to hold a succession of towns,the Taiping northern army made a last stand in the Grand Canal city of Lianzhen,where they held out during an eight-month siege until they were annihilated in March 1855
形 召%勿9冫Pg/,o/rD纟//a幽 9,,P夕 /g/9o/F⒏ 土 Z855,In tllc sttmmcr of18s3,aRcr Na"ing was co“ didatcd as thc Hcavcnly capital,Hong Xiuquan scnt an army north to sciz幂 thc Qing dynasty’ s capital of Pcking By Oct。bcr,thc Taiping army of around thirty thousand mcn rcachcd thc suburbs of Tianjin,lcss than scvcnty milcs± r° m thcir goal,but hcrc thcy wcrc chcckcd by thc Qing fol-cCs and slowly drivcn back Ancr vaillly丘 ghting to hold a succcssion of towns,thc Taiping northcrn army madc a last stand in thc Grand CanaI city of Lianzhcn,whcrc thcy hcld°ut during an cight m°nth sicgc until thcy wcrc annih⒒ atcd in Ⅸ汪arch1855
These four illustrations are from a series of ten,probably commissioned from a local artist by he grateful merchants of Tianjin as a gift to the victorious Qing commander,General Sengge- nqin.The pictures show the Taiping being burned and driven out of two towns,until Seng- lingin surrounds their last bastion of Lianzhen with a ring of earthern walls and gun em- lacements.In the last illustration,the defeated Taiping general Lin Fengxiang is shown kneel- ng before Senggelingin,whose supply trains,camels,cavalry horses,and gun positions are all dearly delineated.Lin was subsequently executed.Credit:Harvard-Yenching Library,Harvard niversity
Γ△csc four illustrations arc from a scrics of tcn,probably com∏ 1issioncd fr° lla a local artist by ∷gratcltll mcrchants of Tianjin as a gi± t to thc victorious Qing commandcr,Gcncral scnggc- ∴qin Thc picturcs shoⅥ/thc Taiping bcing burncd and drivcn c、 ut of tⅥ `o toⅥ `ns,until scngˉ =[∶ inqin surrounds thcir last bastion of Lianzhcn with a ring of carthcrn walls and gun c1u- 「三CCmCnts In thc last illustration,thc dcfcatcd Taiping gcncral Lin Fcngxiang is shoxx/n knccl- ˉ:bcforc scnggchnqin,Ⅵ /hosc supply trains,camcls,cavalry horscs,and gun positions arc all ∵=ady dchncatcd Lin was subscqucndy cxccutcd C`饣 'frJ H￠ `v夕`〃 一γⅠF″ '/,//2gL'彡 昭V1H窃'〃 〃`` ~ ∵`z′'`‘`'y
216 GOD'S CHINESE SON haps it might have succeeded,and the criminals'province been renamed. But it is matched by a parallel campaign to the west,planned and executed on a similar scale;swiftly,also,this western campaign splits into two,as part of the army fights for a strategic base in Anhui province,on the northern shore of the Yangzi River,while the other part moves upriver to recapture Wuchang city,and extend the Taiping river and supply lines to China's southern hinterland.This Wuchang campaign then subdivides, as one group of Taiping armies regains,loses,and recaptures yet again the city of Wuchang,while others push southward into Hunan,seeking once more to seize Changsha.This Hunan campaign splits in its turn,as General Shi Dakai swings south to attack Jiangxi province,southwest of the Heavenly Capital. Some of these campaigns succeed and some do not:Changsha cannot be taken,nor can Hunan be held,for the gentry of Hunan have learned in full measure how to recruit,train,and pay militia armies,while Zeng Guofan,a Confucian scholar-bureaucrat at home to mourn his parents, joins forces with the reinstated governor Luo Bingzhang,and by integra- ting their land and naval forces slowly build a formidable fighting force. Wuchang,however,is recaptured by the Taiping general Chen Yucheng, aged eighteen at the time,nephew to a senior Taiping veteran but already a brilliant military strategist.The city becomes their inland base,easy of access up the Yangzi River from the Heavenly Capital.6 In Anhui province,the battles swirl for years around the strategic city of Luzhou,held for a time by another gentry leader,Jiang Zhongyuan, hero of Suoyi ford,promoted for his valor to be Anhui governor.The Taiping seize the city at last,having developed a new strategy of digging double tunnels one above the other,and lining them with explosives attached to time-spaced fuses.After the first explodes,the Qing defenders rush to mend the gaping holes,and are just completing their repairs as the second explosives fire,killing the wall menders and reopening a gap- ing hole through which the Taiping charge.Jiang commits suicide.But though the Taiping hold Luzhou stubbornly for twenty-two months,until November 1855,they are at last starved out,betrayed,and stormed.?In Jiangxi province,Shi Dakai links up his forces with tens of thousands of Triad Society troops who have been fighting for possession of Canton city and,though failing in that endeavor,have escaped northward up the river Gan.Uniting these various armies,and receiving clear support from the local people,Shi makes most of the province a center of Taiping govern- ment and a rich source of food supplies,save for a small circle of land around the city of Nanchang on Poyang Lake,where Zeng Guofan,sent
216 GOD’ s CHINEsE SON hsps it rnight havc succccdcd,and thc crirninals’ provincc bccn rcnamcd, Butitis rnatchcd by a parallcl campaign t。 thc wcst,planncd and cxccutcd on a sirnⅡ ar scaIc;sⅥ /i丘ly,also,this、 vcstcrn campaign sphts into two,as part of thc ar1η y nghts for a stratcgic basc in Anhui pr° vincc, on thc northcrn shorc of thc Yangzi Rivcr,xx/hilc thc° thcr part Iuovcs uprivcr to rccapturc Wuchang city,and cxtcnd thc Taiping rivcr and supply lincs to China’ s southcrn hintcrland.This Wuchang campaign thcn subdividcs, as onc group of Taiping ar∏1ics rcgains,l° scs,and rCcapturcs yct again thc city of Wuchang,whⅡc Othcrs push sOuth、 vard into Hunan,sccking oncc1η orc to scizc Changsha。 This Hunan campaign sphts in its turn,as Gcncral Shi Dakai swings south to attack Jiangxi provincc,southwcst of thc Hcavcnly Capita1. Somc of thcsc campaigns succccd and somc do not∶ Changsha cann° t bc takcn,n° r can Hunan bc hcld,f° r thc gcntry of Hunan havc lcarncd in full lucasurc ho、 v to rCCruit,train,and pay l△ lilitia arlllics,、 vhⅡ C ZCng Guofan, a Confucian scholar~burcaucrat at homc to mourn his parcnts, joins forccs with thc rcinstatcd govcrn。 r Luo Bingzhang,and by intcgratlng thcir land and naval forccs slowly buⅡ d a forn1idablc fighting forcc.5 、、厂uchang,howcvcr,is rccapturcd by thc Taiping gcncral Chcn、 'uchcng, agcd cightccn at thc tirnc,ncphc、 ^/to a scnior∶Γaiping vctcran but alrcady a brⅡ hant rn"itary stratcgist,Thc city bccomcs thcir inland basc,casy of acccss up thc Yangzi Rivcr frolll thc Hcavcnly Capita1.6 In Anhui provincc,thc batdcs s、 ⌒`irl for ycars around thc stratcgic city of Luzhou,hcld for a tirnc by anothcr gcntry lcadcr,Jiang Zh° ngyuan, hcro of Suoyi ford,promotcd f° r his valor to bc Anhui govcrnor, Thc Taiping scizc thc city at last,having dcvclopcd a ncw stratcgy of digging doublc tunncls Onc abovc thc Othcr, and hning thcm vxrith cxplosivcs attachcd to timc-spaccd fLlscs.A± tcr thc nrst cxplodcs,thc Qing dcfcndcrs rush to mcnd thc gaping holcs,and arc just complcting thcir rcpairs as thc sccond cxplosivcs firc,knhng thc、 vaⅡ mcndcrs and rcopcning a gaping holc through which thc Taiping chargc.Jiang co∏ 1111its suicidc,But though thc'Γaiping hold Luzhou stubbornly for tⅥ/cnty-two rnonths,until Novcmbcr 1855,thcy arc at Iast starVcd out,bctraycd,and stormcd.7In Jiangxi pr。 vincc,Shi Dakai links up his forccs、 vith tcns of thousands of △ ′riad Socicty trOops、vho havc bccn nghting fc)r posscssi° n of Canton city and,though faⅡ ing in that cndcavor,havc cscapcd north、vard up thc rivcr Gan,Uniting thcsc various arla,ics,and rccciving clcar support from thc local pcoplc,Shi rnakcs n10st ofthc provincc a ccntcr of∶Γaiping govcrnmcnt and a rich sOurcc of food supphcs,savc for a small circlc°f land around thc city of Nanchang on Poyang Lakc,、 vhcrc Zcng CTu° 免n,scnt
THE SPLIT 217 Taiping Advance to Tianjin ANGZHOU NANJING● (Nanking) LHINHIANG DAN￥AG SUZHOL Lake TalL SHANGHAI Lake HUzHoU HANGZHOU INGBO NANCHANG。 Lake HANGSH 0450 2 0 Taiwan CANTON South China Sea GREATEST EXTENT MACAD。 ●HoNG KONG OF TAIPING CONTROL
THE SPLIT 217 〓⒈ ` ∷∷ ` `∷ H ∷夂∷∷ ∷ ∮△∷∷∷ ∶~∶ 亠 Ⅱ 〓刂 ℃ 杪 〓时〓〓≡” 汀∷∴Ⅱ 〓邛 〓∷夕 丫 ` 艹礴0 裱酽 `1∶ |嗜玄 铲 ￠ V铲 尸 磨|∷ ∷ △‰ |螂 艹→吏0 《’。t F、 ∷∷⒈Ⅱ∷、-∶ ∷|∵1∶ L’Ⅱy s。 //rD‘l钅 `″ 庀 | GREATEsT ExTENT OF TAIPING CoNTROL ∷∷ 〓 `〓 ∷ ︱ 卜 }’ 冫 ˉ ∷v∷ {∷{~}' 蟾 气卢∷∷ `∷ ∷ ' 丬卩 0。 h。 NG K。xc
218 GOD'S CHINESE SON there from Hunan,just manages to hold the city's defenses intact.8 With all these massive campaigns in progress,the constant shift of vic- tories and defeats,the endless search for new recruits and supplies,the Taiping can do little toward the east of their Heavenly Capital,even though the resources there are rich.Indeed even as they threaten and hold cities hundreds of miles away,the Qing press hard upon their central base. It is all the Taiping's locally based forces can do to hold Zhenjiang,less than forty miles downriver,the key to the approaches to the Grand Canal and the Heavenly Capital;while Qing garrison armies are encamped in force in the hilly countryside just a few miles outside the walls of the Heavenly Capital,in a series of interlocking bases from which the Taiping have never had the time or resources to dislodge them.These Qing troops are so near that they are able to keep secret communications open with anti-Taiping loyalists within the city,and to enforce the rules on their own dress and customs,so that local farmers bringing their produce to the informal markets outside the city gates often still have the shaved forehead and long plait of hair mandated by their Manchu masters.? Of the surviving Taiping kings,only Shi Dakai,the Wing King,is constantly occupied in the field,directing and personally leading the dif- ferent phases of the western campaigns.The Heavenly King,Hong Xiu- quan,as spiritual leader,bestower of rewards and punishments,and ultimate supervisor,stays in his palace.Wei Changhui,the North King, acts as coordinator for the defense of the region around the Heavenly Capital,and sees to its food supplies.General administrative supervision is in the hands of the East King,Yang Xiuqing,who also acts as coordina- tor of all the military campaigns.Other Guangxi veterans,mainly from Thistle Mountain and Guiping,have mansions in the city and have been enfeoffed with noble ranks-they serve either in the field or as senior officials in the Heavenly Capital.But despite the formidable system of post stations and communications both by land and by water that the Taiping rapidly establish-with post stations ten miles apart,special bureaus to chart the weather,and couriers carrying their special seal of a flying horse surrounded by clouds,and disguising themselves as mer- chants or peasants when demon patrols are blocking the routes-the fronts change so often along with the areas controlled by the Taiping that most generals on specific campaigns have to be left a wide area of initia- tive.The river town of Wuhu,for example,some fifty miles upriver from Nanjing on the south shore of the Yangzi,and an important center for commerce and communication,changes hands eight times between 1853 and 1855 alone.1
218 GOD’ s CHINEsE S○ N thcrc from Hunan,iust managCs to hold thc0ty’ s dcfcnscs intact。 : 、、厂ith aⅡ thcsc massivc campaigns in progrcss,thc c° nstant shift of vic~ t° rics and dcfcats,thc cndlcss scarch for ncw rccruits and supphcs,thc Taiping can do httlc t0、 vard thc cast of thcir HcavcnIy Capital, cvcn though thc rcsourccs thcrc arc rich.Indccd cvcn as thcy thrcatcn and hold citics hundrcds of Π1ilcs away,thc Qing prcss hard upon thcir ccntral basc。 It is all thc Taiping’ s locally bascd forccs can do to hold zhcnjiang,lcss than forty Π1Ⅱcs downrivcf,thC kCy to thc approachcs to thc Grand Canal and thc Hcavcnly Ca,tal;whlC Qing garrison armks arc cncampcd in foKc h thc hmy c。 untrysdc just a fcw milcs outsidc thc walls of thc Hcavcnly Capital,in a scfics ofintcrlocking bascs fron△ 、vhich thc∶ Γaiping havc ncvcr had thc tirnc Or rcsourccs to dislodgc thcm。 Thcsc Qing tr。 。ps arc so ncar that thcy arc ablc to kccp sccrct corylrnunications opcn、 vith anti-Taiping loyahsts within thc city, and to cnforcc thc rulcs on thcir o、不 `n drcss and customs,so that local farmcrs bringing thcir producc to thc informal markcts outsidc thc city gatcs oftcn stiⅡ havc thc shavcd forchcad and long plait of hair rnandatcd by thcir Mahchu1nastcrs,9 Of thc surviving Taiping kings,onIy Shi Dakai, thc Wing King,is constandy occupicd in thc ficld,dirccting and pcrsonally lcading thc dif~ fcrcnt phascs of thc、 vcstcrn campaigns,Thc Hcavcnly King,Hong9【 iu一 quan, as spirituaI lcadcr, bcstowcr of rcwards and punishmcnts, and ultirnatc supcrvisor,stays in his palacc.Wci Changhui,thc North X1ing, acts as c。 ordinator for thc dcfcnsc of thc rcgion around thc Hcavcnly Capital,and sccs to its food supphcs,Gcncral adΠ 1inistrativc supcrvision isin thc hands ofthc East King,γ 'ang Xiuqing,who also acts as coordinator of aⅡ thc Π1ihtary campaigns。 Othcr CTuangxi vctcrans,rnainIy from Thisdc l!、 /1[ountain and Guiping,havc r11ansions in thc city and havc bccn cnfcoffcd 、vith noblc ranks__thcy scrvc cithcr in thc ficld or as scni° r 。m。ds|n thc HCavcnly Ca,taI,I0BLlt dcspitc tllc formdablc w虻 cm of post stations and c° ∏1rnunications both by land and by watcr that thc Taiping rapidly cstablish__with post stations tcn n1Ⅱ cs apart, spccial burcaus to chart thc wcathcr,and couricrs carrying thcir spccial scal of a nying h。 rsc surroVndcd by clouds, and disguising thcl11sclVCs as mcrchants or pcasants 、Vhcn dcmon patrols arc blocking thc routcs~ˉ thC fronts changc so oftcn along with thc arcas controllcd by thc Taiping that most gcncrals on spccinc campaigns havc to bc lcft a widc arca of initiativc.Thc rivcr town of Ⅵ7uhu,for cxamplc,somc fifty milcs upⅡ vcr from Nanjing on thc south shorc of thc Yangzi,and an important ccntcr for Co∏1111CrCc and colllrnunication,changcs hands cight tirncs bctwccn1853 and1855alonc,11
THE SPLIT 219 It is at the end of December 1853 that Yang Xiuqing changes the rules as they have begun to coalesce,and begins to speak once again publicly as the voice of God.This is the first clear move in a sequence that will take Yang himself and thousands of other Taiping followers to their death. The timing and the precise motivation for the change are ambiguous.The news from the northern expedition is bad but not yet disastrous,and Yang has ordered massive reinforcements to move north from Yangzhou;the western expedition has temporarily stalled,but has already achieved remarkable successes;and the French have visited Nanjing on the Cassini and left again without making any offers of support despite Taiping encouragement. The visitation is announced abruptly,in the middle of a working day, after the North King and other senior officials have conferred with Yang about their administrative duties.Four of Yang's palace women officials, with their assistants,are the only ones with him,and it is to these women that God first speaks through Yang's mouth.God's message to these women is that Hong Xiuquan,the Heavenly King,has grown both harsh and indulgent with his power:harsh to the women who serve in atten- dance on him,and indulgent to his son the Young Monarch,now four years old.In particular,four of the palace women who work for the Heav- enly King-the message names them individually-should be released from their palace duties with Hong and sent to live instead in the palace complex of Yang,the East King.Their duties could be taken over by any of Hong's other palace women.By the time the North King and the other Taiping officials arrive,God has returned to Heaven,so kneeling they receive the message from the women of the court.In a second swift visit through Yang,this time at the court of Hong Xiuquan,God orders the Heavenly King to receive forty blows of the rod for his derelictions.Only when Hong prostrates himself to receive the blows does God forgive him and return to Heaven.12 The charges of harshness and indulgence are then discussed by Yang Xiuqing:the Young Monarch,Hong's four-year-old son,is self-indulgent and willful-he plays in the rain,despite the possible harm,and that must be stopped.He smashes presents that he is given,and that too must cease, lest as a ruler in the future he abuse the people.3 The harshness to the women has also taken various forms:when palace women dig an orna- mental pool for Hong,he treats it as a general might a military operation, ordering them to work through rain or snow.The concubines have been allowed to sneer at and scold the women officials,preventing them from doing their duty in the palace,and when the women officials are attending
THE sPLIT 219 Itis at thc cnd of Dcccmbcr1853that γ 冫ang Xiuqing changcs thc rulcs 三s thcy havc bcgun to coalcscc,and bcgins to spcak oncc again pubhcly as 1hc voicc of God,This is thc nrst cIcar rnovc in a scqucncc that、 vⅡl takc 、 ˉ ang hirnsclf and thousands of othcr Taiping follo、 vcrs to thcir dcath l hc tirning and thc prccisc rnotivation for thc changc arc ambiguous.Thc △C`Vs from thc northcrn cxpcdition is bad but n。 t yct disastrous,and Yang ias Ordcrcd massivc rcinforccmcnts to moVc north frolyl Yangzhou;thc △cstCrn CXpcdition has tcmporarⅡ y stallcd, but has alrcady achicvcd rcmarkablc succcsscs;and thc Frcnch havc visitcd Naniing on thc C夕 “ '`2丿 三nd lCft again without making any o￡ ￡crs of support dCspitc Taiping :ncouragcmcnt。 Thc visitaoon is announccd abrupdy,in thc∏ 1iddlc of a、 vorking day, =rtcr thc North I(ing and othcr scnior ofscials havc confcrrcd、 vith Yang 三bout thcir adrninistrativc dutics。 Four of Yang’ s palacc、 vomcn offIcials, 、ith thcir assistants,arc thc only oncs with hirn,and it is to thcsc、 vomCn that God srst spcaks through Yang’ s mouth。 CJod’ s mcssagc to thCsC 、vomcn is that Hong Xiuquan,thc Hcavcnly】 (ing,has gro、 vn both harsh jnd indulgcnt with his polx/cr:harsh to thc、 vomcn who scrvc in attcndancc On hirn,and indulgcnt to his son thc Young Monarch,no、 v four )Cars old· In particular,four ofthc palacc、 vomCn、Vho work forthc Hcav- :nly King— —thc mcssagc namcs thcn△ individually— —should bc rclcascd from thcir palacc dutics、 vith Hong and scnt to livc instcad in thc palacc :omplcx of Yang,thc East I《 ing.Thcir dutics could bc takcn ovcr by any of Hong’ s othcr palacc、 vomcn.By thc tirnc thc North I《Ling and thc othcr Taiping ofscials arrivc,(jod has rcturncd to Hcavcn,so kncchng thcy rcccivc thc mcssagc f1· om thc womcn ofthC court。 In a sccond swift visit through Yang,this tirnc at thc court of Hong Xiuquan,(jod ordcrs thc Hcavcnly King to rcccivc forty bloⅥ/s of thc rod for his dcrchctions.Only “hcn Hong prostratcs hirnsclf to rcccivc thc blows docs CJod forgivc hirn and rcturn to Hcavcn,2 Thc chargcs of harshncss and indulgcncc arc thcn discusscd by γ 厂ang Xiuqing:thc Young NIonarch,Hong’ s four-ycar一old son,is sclf-indulgcnt and、vⅡ lful——hc plays in thc rain,dcspitc thc possiblc harn1,and that rnust bc stoppcd.Hc smashcs prcscnts that hc is givcn,and that too must ccasc, lcst as a rulcr in thc futurc hc abusc thc pcoplc,13'Γ hc harshncss to thc `vomcn has also takcn various forms: 、vhcn palacc womcn dig an ornamcntal pool for I△ong,hc trcats it as a gcncral rnight a rnⅡ itary opcration, ordcring thcnn t0、 vork through rain or snoⅥ /,Thc concubincs havc bccn allo、vcd to snccr at and scold thc、 vomcn ofscials,prcvcnting thcn△ from d° ing thcir duty in thc palacc,and、 vhcn thc womcn ofncials arc attcnding
220 GOD'S CHINESE SON to such details as repairing palace rooms or sweeping the protected inner gardens,the Heavenly King is always criticizing and interfering,terroriz- ing those who work for him.In his anger,too,Hong has kicked or other- wise punished his royal concubines,even when they are pregnant. However serious their crimes,none should be disciplined by violent means until her time is up and the child is born.4 These are the East King's elaborations of God's words,but on this and another occasion two days later he gives his own related thoughts,couched in the form of a "loyal memorial"from a concerned minister rather than as the direct commands of God.Yet it is clear that Hong is expected to respond to Yang as if Yang's own words were God's.In the running of the Taiping kingdom,the most important change is that Yang now arro- gates to himself the power to decide all cases that might call for the death penalty.Yang also would refer back to Hong Xiuquan those cases in which clemency might be granted.Thus Hong's"naturally severe disposi- tion"and tendency to order"wrongful executions"would be mitigated by Yang's sensitivity to "unredressed grievances"that would linger in the Heavenly Capital if people were "hastily put to death."The result of this new arrangement would be that"the Heavenly Father's intent in fostering human life will be eternally displayed,and the spirit of gentleness and tranquility will be handed down through all eternity."5 On two other matters in the same December meetings Yang overturns previous decisions of Hong Xiuquan,both seeming inconsequential,but each cutting,in some way,at the heart of Taiping practice or belief.One is an appeal to Hong to lessen the severity of prohibitions of"family visits" among those loyal Taiping women followers who"forgot their homes for their country,and forgot themselves for the public good."The "single- minded devotion"of such loyalists should be rewarded by allowing them "home visits"once every twenty or thirty days,or maybe every Sabbath, so they can see to their children,attend to their elderly in-laws,and"serve their husbands."6 As to the world of ritual and pomp,here also changes should be made.Dragons,for example,with their ritual implications of imperial glory and grandeur,should be separated out from"demons"with whom they have been indiscriminately lumped by Hong Xiuquan as Heavenly King,in his passion for extirpating demons.Yang states that dragon palaces,dragon robes,and dragon vessels are all honorable,and should not be confused with the devil serpent of the Eastern Sea and his demon minions,who betray the souls of men.17 This discussion-or conflict-over ritual goes back to the roots of the formation of the God-worshipers in Thistle Mountain,or perhaps earlier
220 GOD’ s CHINEsE S0N to such dctaⅡ s as rcpairing palacc rooms or s、 vccping thc protcctCd inncr gardcns,thc Hcavcnly King is always criticizing and intcrfcring,tcrrorizing th° sc、vho Work for hirn,In his angcr,too,Hong has kickcd or othcr~ 、visc punishcd his royal concubincs, cvcn 、VhCn thcy are prcgnant。 Ho、vcvcr scrious thcir crirncs,nonc should bc disciphncd by violcnt rncans until hcr till△ c is up and thc child is bofn。 14 Thcsc arc thc East King’s claborations of God’ sw° rds,but on this and anothcr occasion t、 vo days latcr hc givcs his0、 vn rclatcd thoughts,c° uChcd in thc form ofa‘ ‘loyal rncm° riar’ fr。 m a conccrncd rninistcr rathcr than as thc dircct cornlllands of CJod。 γ 产ct it is clcar that Hong is cxpcctcd to rcspond to γ'ang as if、'ang’ so、vn words、 vcrc CJod’ s.In thc running of thc Taiping kin岔dom,thc mostimportant changc is that Yang now aHogatcs to hirnsclf thc po、 vcr to dccidc all cascs that rnight caⅡ for thc dcath pcnalty. Yang also would rcfcr back to H° ng Xiuquan th°sc cascs in which clcmcncy rnight bc grantcd。 Thus Hong’ s‘ ‘naturally scvcrc disposition” and tcndcncy to ordcr“ 、vrongful cxccutions’ ’would bc rnitigatcd by 、‘ang’ s scnsitivity to “unrcdrcsscd gricvanccs’ ’ that Would hngcr in thc Hcavcnly Capital if pcoplc、 vcrc‘‘hastⅡ y put to dcath,” ∶Γhc rcsult of this ncw arrangcmcnt、vould bc that“ thc Hcavcnly Fathcr’s intcnt in fostcring human lifc 、vⅡ l bc ctcrnaⅡy displaycd,and thc spirit of gcntlcncss and tranquⅡity wⅡ l bc handcd do、 vn through all ctcrnity'’ 15 On two othcr rnattcrs in thc samc Dcccmbcr rncctings Yang ovcrturns prcvious dccisions of I△ ong Xiuquan,both sccΠ1ing inc° nscqucn0al,but cach cutting,in somc way,at thc hcart of Taiping practicc Or bchcf(Dnc is an appcalto Hong to lcsscn thc scvcrity of prohibitions of“ faΠ1ily visits” among thosc loyal1Γ aiping、vomcn follo、 vcrs、Vho‘ ‘f。 rgot thcir homcs for thcir country,and forgot thcmsclvcs for thc pubhc go° d” Thc‘‘singlc- ∏1indcd dcvotion” ofsuch l° yahsts sh。 uId bc rc、vardcd by allowing thcm “h°mc visits” °ncc cvcry twcnty or thirty days,。 r maybc cvcry Sabbath, s° thcy can scc to thcir Childrcn,attcnd to thcir cldcrly in~laⅥ/s,and“scrvc thcir husbands” I6z⒋ s to thc、vorld of ritual and pomp,hcrc als° changcs should bc madc。 Dragons,for cxamplc,、 vith thcir ritual imphcations of irnpcrial glory and grandcur,should bc scparatcd out from“ dcm°ns’ ’、vith 、vh°r11 thcy havc bccn indiscrirninatcly lumpcd by Hong Xiuquan as HcavcnIy King,in his passi° n for cxtirpating dcmons. γ'ang statcs that drag°n palaccs,dragon robcs,and dragon vcsscls arC all hon° rablc,and should not bc confuscd、 vith thc dcvⅡ scrpcnt of thc Eastcrn Sca and his dcmon Π1inions,who bctray thc souls ofrncn.17 This discussion~_or connict__。 vcr ritual gocs back to thc roots of thc formation ofthc God~、vorshipcrs in Thistlc Mountain,or pcrhaps ca亡 hcr
THE SPLIT 221 to Hong's visions of 1837.For in that vision,and as constantly retold in Taiping texts,and even revisited in the minds of Hong's disciples,the figure of God the Father was wearing a black dragon robe in Heaven.18 In 1849,Hong's loyalest followers were promised that if they persevered and were victorious one day they would wear dragon robes and horn belts, whereas if they did evil they would be killed.9 During the early cam- paigns of 1850,Hong's own rural retreat was euphemistically known as the Golden Dragon Palace,and was visited by all the leading Taiping commanders,including Yang Xiuqing.20 Hong Xiuquan defends himself by saying to Yang that their Elder Brother,Jesus,long before in the This- tle Mountain area came down to earth and announced that"dragons are demons"although "the dragon of the Golden Dragon Hall was not a demon but a truly precious creature,"and Hong chose to focus on the first part of these remarks and not the second.21 One of the inner Taiping texts,not yet distributed to all the Taiping followers but known to Hong-and surely to Yang as well-quoted Jesus' remarks in the Pingnan Mountains,autumn of 1848,as follows: "Hong Xiuquan,my own younger brother,can it be you do not know the astral prophecy of the dragon demon?The dragon of the sea is this same leader of the demon devils,and he that the people of the world call the devil Yan Luo is that same dragon of the Eastern Sea.He is the one who can change his form,and deceives the souls of those who live on earth.When you some time ago came up to Heaven,and together with the great army of the Heavenly Host fought against that square-headed red-eyed demon devil leader,that too was him.Have you now forgotten that?"And the Heavenly King replied,"I would have forgotten had my Heavenly Elder Brother not reminded me."22 In glossing this sacred text in the direction desired by Yang-as Hong forthwith meekly does,with the words"From now on,whenever dragons are engraved by our Heavenly Kingdom or Heavenly Court,all shall be considered as precious golden dragons,and there is no need to regard them with glaring eyes"-Hong has in fact yielded up a point in a long- standing argument over imagery and iconography,and their relationship to idolatry. It is essential to Hong Xiuquan,if he is to keep his paramount position within the Taiping movement,that the central truth of his journey to Heaven not be disputed.Yang may speak with the voice of God,but Hong has seen and talked with God,recorded the color of His beard and clothes,and has seen and talked with Jesus.Thus when he is presented
THE SP1~IT 221 1。 Hong’s visions of1837,For in that vision,and as constantly rctold in I aiping tcxts, and cvcn rcvisitcd in thc∏1inds °f Hong’s disciplcs, thc igurc of CJod thc Fathcr、 vas、Vcaring a black dragon robC in Hcavcn1: in 1849,Hong’ s loyalcst R,llo、 vcrs wcrc proΠ1iscd that if thcy pcrscvcrcd 三nd、VCrc victorious onc day thcy、 vould、 vcar dragon robCs and horn bclts, 、vhcrcas if thcy did cvⅡ thcy 、vould bc kⅡ lcd.19 During thc carly camPaigns of1850,Hong’ so、vn rural rctrcat、 vas cuphcΠ1isticaⅡy kno、vn as thc Goldcn Dragon Palacc, and was visitcd by all thc lcading Taiping =o∏111,andcrs,including Yang Xiuqing.20Hong9muquan dcfcnds hirnsclf by saying to Yang that thcir Eldcr Brothcr,Jcsus,l° ng bcforc in thc'Γ histlc1√ Iountain arca camc do、 vn to carth and announccd that“dragons arc dcmons’’ although “thc dragon of thc Goldcn Dragon Hall Ⅵ/as not a dcmon but a truly prccious crcaturc,’ ’and Hong chosc to focus on thc srst part°f thCsc rcmarks and not thc sccond.21 Onc of thc inncr Taiping tcxts,not yct distributcd to all thc Taiping roⅡ owcFs but kn° wn to Hong and surdyto Yang as wcll quotcd Jcsus’ rcmarks in thc Pingnan h/Iountains,autumn of1848,as follo、 vs∶ ‘‘Hong Xiuquan,rny oⅥ`n youngcr brothcr,can it bc you do not knoⅥ `thc astral prophccy of thc dragon dCmonP Thc dragon of thc sca is this samc lcadcr ofthc dcm°n dcv⒒ s,and hc thatthc pcoplc ofthc Ⅵ/orld call thc dcvil Yan Luo 1s that samc dragon of thc Eastcrn Sca. Hc ls thc onc who can changc his f° rn、 and dcccivcs thc souls of thosc、 vho1ivc On carth,、 Vhcn you somc tirnc ago camc up to HCaven,and togcthcr、 vith thc grcat army of thc Hcavcnly Host fought against that squarc-hcadcd rcd-cycd dcmon dcvil lcadcr,thattoo was him,Havc you now forgottcn that氵 ”And thc Hcavcnly ×ling rcphcd,“ I、vould havc forgottcn had my Hcavcnly Eldcr Brothcr not rCr丫 )1ndCd mc,’22 In glossing this sacrcd tcxt in thc dircction dcsircd by Yang— —as Hong forthwith mcckly docs,with thc words“ From now on,whcncvcr dragons arc cngravcd by our Hcavcnly κ1ingd°m or Hcavcnly Court,all shall bc considcrcd as prccious goldcn dragons,and thcrc is no nccd to rcgard thcm with glaring cycs’ ’一ˉHong has in fact yicldcd up a point in a long冖 standing argumcnt ovCr imagcry and iconography,and thcir rclationship to idolatry, It is csscntial to Hong Xiuquan,if hc is to kccp his paramount position within thc Taiping movcmCnt,that thc ccntral truth of his journcy to Hcavcn n°t bc disputcd。 Yang may spcak 、vith thc voicc of CJod, but H°ng has sccn and talkcd、 vith God,rccordcd thc color of His bcard and clothcs,and has sccn and talkcd、vith Jcsus· Thus、vhcn hc is prcscntcd