The largest ethnic group of people in China are the Han Chinese. Generally, they ruled China. However, in 1644, the Manchu people (a minority) became rulers. They were considered to be foreigners, but the Chinese allowed themselves to be ruled by these foreigners. This is because the Chinese believe that heaven had chosen the Qing (Manchus) Dynasty to rule over them. The "Mandate from Heaven" is terribly important in China.
There is another ethnic group, even smaller than the Manchu, considered to be even more inferior than the other groups. "Hakka" means guest people (or migrants). Treated as outsiders, their farming people grew poorer and more desperate. The Taiping Revolution was a massive civil war waged between 1850 and 1864 by a cult-like group called the God Worshipping Society. They were a Christian group led by a self-proclaimed prophet Hong Xiuquan.
They captured Nanjing (a Chinese capital from time-to-time) and renamed it Tianjing, 'the Heavenly Capital,' by Hong. In other words, Hong was claiming the 'Heavenly Mandate' for his side. Once that place was secured, they planned to take the rest of China and overthrow the Manchus.
Over 20 to 30 million Chinese were killed during the revolution. This is considered to be the deadliest civil war in history. Had the British and French not entered the fray, the Qing Dynasty might not have won.
There is another ethnic group, even smaller than the Manchu, considered to be even more inferior than the other groups. "Hakka" means guest people (or migrants). Treated as outsiders, their farming people grew poorer and more desperate. The Taiping Revolution was a massive civil war waged between 1850 and 1864 by a cult-like group called the God Worshipping Society. They were a Christian group led by a self-proclaimed prophet Hong Xiuquan.
They captured Nanjing (a Chinese capital from time-to-time) and renamed it Tianjing, 'the Heavenly Capital,' by Hong. In other words, Hong was claiming the 'Heavenly Mandate' for his side. Once that place was secured, they planned to take the rest of China and overthrow the Manchus.
Over 20 to 30 million Chinese were killed during the revolution. This is considered to be the deadliest civil war in history. Had the British and French not entered the fray, the Qing Dynasty might not have won.
