“Christian crusade” in China. Taipings according to the account of John Scarth.

Abstract

This article deals with the question of Taiping religion in the work of John Scarth coming from 1860, which was published before the fall of Hong Xiuquan. This is an original approach to the topic due to the fact that the author is openly sympathetic toward the movement. It is in contrast to the dominant narrative from the period, that depicted Taipings as revolutionaries and bandits. This picture is still present, as it is marginalizing the role of religion in their movement, or distorting it to the form of a bizarre syncretic religion. Scarth mitigates this message, focusing primarily on Christian roots of this doctrine, refuting superstitions and explaining misunderstandings. There is no doubt, however, that his gentle approach is related to his ignorance about the subtleties of Taiping theology. The image of Taiping religion given by him is connected with Scarth’s specific soteriology and God’s work in human history. In this context, the revolution of Hong Xiuquan was not only a political struggle for independence against Manchurians, but it was a religious revolution against authorities’ legitimizing idolatry.