| The founding of Hong Kong and the Tai Ping Tian Guo movement occurred almost simultaneously. Hong Kong was the confluence point of Eastern and Western cultures, bridging China and the world.; From its inception to its end, the Taiping Revolution spanned a short period of 15 years, but its military and other aspects had great impacts on China south of the Yangtze River. At the same time, with the Qing Dynasty's defeat in the Opium War, China was forced to open its ports for foreign trade and to cede Hong Kong to Britain. China also allowed foreigners the right of preaching in the country. From this time onwards, Hong Kong had become a British Colony, supplanting the functions of Macau as the centre of foreign activities in South China. Many missionaries made use of Hong Kong to prepare themselves in building churches and preaching in China.; Though not originated in Hong Kong, Taiping leaders such as Hong Xiuquan and Hong Rengan got some Christian knowledge through K. F. K. Gutzlaff and I. J. Roberts, the two missionaries who had been active in Hong Kong. Through the tracts translated by Liang Fa and the explanations of Roberts, Hong Xiuquan was able to get some rough ideas of Christianity. He combined these ideas with Confucianism to establish the Society of God Worshippers, the mainstay of anti-Qing movement.; The military activities of Taiping Army affected British interests in Shanghai and its environs. Because of Taiping's possibility in replacing the Qing Government, two Hong Kong governors (concurrently as British minister in China), Sir Samuel Bonham and Sir John Bowring, had visited Nanjing for information. The governors' reports helped to shape the British policy of temporary neutrality in the Chinese civil war. They believed that it would give greatest benefits to Britain.; In conclusion, even though the Taiping Movement only lasted for 15 years, it played an important role in creating interactions between Mainland China and Hong Kong. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
