A Comparative Study on the Similarities and Differences between Western Christianity and Chinese Culture in Taiping Religion

Sukjoo Kim

doi:10.21049/ccs.2016.42..475

This paper explores the extent of the Christian influence of Liang Fa’s Quanshiliangyan and Isaachar J. Roberts on Hong Xiuquan and the Taiping Movement. Hong’s religious background was in Confucianism, but when he encountered Liang Fa’s Quanshiliangyan, he identified with Christianity. Subsequently, he studied with Roberts for two or three months. The religious experiences of Hong served as motives for the establishment of the Society of God Worshippers and the Taiping Movement. Therefore, this paper develops Liang’s key ideas and Roberts’ main teachings, describes Hong’s beliefs and the actual practices of the Taiping Movement, as found in official documents of the Taipings, and compares their similarities and differences. Hong and his leaders received the new ideas of Christianity at the expense of their traditional culture. Furthermore, they attempted to combine Chinese culture with Christianity, as well as believe in Christianity to the limits of their understanding. Finally, this study finds that even though the Quanshiliangyan and Isaachar J. Roberts may have given the Taiping Movement its religious form and driving force, the theological vision of both Liang and Hong that also emerged from their Chinese culture energized the Taipings. The Taiping Movement resulted from a deliberate synthesis of Christian ideas and native Chinese practices in China.

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