The Taiping Rebellion: That Time a Christian Cult Almost Took Over China - Part 1

Welcome to the Taiping rebellion, a time when a Chinese Christian cult led a ragtag group of fanatics, pirates and triad groups almost took over China?

Formed by Hong Xiuquan, this religion was based on the premise that Hong was the brother of Jesus Christ who he had met in a feverish dream and ever since then, he had been given authority by God to take over the world and exterminate all the demon devils on earth.

This is not fiction, it is a true story. In this video based on China historian Jonathan D Spences book, Gods Chinese son, I explain how many seemingly unrelated events and factors coalesce into making one of the most strange and bizarre events possible, causing the deaths of 20-30 millions people (a recent Chinese study estimated it could have been as high as 70 million) in the bloodiest conflict of the 19th century.

Music:
Pharmacist - North Memphis
Japanese Type Beat - "RONIN"
WEEDMANE - SUICIDE YEAR