Living through rebellion: A local history of the White Lotus Uprising in Hubei, China

This dissertation examines the White Lotus Uprising (1796–1804) as it was experienced by local communities in central China. Whereas traditional studies have focused on the uprising in the context of the broad historical trends which marked the end of the High Qing, this project defines the rebellion in its local environment and explores its impact on the communities which fostered it.; The dissertation focuses on three administrative districts in southwestern Hubei, Jingzhou and Yichang prefectures, and the independent department of Jingmen, which comprise the region where the rebellion first broke out in 1796. The first chapter constitutes an introduction to the ecology and economy of southwestern Hubei at the turn of the nineteenth century. The recurrent floods which plagued this area, located along the middle reaches of the Yangzi River, were one source of economic woe for Hubei residents. The second chapter examines the social backdrop against which the rebellion was set. In addition to detailing the patterns of dominance in the region, this chapter analyzes two events which immediately preceded the uprising: the mobilization of Hubei military forces to combat the ethnic Miao rebellion in progress to the south; and the campaign against religious sectarians which was conducted throughout central China in 1794 and 1795. Whereas social and economic conditions became mitigating circumstances governing the timing and scope of the rebellion, sectarian ideology and organization were the impetus for the uprising. The third chapter discusses sect organization in western Hubei as a precursor to revolt. It closely narrates the uprising in Yidu county and the occupation of Dangyang city, contrasting the pragmatic concerns of the rebels with the frenetic defense efforts of local officials. The fourth chapter describes the course of the uprising in Hubei from 1796 until 1798. It focuses in turn on the rising costs of suppression, which were aggravated by floods and social disorder, and the challenging task of defending the mountainous region of western Hubei, where the rebel bands were predominant. The persistence of rebellion in the mountain regions ultimately bankrupted the Qing state, rendering it incapable of facing the challenges of the nineteenth century.