The Nien And The Society Of Shandong Province In Lateqing Dynasty

The Nien was an armed forces moved in the Huang-Huai region in the late Qing dynasty which formed a serious threat to the Qing government. Shandong Province was also one of the main battlefield of the Nien. After 1860, the Nien often harassed Shandong Province on large scale, particularly in 1861 and 1867, they in-depth hinterland of Shandong twice, which had a great impact on Shandong society.This article is divided into four chapters. Chapter one describes the social situation in Shandong in Daoguang and Xianfeng period. This Chapter Introduces the background of the Nien's activities in Shandong mainly from the humanities and social dimensions and in Political, economic, and natural disasters as an entry point. The corruption of the Qing government, economic exploitation and natural disasters increased the possibility of the Nien perennial harassed in Shandong.Chapter two describes the Nien's activities in Shandong and the course of Qing government pacified the Nien. The Nien's activities in Shandong can be broadly classified into Xianfeng period , Senggelinqin's main suppressed period, Zeng guofan's main suppressed and Li hongzhang's main suppressed period. During the Xianfeng period, the Nien only flaw in the western region of Shandong on small-scale and the measures of the Qing government suppressed the Nien were mainly to put all localities in order to do their best to killed the Nien within borders. From 1860 to 1868, the Nien often harassed Shandong Province on large scale, particularly in 1861 and 1867, they in-depth hinterland of Shandong twice including Jiaodong area. During this period, The Qing government had changed the Strategy in order to solve the issue of the Nien at an early date and appointed Senggelinqin, Zeng guofan and Li hongzhang as imperial commissioner to command the army of provinces including Shang dong to suppress the Nien. Zeng guofan adopted the strategy to assemble superior. Later, Li hongzhang inherited and perfected the strategy. Finally, the Nien was suppressed in 1868 in Chi ping, Shandong.The third chapter focuses on Shandong officials' defense and exterminating the activities of the Nien in Shandong. Shandong local officials, including provincial officials and grass-roots officials had defense against the harass of the Nien. Officials at the provincial level mainly organized Shandong army to suppress the Nien and grass-roots officials mainly organized local civil corps to strengthen defense. In addition, on the issue of suppress the Nien, Shandong officials had cooperation with the Imperial Commissioner, but also had differences and conflicts based on the protection of local interests when the Nien harassed in the hinterland of Shandong, The differences and conflicts mainly on whether or not to sacrifice the interests of Shandong for the victory of the Government to suppress the Nien.Chapter four primarily discusses the attitude and behavior of Shandong ordinary people on the Nien when they moved in Shang dong. The one hand, some people responded or to join them, or organization teams against the government When Nien harassed Shandong. These people were mostly from areas along the Yellow River, it was the perennial combat of natural disasters and the pressure of survival forced them to embark on the path of confrontation with the Government. On the other hand, more ordinary people organized civil corps under the leadership of local gentry in order to avoid war and defend their hometown. The Shandong local gentry played an important role in communicating between the government and the people to defend the Nien and in maintaining social stability during the Nien harassed in Shang dong.In short, the Nien harassed Shandong in the late Qing dynasty had a great impact on Shandong society of the time. The Nien had harassed Shandong province several times on large - scale and the local people suffered from the war. After suppressed the Nien, the Qing government rewarded officials and martyrs, reformed of local government institutions, improved social security measures with a view to restore normal social order. Shandong local community undergone a change after the Nien was to be put down.