Message from cbessolo

[Anonymous]

As a factor leading to rebellion/reform, I am still interested in the notion of the 'expansive west' vs. tradition-bound China. My 'what if' thinking wonders if China's leaders couldn't have found a way to make this work for them better sooner, rather than succumbing to exploitation with opium trade.

Again, contingency/serendipity certainly seemed to be at work with the origins of the Taiping rebellion in so far as the 'heavenly' kingdom being a product of Hong Xiuquan's likely mental illness.

Enjoyed the references to CiXi. Students have asked, "was the Empress Dowager good or bad for China". I would like to learn more about her complex role to be able to answer this question better than "yes and no".