Taiping diplomacy

How would a successful Heavenly Kingdom of China under a certain Hong Xiuquan maintain diplomatic relations ? Would they see "Western" Nations as their Christian Brothers or not ?

-Russia
-Great Britain
-USA
-France
-Prussia
-Nippon
-Ottoman Empire
 
The great differences between the Christianity of the Taiping and the West will make relations difficult to say the least...

I mean, Hong Xiuquan claiming to be God's son (and somewhat sidelining/usurping Jesus' role); then you had West King Xiao Chaogui claims of being a vessel/speaking for Jesus Christ and East King Yang Xiuqing taking up the mantle of the Holy Ghost; and the harsh treatment of Nanjing Catholics; all of this'll be hard to swallow for westerners.

Taiping claims to universal rule and just generally acting superior- refusing diplomats access to Hong himself and such- would also be grating for Europeans (similar issues had frustrated their early dealings with the Qing).

After being repulsed at Shanghai, and the westerners started openly supporting the Qing there was also a more traditionalist, anti-western strand of the Taiping. In any case, the clashes at Shanghai and European officers in the Ever Victorious Army (if these occur ITTL) would leave the Taiping with distrust/resentment of the west.

Maybe if you kill off Hong Xiuquan and give a regency to his cousin Hong Rengan, who spent six years in Hong Kong, then he can make the movement more moderate and acceptable to Westerners?
 

Lateknight

Banned
I think that westerns will at first gladly recognize them but back of after becomes clear how little there Christianity resembles western Christianity.
 
This necessitates the Qing, the opposites of the Taiping, be more anti-western than OTL; i.e. not call for the Westerners for help in suppressing the Taiping.

This also needs the Taiping to open to being "raped" economically by the Western nations; i.e. legalise the export of Opium into southern China or a very low cost of tea from China.

If Britain makes relations with the Taipings, I suppose other nations will also follow suit.
 
I think that westerns will at first gladly recognize them but back of after becomes clear how little there Christianity resembles western Christianity.

That's pretty much the attitude the Europeans had when the Taiping first began. Initially they were like: "Hey, fellow Christians!" then they met Hong and said to each other: "This guy is NUTS!" and did the smart thing.
 
That's pretty much the attitude the Europeans had when the Taiping first began. Initially they were like: "Hey, fellow Christians!" then they met Hong and said to each other: "This guy is NUTS!" and did the smart thing.

Sir Harry Flashman met Hong Xiuquan. And his conclusion was immediate: "The Manchoos might be a corrupt, unsavory lot, but we mustn't touch this ship of fools with a barge-pole."
 
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