Awakening

Foreign intrusion into China by the end of the nineteenth century resulted in a turmoil inside Chinese society. As the Chinese population grew, resources became scarce, consequently causing poverty and peasantry to increase. Between 1800 and 1900, Chinese population grew as much as 50%, growing at a much faster rate than land being cultivated. As Chinese peasant's discontent rose, and as the wealthy ones with the lands possession aggravated, and also as corruption and drug addiction became more abundant, rebellions started erupting throughout China after 1850. These rebellions included the Nian rebellion, the Muslim rebellion and the Tungan rebellion which spread all over China. However, the Taiping rebellion was the strongest one. Hong Xiuquan, a school teacher, gave leadership to the rebellion. His goal was to reform China as it was, including the abolishing of private property, communal wealth made sharable to all, prohibition of foot-binding and concubinage, free public education and simplification of the written language. These new ideals were appealing to millions of men and women, which ended up all joining the Rebellion. The leaders of the Rebellion requested for the establishment of public democratic institution in certain places inside China. Their forces were divided into men and women, however, the Taipings believed in men and woman equality. As the Taiping forces began attacking major Qing Chinese centers, Qing forces started acting back, but with very little efficiency. Qing administrators resolved to form local military outposts in various Chinese centers instead of Manchu soldiers in order to strengthen their military forces, with the contribution of European weapon distribution. The Taiping Rebellion soon came to an end as the Qing forces overcame them. However, the Taipings left such an impact on China that all agricultural production became unbalanced and caused a huge supply drop in commerce, resulting in the Chinese citizens to be forced to eat grass and maze. This is a Chinese self-reform improvement which motivated other reforms to happen.

The picture of the person shown in the picture is a portrait of the Taiping Rebellion leader, Hong Xiuquan. The phrase "Awakening" symbolizes how, out of the deep misery that China was experiencing due to the post-British attack, a school teacher stood up and motivated the society into a reform program. "Follow the leader into the new era" means on how, with more people and suppressive power, total Chinese reformation could be possible and completely rewrite Chinese history.