Those under the rule of the Taiping lived under strict rules that were “on paper and often in practice, startlingly radical” (Spence 176). For example, strict asceticism required the “segregation of sexes an absolute bans on opium smoking, prostitution, dancing, and drinking of alcohol” (Spence 176). They also had fundamental principles concerning families that everyone had to follow. For example, the eldest sister was instructed to “gather the young ones and tell them what is wrong and right” (Primary Source 6.2). This shows that under Hong’s leadership, loving one’s family and caring for them well was highly valued. In this document, the author is unknown; regardless, the author describes the ways in which family members should interact. These new principles directly contradict traditional Confucian principles. In Confucianism, the focus is on respect and not on
Those under the rule of the Taiping lived under strict rules that were “on paper and often in practice, startlingly radical” (Spence 176). For example, strict asceticism required the “segregation of sexes an absolute bans on opium smoking, prostitution, dancing, and drinking of alcohol” (Spence 176). They also had fundamental principles concerning families that everyone had to follow. For example, the eldest sister was instructed to “gather the young ones and tell them what is wrong and right” (Primary Source 6.2). This shows that under Hong’s leadership, loving one’s family and caring for them well was highly valued. In this document, the author is unknown; regardless, the author describes the ways in which family members should interact. These new principles directly contradict traditional Confucian principles. In Confucianism, the focus is on respect and not on