The major focus of this book is on the Red
Turban Rebellions (1854-1856), a series of rebellions by the
Secret Society in South China. The Red Turban Rebellions
did not have nation-wide repercussions, and may appear to be
dwarfed in significance by the cataclysmic upheavals that
China was undergoing in the mid-nineteenth century.
Nevertheless, this is of considerable interest and
importance since it provides case studies for the
interaction between local societies, rebellions motivated by
problems internal to that society, subethnic conflicts
especially in the Wuyi region, and influences of local
secret societies. This book, therefore, helps anyone who may
be interested in knowing the full and rich pictures of
economic, political as well as social conditions and history
of nineteenth century South China.