Lotus Uprisings
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Lotus Uprisings 蓮花之亂 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Sheng dynasty | Lotus rebels | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Emperor Engtek |
Ti Hong Tin Kok † Tiong Ai |
The Lotus Uprisings were a series of peasant uprisings during the late Sheng dynasty of ancient Goankok. The uprising started in 418 CE, and ran rampant for a few years. The main uprising was put down in 423, but remnant forces remained active until 434 CE causing continuing problems for the Sheng government. The way the Sheng government dealt with the rebellion caused a rise in warlordism, and eventually the outbreak of a civil war that would directly lead to the fall of the Sheng dynasty.
Causes
Around 418 CE, the Sheng dynasty's central government was growing weaker and more corrupt. Government officials began accepting bribes and nepotism began infecting the exam system that established a meritocratic system of recruiting government officials. Court officials of varying ranks began abusing their power to enrich themselves, with Emperor Engtek often turning a blind eye to this or even being complicit in some. The corruption was perceived by the general population as causing floods, famine, poor agricultural yields, and a decline in trade with their neighbors. This led many in the peasantry to question the legitimacy of the government.
Rebels
Foundation
The rebellion was led by Ti Hong, who originally was a Sheng military general before he retired from his post and became a Phosattist monk. He would go on to found a Phosattist sect that would be called the Lotus Movement (蓮花道, literally "Way of the Lotus") based upon their prominent use of the white lotus flower as a religious symbol. They would eventually become well known for his charity and service to the poor and impoverished, quickly gaining a following.
Eventually, Ti Hong would go on to found his own temple, from which he would continue to provide charity. During his charities, he was known to speak regarding the government, and grew increasingly critical of Sheng policy. Eventually, he and two priests with whom he ran the temple would begin to plot rebellion.
Lotus Movement
The followers of the Lotus Movement placed strong emphasis on personal actions to make an impact upon those around you. Much of their teachings were directly tied to Ti Hong, who claimed to have received visions from various Phosattist figures while meditating in a garden of lotus flowers. He wrote down much of these teachings in a book called the Collections of the Lotus (蓮花集). Ti Hong referred to himself as the "Revered Master" (尊師). He was assisted by two of his most loyal apprentices, Tin Kok (陳角) and Tiong Ai (張藹).
Though few records survive, much of the early movement seems to stem from the Harmonist school of Phosattism before taking on a life of its own after the arrival of Ti Hong into the movement. Ti Hong is recorded as implementing drastic changes in his movement. Much of the early texts utilized by the movement were from that school of Phosattism, before further texts were created or added by Ti Hong himself. The original texts of the movement were suppressed by Sheng and later dynastic authorities, and are lost. However, translations of these texts into Kolhari would survive after the end of the war.
Buildup
Before the rebellion, Ti Hong and Tin Kok began trying to gather as many of their followers as they could to prepare for rebellion. Their religious connections allowed them to gain the ear of several high ranking government officials, through which they were able to keep an eye on and collaboration of certain key government officials. By utilizing the corruption within the Sheng government at the time, they were able to get key shipments of some supplies diverted to them, and the ear of several builders. They were even able to begin construction of ships which, while officially to be used for trading missions, were secretly intended to be used for naval warfare when the uprising began.
The Sheng authorities received several warnings from within regarding the preparations for the uprisings, none of which where heeded by the Emperor of his cabinet. It was stated that they did not believe a 'small sect' could cause any trouble, and largely ignored the preparations for rebellion. Because of this, several Sheng generals began making their own preparations for war without the Emperor's permission, further contributing to the erosion of central authority within the Sheng dynasty.