Ch'in Kuei, in consequence of which he was appoiDted to Tarions unimportant provincial posts, among others to ^ Ting-chou, where he remained nine years. He was the author of the >|^ j^ j£ 1^ , a small collection of historical memoranda regarding the Chin^ dynasty. It was written from memory, his notes having been taken from him and burnt on his release from captivity. He was much respected by the Tartars who were eager to possess copies of his poems and other writings. Canonised as j^ ^ . See Hung Kua.
890 Hung Hsiu-ch'üan . A.D. 1812-1864. A native of the ^ Hua District in Euangtung, notorious as the moving spirit of the great T*ai-p4ng (Perfect Peace) rebellion. After a youth spent in desultory studies, including the doctrines of Christianity, he took up the occupation of a fortune-teller; and ere long joined the Jl ^^ ^ Society of God , organised by ^ ^ j^ Chu Chiu-t'ao, of which he rose to be the head, one of his chief associates beiug Tang Hsiu-ch4ng. In 1836 he started, on the borders of Euangtung and Euangsi, a sect of professing Christians, and set to work to collect followers, styling himself the Brother of Christ. In July 1850 he headed a rising in the District of :|^ ^ Euei-p4ng, and made his way, plundering and ravaging, as far as ^ ^ Yung-an. He then adopted the term ~jsi ^ ^ B Heavenly Dynasty of Perfect Peace, styling himself the ^ ^ Heavenly Eing; and working bis way northwards in 1853, he captured Wu-ch'ang and all the other cities on the Yang-tsze down to An-ch4ng. On the 11th March 1853 he took Nanking; and with that city as his headquarters he succeeded iu capturing over six hundred other cities in no less than sixteen out of the eighteen provinces. There he remained until 1864, when the Imperial forces under Ts6ng Euo-fan closed around him and the fall of the city was imminent. On the 30th of June,
