EMPEROR XIANFENG DOCUMENTARY - THE SECOND OPIUM WAR

As the Qing dynasty continued to decline after the first opium war, the reins of the crumbling empire were passed unto 18 year old prince Yizhu, who would be crowned as emperor Xianfeng. His rule, that would see the rise of multitudes of revolts including the Taiping rebellion, Nian rebellion and Panthay rebellion, and the second opium war, would bring china from a tenuous position, to near collapse.

Many thanks!

♫ MUSIC ♫
The Han Palace Autumn Moon
Total War Shogun 2 - Resolve
Restless Natives
Sao Meo Orchestral
They're coming - Alexander Hof
Lost in the Forest
Civilization V - Napoleon War Theme
Civilization V - Bismarck War Theme
Qing Court Music

🎬 VIDEO CREDITS 🎬
Warlords (2007)

📜 MAIN SOURCES 📜
Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (1644–1912) , (1943), Arthur W. Hummel, Sr.
Timeline of the Ming & Qing Palace Events (The Palace Museum website)

🏷️ TAGS 🏷️
second opium war
taiping rebellion
nian rebellion
hsieng feng
convention of peking
xianfeng documentary

Introduction: (0:00)
Early life: (00:29)
Early reign: (03:50)
Mid reign: (12:00)
Late reign: (17:06)
Aftermath: (25:55)

[wolfu]

Emperor Daoguang made a bad choice when he picked Xianfeng as his successor.
I've read Stephen R. Platts book, 'Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom. China, the West, and the epic story of the Taiping civil war'. And according to the author, when Daoguang secretly selected his successor, he asked each of his two favorite sons (Gong and Xianfeng) what they would do if they ascended the throne.
Gong said that he would initiate a series of political reforms and improve China technological backwardness, improve diplomatic relationships with the West, and modernize China.
Xianfeng on the other hand, went down on his knees and cried that it meant that his father had died.
In Daoguangs mind, this act proved that Xianfeng was the most filial of the two, and therefore selected him to be his successor. If only he knew how illsuited Xianfeng were.

[grandadmiralzaarin]

Minister, "Majesty there's been a disaster!"
Emperor Xianfeng wearily, "You're going to have to be more specific..."

[micahistory]

wow this guy was so unlucky. He literally lived during the worst time in Qing history.
Taiping Rebellion
Panthay Rebellion
Nian Rebellion
Second Opium War
and just decline in general

[yizhou]

His indulgence in late reign was regarded as a "chronic suicide" by Qi Gong, one of Qing's royal family descendents. He did all he could, and gave up struggling at the end. As an emperor he was unable to suicide, so he sought this way, broken and disillusioned, at sunset of the empire.

[Progressive.Films.]

a great narrator who speaks fine English and pronounces all his chinese just as well... very well made

[needmoreramsay]

These are by far the best historical documentaries on China I have ever seen. Very clear, precise, informative illustrations and narration. Thank you

[oge]

Excelent video! Before you do the Empress Cixi (Zishi), you should do a video of concubine organization and inner working.

[JesusSavesSouls]

This series was great!! Thanks so much for this, I can tell this took a long time.
You actually make history enjoyable to watch and learn!

[XGenKaneShiroX]

11 months ago you already did the video on the first Qing emperor. I guess you’re taking your time to make these videos a masterpiece and might take some more months to cover all Qing emperors. Excellent video though!

[Philosophie-by-Alex-Wegenast]

I feel like the downfall started with Qianlong who had the great opportunity to open the trade in order to modernise his country and fill the treasury. It would have been an early equivalent to the Meiji restoration and could have prevented the opium trade. After this there was no way back.

[mistergeopolitics]

Excellent video yet again. Thank you so much. Sir you are an asset to youtube, Chinese history and history in general.

[fatimaani]

Qing emperors were universally delusional. They had no grasp on reality and thus eventually lost their throne

[ninja_whale]

Awesome video as usual! :D I remember reading in a textbook that Hong Xiuquan was given "good word" tracts from the Bible as he was about to take the examinations for the third time. He didn't open these tracts until he failed for the 4th time and upon reading them connected the passages to his delirium and decided that he must be the Son of God. I guess one of the lessons here is.... brochures and ads really work! >__>

[henry_illenberger]

Poor Emperor Xianfeng... Reigning at the worse possible time of the Dynasty.

[gklpang]

this whole series are very good, thank you

[punlokomovicdevinho]

Prince Gong would have solved all the problems if he was the emperor.

[XtremeGuy]

Great video! easy to understand, not too long and very well put together.

Do you think emperor Xianfeng would have gotten the same outcome even without the western/opium influence because of the amount of corruption, distrust in the officials around the country, as well as uprising in Han Chinese nationalism and declining quality of the different armies/warlords around the country?

It seems like the country was asking for a late industrial revolution.

[daryljamaat]

If the Discovery tv channel or other related enterprises call. Say yes.

[tonythesopranos]

Great video. Where is the comic panel at 15:56 from sorry?

[yijiequ]

Every American is familiar with Zeng Guofan—though they know him as General Tso. As a side note, I’ve seen the dish everywhere, from rural diners to five-star hotels on the Vegas Strip. But I’ve heard that few can prepare it just right: not too sweet, not too spicy