History Series / TwilightOfANation

Twilight of a Nation (Chinese: 太平天國 ''Tai Ping Tin Gwok'', also known as ''Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'')[[note]]"Tai Ping" meaning "Great Peace" in Chinese[[/note]] is a UsefulNotes/HongKong television drama series starring Ray Lui as Hong Xiuquan, Felix Wong as Yang Xiuqing, and Man-Yee "Barbara" Chan as Hong Xuanjiao. Set during the late UsefulNotes/QingDynasty era, this series loosely follows the [[{{Biopic}} life]] of Hong Xiuquan, a young [[UsefulNotes/ChineseDialectsAndAccents Hakka]] [[StarvingStudent scholar]] who wants to pass [[AchievementTestOfDestiny the Imperial Examination]] so that he can lift his family out of poverty, but fails… which leads to him having [[HeroicBSOD a mental breakdown]]. While rendered [[AngstComa sick and comatose by his anxiety]], Hong [[FeverDreamEpisode dreams about being in Heaven]], and meeting {{God}}. Upon meeting him, Hong [[DreamingOfThingsToCome receives a startling revelation]]: he is [[DivineParentage God's Second Son]], and the younger brother of UsefulNotes/JesusChrist. Furthermore, God instructs Hong to purge China of its [[ScamReligion idols]] and demons. After Hong awakens from his coma, he believes that the {{God}} whom he read about in a Christian booklet, ''Good Words to Admonish the Age''[[note]]which he had received from an American priest named Edwin Stevens in Canton, modern-day Guangzhou[[/note]] was the same one in his visions. With his eyes opened, Hong [[TurnToReligion converts to Christianity]]; he becomes committed to [[PreacherMan spreading his newfound faith]] by destroying the symbols of China's old faiths, and converting people. Eventually, he [[CultofPersonality gains a substantial following]], and forms his own cult known as [[TheCult the Society of God Worshippers]][[note]]They are later renamed the Taipings/Taiping rebels.[[/note]]. The rising prominence of the God Worshippers among the peasants stokes the ire of the local Qing authorities, who try to shut down the religious sect. Hong and his followers manage to defeat the force sent to crush his cult. Invigorated by his victories, Hong declares that he shall [[CallToAdventure liberate China]] from the Qing; this leads to what would be known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, [[CivilWar the Taiping Rebellion]][[note]]which officially lasts from December 1850 to August 1864[[/note]]...

Twilight of a Nation (Chinese: 太平天國 ''Tai Ping Tin Gwok'', also known as ''Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'')[[note]]"Tai Ping" meaning "Great Peace" in Chinese[[/note]] is a UsefulNotes/HongKong television drama series starring Ray Lui as Hong Xiuquan, Felix Wong as Yang Xiuqing, and Man-Yee "Barbara" Chan as Hong Xuanjiao. Set during the late UsefulNotes/QingDynasty era, this series loosely follows the [[{{Biopic}} life]] of Hong Xiuquan, a young [[UsefulNotes/ChineseDialectsAndAccents Hakka]] [[StarvingStudent scholar]] who wants to pass [[AchievementTestOfDestiny the Imperial Examination]] so that he can lift his family out of poverty, but he fails… which him to have [[HeroicBSOD a mental breakdown]]. While rendered [[AngstComa sick and comatose by his anxiety]], Hong [[FeverDreamEpisode dreams about being in Heaven]], and meeting {{God}}. Upon meeting him, Hong [[DreamingOfThingsToCome receives a startling revelation]]: he is [[DivineParentage God's Second Son]], and the younger brother of UsefulNotes/JesusChrist. Furthermore, God instructs Hong to purge China of its [[ScamReligion idols]] and demons. After Hong awakens from his coma, he believes that the {{God}} whom he read about in a Christian booklet, ''Good Words to Admonish the Age''[[note]]which he had received from an American priest named Edwin Stevens in Canton, modern-day Guangzhou[[/note]] was the same one in his visions. With his eyes opened, Hong [[TurnToReligion converts to Christianity]]; he becomes committed to [[PreacherMan spreading his newfound faith]] by destroying the symbols of China's old faiths, and converting people. Eventually, he [[CultofPersonality gains a substantial following]], and forms his own cult known as [[TheCult the Society of God Worshippers]][[note]]They are later renamed the Taipings/Taiping rebels.[[/note]]. The rising prominence of the God Worshippers among the peasants stokes the ire of the local Qing authorities, who try to shut down the religious sect. Hong and his followers manage to defeat the force sent to crush his cult. Invigorated by his victories, Hong declares that he shall [[CallToAdventure liberate China]] from the Qing; this leads to what would be known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, [[CivilWar the Taiping Rebellion]][[note]]which officially lasts from December 1850 to August 1864[[/note]]...

* EmissaryFromTheDivine: [[spoiler: Yang Xiuqing, who frequently pretends to go into a trance to speak as {{God}}. As Hong is deferential to God, Yang manipulates Hong.]]

Twilight of a Nation (Chinese: 太平天國 ''Tai Ping Tin Gwok'', also known as ''Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'')[[note]]"Tai Ping" meaning "Great Peace" in Chinese[[/note]] is a UsefulNotes/HongKong television drama series starring Ray Lui as Hong Xiuquan, Felix Wong as Yang Xiuqing, and Man-Yee "Barbara" Chan as Hong Xuanjiao. Set during the late UsefulNotes/QingDynasty era, this series loosely follows the [[{{Biopic}} life]] of Hong Xiuquan, a young [[UsefulNotes/ChineseDialectsAndAccents Hakka]] [[StarvingStudent scholar]] who wants to pass [[AchievementTestOfDestiny the Imperial Examination]] so that he can uplift his family out of poverty, but he fails… which leads to him having [[HeroicBSOD a mental breakdown]]. After being rendered [[AngstComa sick and comatose by his anxiety]], Hong [[FeverDreamEpisode dreams about being in Heaven]], and meeting {{God}}. Upon meeting him, Hong [[DreamingOfThingsToCome receives a startling revelation]]: he is [[DivineParentage God's Second Son]], and the younger brother of UsefulNotes/JesusChrist. Furthermore, God instructs Hong to purge China of its [[ScamReligion idols]] and demons. After Hong awakens from his coma, he believes that the {{God}} whom he read about in a Christian booklet, ''Good Words to Admonish the Age''[[note]]which he had received from an American priest named Edwin Stevens in Canton, modern-day Guangzhou[[/note]] was the same one in his visions. With his eyes opened, Hong [[TurnToReligion converts to Christianity]]; he becomes committed to [[PreacherMan spreading his newfound faith]] by destroying the symbols of China's old faiths, and converting people. Eventually, he [[CultofPersonality gains a substantial following]], and forms his own cult known as [[TheCult the Society of God Worshippers]][[note]]They are later renamed the Taipings/Taiping rebels.[[/note]]. The rising prominence of the God Worshippers among the peasants stokes the ire of the local Qing authorities, who try to shut down the religious sect. Hong and his followers manage to defeat the force sent to crush his cult. Invigorated by his victories, Hong declares that he shall [[CallToAdventure liberate China]] from the Qing; this leads to what would be known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, [[CivilWar the Taiping Rebellion]][[note]]which officially lasts from December 1850 to August 1864[[/note]]...

* AchievementTestOfDestiny: The Imperial Examination, which is a civil service examination system that was used in ImperialChina for the purpose of selecting candidates for state bureaucracy. In order to pass, the applicants must be capable writers, understand Chinese classics (primarily the works of {{Creator/Confucius}} and {{Creator/Laozi}}), and demonstrate exceptional literary styles. Both Xiuquan and Yunshan tried to pass the exam multiple times, but they were unsuccessful. Xiuquan's inability to leads him to seek Christianity as the solution to his life's problems.

* ActivistFundamentalistAntics: Hong's initial mission as a PreacherMan was to advocate iconoclasm: the destruction of symbols and monuments (particularly of traditional folk religions and belief such as Buddhism and Confucianism). His goals develop further once he gains a large following.

Twilight of a Nation (Chinese: 太平天國 ''Tai Ping Tin Gwok'', also known as ''Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'')[[note]]"Tai Ping" meaning "Great Peace" in Chinese[[/note]] is a UsefulNotes/HongKong television drama series starring Ray Lui as Hong Xiuquan, Felix Wong as Yang Xiuqing, and Man-Yee "Barbara" Chan as Hong Xuanjiao. Set during the late UsefulNotes/QingDynasty era, this series loosely follows the [[{{Biopic}} life]] of Hong Xiuquan, a young [[UsefulNotes/ChineseDialectsAndAccents Hakka]] [[StarvingStudent scholar]] who wants to pass [[AchievementTestOfDestiny the Imperial Examination]] so that he can uplift his family out of poverty, but he fails… which leads to him having [[HeroicBSOD a mental breakdown]]. After being rendered [[AngstComa sick and comatose by his anxiety]], Hong [[FeverDreamEpisode dreams about being in Heaven]], and meeting {{God}}. Upon meeting him, Hong [[DreamingOfThingsToCome receives a startling revelation]]: he is [[DivineParentage God's Second Son]], and the younger brother of UsefulNotes/JesusChrist. Furthermore, God instructs Hong to purge China of its [[ScamReligion idols]] and demons. After Hong awakens from his coma, he believes that the {{God}} whom he read about in a Christian booklet, ''Good Words to Admonish the Age''[[note]]which he had received from an American priest named Edwin Stevens in Canton, modern-day Guangzhou[[/note]] was the same one in his visions. With his eyes opened, Hong [[TurnToReligion converts to Christianity]]; his new goal in life is [[PreacherMan spreading his newfound faith]] by destroying the symbols of China's old faiths, and converting people to Christianity. Eventually, he [[CultofPersonality gains a substantial following]], and forms his own cult known as [[TheCult the Society of God Worshippers]][[note]]They are later renamed the Taipings/Taiping rebels.[[/note]]. The rising prominence of the God Worshippers among the peasants stokes the ire of the local Qing authorities, who try to shut down the religious sect. Hong and his followers manage to defeat the force sent to crush his cult. Invigorated by his victories, Hong declares that he shall [[CallToAdventure liberate China]] from the Qing; this leads to what would be known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, [[CivilWar the Taiping Rebellion]][[note]]which officially lasts from December 1850 to August 1864[[/note]]...

* AchievementTestOfDestiny: The Imperial Examination, which is a civil service examination system that was used in ImperialChina for the purpose of selecting candidates for state bureaucracy. In order to pass, the applicants must be capable writers, understand Chinese classics (primarily the works of {{Creator/Confucius}} and {{Creator/Laozi}}), and demonstrate literary styles. Both Xiuquan and Yunshan tried to pass this exam multiple times, but they were unsuccessful. Xiuquan's inability to pass the exam leads him to seek out Christianity as the solution to his life's problems.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Hong Xiuquan was historically known as a [[ReallyGetsAround womanizing]] tyrant who abused his power ([[{{Hypocrite}} like forbidding his people from having sex, meanwhile he had a]] RoyalHarem). In this drama series, he is depicted as a naïvely [[TheGoodKing benevolent]] king in an increasingly corrupt, DecadentCourt. In the drama, he only has one [[TheHighQueen queen]], and [[HotConsort one concubine]], Ye Ling.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The show makes [[SelectiveHistoricalArmoury very infrequent usage of guns and cannons]]. Usually battles in the drama are fought via excessive[[MartialArtsAndCrafts martial arts]], and the occasional usage of archers. Historically, gunpowder weapons were used very frequently by both sides of the Taiping Rebellion.

Twilight of a Nation (Chinese: 太平天國 ''Tai Ping Tin Gwok'', also known as ''Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'')[[note]]"Tai Ping" meaning "Great Peace" in Chinese[[/note]] is a UsefulNotes/HongKong television drama series starring Ray Lui as Hong Xiuquan, Felix Wong as Yang Xiuqing, and Man-Yee "Barbara" Chan as Hong Xuanjiao. Set during the late UsefulNotes/QingDynasty era, this series loosely follows the [[{{Biopic}} life]] of Hong Xiuquan, a young [[UsefulNotes/ChineseDialectsAndAccents Hakka]] [[StarvingStudent scholar]] who wants to pass [[AchievementTestOfDestiny the Imperial Examination]] so that he can uplift his family out of poverty, but he fails… which leads to him having [[HeroicBSOD a mental breakdown]]. After being rendered [[AngstComa sick and comatose by his anxiety]], Hong [[FeverDreamEpisode dreams about being in Heaven]], and meeting {{God}}. Upon meeting him, Hong [[DreamingOfThingsToCome receives a startling revelation]]: he is [[DivineParentage God's Second Son]], and the younger brother of UsefulNotes/JesusChrist. Furthermore, God instructs Hong to purge China of its [[ScamReligion idols]] and demons. After Hong awakens from his coma, he believes that the {{God}} whom he read about in a Christian booklet, ''Good Words to Admonish the Age''[[note]]which he had received from an American priest named Edwin Stevens in Canton, modern-day Guangzhou[[/note]], was the same one in his visions. With his eyes opened, Hong [[TurnToReligion converts to Christianity]]; his new goal in life is [[PreacherMan spreading his newfound faith]] by destroying the symbols of China's old faiths, and converting people to Christianity. Eventually, he [[CultofPersonality gains a substantial following]], and forms his own cult known as [[TheCult the Society of God Worshippers]][[note]]They are later renamed the Taipings/Taiping rebels.[[/note]]. The rising prominence of the God Worshippers among the peasants stokes the ire of the local Qing authorities, who try to shut down the religious sect. Hong and his followers manage to defeat the force sent to crush his cult. Invigorated by his victories, Hong declares that he shall [[CallToAdventure liberate China]] from the Qing; this leads to what would be known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, [[CivilWar the Taiping Rebellion]][[note]]which officially lasts from December 1850 to August 1864[[/note]]...

Twilight of a Nation (Chinese: 太平天國 ''Taai Ping Tin Gwok'', also known as ''Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'')[[note]]"Taai Ping meaning "Great Peace"[[/note]] is a UsefulNotes/HongKong television drama series starring Ray Lui as Hong Xiuquan, Felix Wong as Yang Xiuqing, and Man-Yee "Barbara" Chan as Hong Xuanjiao. Set during the late UsefulNotes/QingDynasty era, this series loosely follows the [[{{Biopic}} life]] of Hong Xiuquan, a young [[UsefulNotes/ChineseDialectsAndAccents Hakka]] [[StarvingStudent scholar]] who wants to pass [[AchievementTestOfDestiny the Imperial Examination]] so that he can uplift his family out of poverty, but he fails… which leads to him having [[HeroicBSOD a mental breakdown]]. After being rendered [[AngstComa sick and comatose by his anxiety]], Hong [[FeverDreamEpisode dreams about being in Heaven]], and meeting {{God}}. Upon meeting him, Hong [[DreamingOfThingsToCome receives a startling revelation]]: he is [[DivineParentage God's Second Son]], and the younger brother of UsefulNotes/JesusChrist. Furthermore, God instructs Hong to purge China of its [[ScamReligion idols]] and demons. After Hong awakens from his coma, he believes that the {{God}} whom he read about in a Christian booklet, ''Good Words to Admonish the Age''[[note]]which he had received from an American priest named Edwin Stevens in Canton, modern-day Guangzhou[[/note]], was the same one in his visions. With his eyes opened, Hong [[TurnToReligion converts to Christianity]]; his new goal in life is [[PreacherMan spreading his newfound faith]] by destroying the symbols of China's old faiths, and converting people to Christianity. Eventually, he [[CultofPersonality gains a substantial following]], and forms his own cult known as [[TheCult the Society of God Worshippers]][[note]]They are later renamed the Taipings/Taiping rebels.[[/note]]. The rising prominence of the God Worshippers among the peasants stokes the ire of the local Qing authorities, who try to shut down the religious sect. Hong and his followers manage to defeat the force sent to crush his cult. Invigorated by his victories, Hong declares that he shall [[CallToAdventure liberate China]] from the Qing; this leads to what would be known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, [[CivilWar the Taiping Rebellion]][[note]]which officially lasts from December 1850 to August 1864[[/note]]...

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Hong Xiuquan was historically known as a [[ReallyGetsAround womanizing]] tyrant who abused his power ([[{{Hypocrite}} like forbidding his people from having sex, meanwhile he had a]] RoyalHarem). In this drama series, he is depicted as a naïvely [[TheGoodKing benevolent]] king in an increasingly corrupt, DecadentCourt. He has a [[TheHighQueen queen]], and only [[HotConsort one concubine]], Ye Ling.

* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: [[spoiler: Ye Ling, who is Hong's [[HotConsort royal concubine]], and later became his second queen.]]

Twilight of a Nation (Chinese: 太平天國 ''Taai Ping Tin Gwok'', also known as ''Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'')[[note]]"Taai Ping meaning "Great Peace"[[/note]] is a UsefulNotes/HongKong television drama series starring Ray Lui as Hong Xiuquan, Felix Wong as Yang Xiuqing, and Man-Yee "Barbara" Chan as Hong Xuanjiao. Set during the late UsefulNotes/QingDynasty era, this series loosely follows the [[{{Biopic}} life]] of Hong Xiuquan, a young [[UsefulNotes/ChineseDialectsAndAccents Hakka]] [[StarvingStudent scholar]] who wants to pass [[AchievementTestOfDestiny the Imperial Examination]] so that he can uplift his family out of poverty, but he fails… which leads to him having [[HeroicBSOD a mental breakdown]]. After being rendered [[AngstComa sick and comatose by his anxiety]], Hong [[FeverDreamEpisode dreams about being in Heaven]], and meeting {{God}}. Upon meeting him, Hong [[DreamingOfThingsToCome receives a startling revelation]]: he is [[DivineParentage God's Second Son]], and the younger brother of UsefulNotes/JesusChrist. Furthermore, God instructs Hong to purge China of its [[ScamReligion idols]] and demons. After Hong awakens from his coma, he believes that the {{God}} whom he read about in a Christian booklet [[note]]which he had received from an American priest named Edwin Stevens in Canton, modern-day Guangzhou[[/note]] was the same one in his visions. With his eyes opened, Hong [[TurnToReligion converts to Christianity]]; his new goal in life is [[PreacherMan spreading his newfound faith]] by destroying the symbols of China's old faiths, and converting people to Christianity. Eventually, he [[CultofPersonality gains a substantial following]], and forms his own cult known as [[TheCult the Society of God Worshippers]][[note]]They are later renamed the Taipings/Taiping rebels.[[/note]]. The rising prominence of the God Worshippers among the peasants stokes the ire of the local Qing authorities, who try to shut down the religious sect. Hong and his followers manage to defeat the force sent to crush his cult. Invigorated by his victories, Hong declares that he shall [[CallToAdventure liberate China]] from the Qing; this leads to what would be known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, [[CivilWar the Taiping Rebellion]][[note]]which officially lasts from December 1850 to August 1864[[/note]]...

Twilight of a Nation (Chinese: 太平天國 ''Taai Ping Tin Gwok'', also known as ''Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'')[[note]]"Taai Ping meaning "Great Peace"[[/note]] is a UsefulNotes/HongKong television drama series starring Ray Lui as Hong Xiuquan, Felix Wong as Yang Xiuqing, and Man-Yee "Barbara" Chan as Hong Xuanjiao. Set during the late UsefulNotes/QingDynasty era, this series loosely follows the [[{{Biopic}} life]] of Hong Xiuquan, a young [[UsefulNotes/ChineseDialectsAndAccents Hakka]] [[StarvingStudent scholar]] who wants to pass [[AchievementTestOfDestiny the Imperial Examination]] so that he can uplift his family out of poverty, but he fails… which leads to him having [[HeroicBSOD a mental breakdown]]. After being rendered [[AngstComa sick and comatose by his anxiety]], Hong [[FeverDreamEpisode dreams about being in Heaven]], and meeting {{God}}. Upon meeting him, Hong [[DreamingOfThingsToCome receives a startling revelation]]: he is [[DivineParentage God's Second Son]], and the younger brother of UsefulNotes/JesusChrist. Furthermore, God instructs Hong to purge China of its [[ScamReligion idols]] and demons. After Hong awakens from his coma, he believes that the {{God}} who he read about in a Christian booklet[[note]]which he had received from an American priest named Edwin Stevens in Canton, modern-day Guangzhou[[/note]] was the same one in his visions. With his eyes opened, Hong [[TurnToReligion converts to Christianity]]; his new goal in life is [[PreacherMan spreading his newfound faith]] by destroying the symbols of China's old faiths, and converting people to Christianity. Eventually, he [[CultofPersonality gains a substantial following]], and forms his own cult known as [[TheCult the Society of God Worshippers]][[note]]They are later renamed the Taipings/Taiping rebels.[[/note]]. The rising prominence of the God Worshippers among the peasants stokes the ire of the local Qing authorities, who try to shut down the religious sect. Hong and his followers manage to defeat the force sent to crush his cult. Invigorated by his victories, Hong declares that he shall [[CallToAdventure liberate China]] from the Qing; this leads to what would be known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, [[CivilWar the Taiping Rebellion]][[note]]which officially lasts from December 1850 to August 1864[[/note]]...