In 18th-century China, the Qing dynasty was firmly under rule, but the suffering of the people was increasing. In the more than 100 years before the Xinhai Revolution, social contradictions intensified, and feudal oppression and the intrusion of foreign forces made people's lives difficult. It is in this historical context that the Heaven and Earth Society came into being. The Tiandihui was originally founded by Zheng Kai, a native of Fujian, during the Qianlong period, with the intention of resisting the rule of the Qing court and restoring Han Chinese power. As a secret social organization, it not only expanded rapidly in Fujian itself, but also followed the footsteps of Fujian immigrants to Taiwan, and even radiated to a wider area.
Zheng Kai, a native of Zhangzhou, Fujian, was poor since he was a child, and left his hometown in his early years, and his story is inseparable from the legend of Tiandihui. In 1761, Zheng Kai returned to his hometown and was already a Buddhist monk. At a gathering in Gaotang Village, Yunxiao County, he and several close friends discussed the general trend of the world and had the intention of change.
"Brothers, the mountain is high and the emperor is far away, and the time has come for our Kuhai people to turn over." Zheng Kai's eyes flashed with longing for the future, and his words stirred the hearts of everyone present.
"Brother Zheng, what do you want?" A friend asked.
"By establishing a brotherhood, called the 'Heaven and Earth Society', we must strive for self-improvement and strive for the liberation of the nation." Zheng Kai's tone was firm.
So, a secret alliance ceremony was held in a hidden cave, and Zheng Kai and his brothers exchanged swords and swore to the death. They developed a strict set of codes and gestures to ensure the safety and secrecy of the organization's operations.
The influence of the Tiandihui expanded rapidly, not only in Fujian, but also in Guangdong, Taiwan and other places. In 1770, under the guidance of Zheng Kai, the Society of Heaven and Earth planned several small-scale uprisings, all of which failed, but greatly boosted the anti-Qing sentiment of the people.
"These small-scale struggles have not been successful, but they are like sparks that will eventually ignite a raging fire." Zheng Kai encouraged in a meeting.
In 1786, Lin Shuangwen, the head of Taiwan's Heaven and Earth Hall, launched a large-scale uprising, which occupied almost all of Taiwan. The Qing court was shocked, and Emperor Qianlong had to send elite troops across the sea to suppress it.
The battle lasted for two years, and although Lin Shuangwen's uprising was suppressed, the fire of the Heaven and Earth Society had been sown in the hearts of the people. Although Zheng Kai has traveled all over the world, his spirit and the concept of the Heaven and Earth Society have always existed.
After the war, the Qing court began to crack down on the Heaven and Earth Society, and many members were arrested and killed. However, the influence of the Tiandihui has become deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and its ideas and organizational network have gone underground, and it has continued to survive tenaciously on the land of China, inspiring many subsequent anti-Qing activities. Zheng Kai's story, although he did not experience these fierce struggles, is like the rising sun, inspiring those who come after him.
The history of the Heaven and Earth Society is not just a record of rebellion, but an indomitable spiritual inheritance. Although Zheng Kai has passed away, the seeds of resistance he planted have taken root and flourished on the land of China. Every small-scale uprising is a protest against injustice and a yearning for freedom. Heaven and earth will teach us not only the courage to fight, but also the wisdom to find hope in the face of adversity. As Zheng Kai said: "I have no regrets in this life to enter China, and I will still be a Chinese in the next life." This dedication and love have created a revolutionary spirit that will never fade, stirring in the hearts of every person who pursues freedom and justice.