The Taiping tolerance of the esoteric rituals…

The Taiping tolerance of the esoteric rituals and quasi-religious societies of south China—themselves a threat to Qing stability—and their relentless attacks on Confucianism—still widely accepted as the moral foundation of Chinese behavior-contribute to the ultimate defeat of the rebellion.

Its advocacy of radical social reforms alienates the Han Chinese scholar-gentry class.

The Taiping army, although it has captured Nanjing and driven as far north as Tianjin, fails to establish stable base areas.

The movement's leaders find themselves in a net of internal feuds, defections, and corruption.