Hometown of the Four Kings of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

Hometown of the Four Kings of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

The Hometown of the Four Kings of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is a cultural tourism attraction.

Hometown of the Four Kings of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

The Hometown of the Four Kings of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is situated in Dalí Town in the northwest of Teng County. It is the birthplace of four key leaders of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom peasant revolutionary movement: the Loyal King Li Xiucheng, the Brave King Chen Yucheng, the Supply King Lai Wenguang, and the Attendant King Li Shixian. It was also a revolutionary base for the Meijiang Guerrilla Unit, leading to its recognition as an old revolutionary base area. The homeland of the Four Kings is blessed with picturesque scenery and a mystical charm.

When the Taiping Rebellion began with the uprising in Jintian Village, the Taiping Army marched northward, entering Dalí from Pingnan. In the first year of the Xianfeng reign (1851), Luo Dagang's forces stationed in Dalí for a month, recruiting soldiers and regrouping before marching on to Yong’an Prefecture. Li Xiucheng, Chen Yucheng, and Li Shixian all joined the Taiping Army. They were unwaveringly loyal to the revolution, fighting bravely to overthrow the reactionary rule of the Qing Dynasty and resist foreign aggression. The Four Kings became renowned for their military prowess and served as pillars of strength in the later stages of the Heavenly Kingdom. During the rebellion, Teng County also produced 13 other kings, including the Support King Chen Decai, the Tide King Huang Zilong, the Protect King Li Yuanji, the Uplift King Li Mingcheng, the Broad King Li Kaishun, the Natural King Chen Shiyong, the Ancestral King Li Shangyang, the Successful King Chen Jucheng, and the Esteemed King Li Ruisheng. In 1985, during a national academic conference on Taiping Heavenly Kingdom history hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 160 scholars from China and abroad visited Dalí for field research, drawing greater attention from historians and tourists alike. Today, near the eastern side of Dalí Town along the Dalí River, there is an exhibition hall showcasing the history and achievements of the Four Kings. The hall displays statues of the Four Kings, brief biographies of their exploits, and some of the relics they once used — offering a rich historical experience. The scenic surroundings of the hall make it a worthwhile destination for visitors. The former residences of the Loyal King, the Supply King, and the Attendant King are located about 1 km northwest of the Dalí Town government center. Among them, the residence of the Supply King Lai Wenguang still stands (it had been burned down by Qing troops but was later restored), while only ruins remain of the Loyal King and Attendant King’s homes, which await restoration. The residence of the Brave King Chen Yucheng is located in Dong’an Xian’an Village, 3 km from the town, and only ruins remain there as well, with plans for restoration underway. Approximately 400 m west of Dalí Town lies Gǔsī Society, a 3,000-square-meter grassy area with an ancient banyan tree in the center, through which a small stream flows. The surrounding countryside is beautifully scenic. Legend says that the Four Kings once gathered Taiping troops here for worship ceremonies, during which a large flag miraculously rose on its own — hence the site is called "Worship God Flat." It is now planned to be the site of the Four Kings Pavilion in Dalí.

In the 24th year of the Daoguang reign (1844), Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan established the God Worshipping Society, and Li Xiucheng’s entire family joined it. After the Second Opium War, the Qing government signed the Treaty of Tianjin and the Treaty of Beijing. Foreign powers shifted from confronting the Qing to courting it, eventually aiding the Qing government in jointly suppressing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. It was at this time that Li Xiucheng led the Taiping Army in the fight against foreign aggression.

Personal Biography

From Soldier to Loyal King

On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month in the 30th year of the Daoguang reign (January 11, 1851), Hong Xiuquan... Detailed information on Li Xiucheng++

Chen Yucheng (1837 – June 4, 1862), originally named Peicheng, was a native of Teng County, Guangxi (some say Guiping). He was a famous military strategist and commander of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Born in 1837 (17th year of the Daoguang reign) into a poor farming family, Chen Yucheng lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his grandparents. Standing not very tall and having a dark spot under each eye, he was playfully nicknamed “Four-Eyed Dog.” In the autumn of 1850, when Hong Xiuquan called for mass conscription, the 13-year-old Chen Yucheng joined the Jintian Uprising alongside his uncle Chen Chengrong, becoming a child soldier... Detailed information on Chen Yucheng++

Lai Wenguang was born in October 1818 in Güzhi Village, Dalí Township, Teng County, Guangxi. His original name was Haiping, father’s name Ruisen, mother’s surname Yao. A native of Güzhi Village in Dalí Township, he joined the Triad Society early on. When Hong Xiuquan planned to raid Qing tax revenues on the Da Huang River, Lai joined the uprising under Luo Dagang. Sturdy and chivalrous, with excellent boating skills, he was one of the founders of the Taiping naval forces and an outstanding general in the later stages of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Personal Resume

In 1852, he followed the army in its campaign in Hunan and was ordered to oversee the construction of the naval fleet in Yueyang. As the Taiping Army captured Hengyang, Changsha, and Wuchang, he was appointed as a military advisor. The following year, after the establishment of Tianjing as the capital, he was promoted to general and assigned to the unit under Li Xiucheng.

18... Detailed information on Lai Wenguang++

Li Shixian (1834 (Year of the Wood Horse) – August 23, 1865 (Year of the Wood Ox)), from Dalí Township, Teng County, Guangxi, was a key general of the later Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and a cousin of Li Xiucheng. He was granted the title of “Attendant King.” After the fall of Tianjing, he continued to lead a portion of the Taiping forces in resistance against the Qing. He was killed by allied forces in 1865.

Li Shixian was the cousin of the famed Taiping general, the Loyal King Li Xiucheng. In 1851, he joined the Taiping Army and demonstrated exceptional bravery in battle. After the Tianjing Incident and the departure of Wing King Shi Dakai with his troops, the Taiping leadership suffered a talent drain, leaving the movement in a state described as “no generals in court, no men in the country.” Li Shixian... Detailed information on Li Shixian++