对洪秀全太平天国历史定位的商讨

Reconsidering the Historical Status of Heavenly Kingdom Led by Hong Xiuquan

有学者称近20年来对太平天国与辛亥革命的评价,先后发生巨大反差的现象。所谓反差,有说太平天国的赞颂者与批判者已形成势均力敌的两大流派,亦有提出否定太平天国必然为曾国藩翻案,为曾国藩翻案必然否定太平天国。这种感情用事、各执一偏而简单对立的思维方式,对历史问题无助于得出公平公正的评价。该文不参加两大流派的争论,主张用科学理性的分析,对洪秀全太平天国做尽可能符合客观实际的历史定位。

It has been a striking contrast towards the appraisal of Heavenly Kingdom and the Revolution of 1911 among some scholars in the recent two decades. The so called contrast refers to the two counterbalanced schools of praising and criticizing Heavenly Kingdom. Meanwhile some scholars argue that it is inevitable to reverse the verdict for Zeng Guofan if dispraising Heavenly Kingdom, or vice versa. This simplicist, irrational, one sided way of thinking is detrimental to a fair and just appraisal of historical issues. This paper stands away from the debate between the two schools, and suggests a scientific and rational analysis of Heavenly Kingdom so as to give an objective and realistic appraisal of its historical status.