Shi Dakai
| Shi DaKai | |
|---|---|
| Wing King of the Heavenly Kingdom | |
| Reign | 1851 – 1863 |
| Born | 1831 |
| Died | 1863 (aged 32) |
Shi Dakai (March 1831 – 25 June 1863; simplified Chinese: 石达开; traditional Chinese: 石達開; pinyin: Shí Dákāi), born in Guigang, Guangxi, also known as Wing King (翼王五千岁 Lord of Five Thousand Years) or phonetically translated as Yi-Wang, was one of the most highly acclaimed leaders in the Taiping Rebellion and a poet.
Shi was born into a moderately wealthy peasant family, of half-Hakka and half-Zhuang parentage. He headed the family at a young age after being orphaned, and was known in the local community for his hospitality, martial skills and justice in handling local affairs. Disillusioned with the corrupt Qing dynasty, he did not participate in the imperial examinations despite being accomplished in his studies. In 1849, at the age of 16, Shi was sought out by Feng Yunshan and Hong Xiuquan, and joined them in the leadership of the rebellion. Quickly distinguished by his brilliant tactics, skilled training of the troops and fair administration of the public funds, Shi was made commander of his own army at the age of nineteen.
In January 1851, Hong Xiuquan and the five key leaders of the rebellion (among whom Shi was the youngest) formally established the Kingdom of Heavenly Peace in Jintian, with about twenty thousand followers. In May, the Taiping army moved into Guangxi, followed by the Qing army, who launched a fierce attack. At Renyi's watergate, Shi used stealth strategy to win a decisive victory with three hundred men against the enemies' five thousand. In August, after the Taiping conquered the city Yongan, Shi won wide admiration from the populace for his gentle rule and fair administration, people attracted by his reputation coming to join the rebellion in flocks. In October, Hong Xiuquan made the twenty-year-old Shi E-Wang, "Lord of the Holy Lighting". Shi later spearheaded the series of battles that won the city Nanjing for the Taiping, where they established their capital, to be known as Tianjing, or Heavenly Capital (天京). Now legendary and avowed among the Qing army, Shi was also the only Taiping commander who fought through those battles without a single defeat. Both friend and foe noted his kindness in treating civilians, and folk songs that commemorated his victories became popular in the lands the Taiping moved through.
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