Amnesty and Surrender in the White Lotus War

Abstract

This study focuses on amnesty and surrender in the White Lotus war (1796–1804) from the rebel perspective. Offers of amnesty corresponded to Confucian norms regarding the relationship between rulers and subjects and were regularly utilized throughout the war by the court and its officials as a tool to pacify and succor the people. Paternalistic language about the proper behavior of good subjects notwithstanding, the rebels acted of their own accord. The rebels made strategic decisions about amnesty and surrender and sought the advantage when opportunities arose; their responses to amnesty proclamations accordingly alternated between engagement and opposition. Over the course of the revolt, there was significant resistance to pacification initiatives from the rebel side. Rebel intransigence detracted from the efficacy of amnesty policies and compelled the court to adapt its tactics. In sum, viewing state policies of appeasement from the rebel side reveals the contingencies governing decisions to surrender and further demonstrates that the contest over amnesty and surrender was an important component of the overall conflict.