What policies did the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom practice in Nanjing?

After capturing Nanjing in 1853, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom renamed the city Tianjing ("Heavenly Capital") and implemented a series of radical social and administrative policies.12

Social and Religious Reforms

The Taiping leadership enforced a strict moral code rooted in their unique interpretation of Christianity. They prohibited prostitution, foot-binding, slavery, adultery, gambling, and the use of opium, tobacco, and alcohol. The regime also decreed equality between men and women and simplified the Chinese language.13

Economic and Administrative Policies

The Taiping vision for Nanjing included:
* Communal Ownership: The regime promoted the idea of a "general treasury" where all property was held in common to foster universal brotherhood.132
* Land Reform: They planned for the equal distribution of farmland based on a primitive form of communism. However, this policy proved largely impracticable, as village administrative posts were often filled by former landlords or local clerks, failing to replace the existing rural order.12
* Governance: The Taiping organized their military into disciplined, separate men’s and women’s divisions and appointed village officials to manage local affairs.12

Despite these goals, internal strife, religious fanaticism, and the alienation of the gentry eventually undermined their administration.12