What were the effects of the Muslim rebellion in Gansu from 1862 to 1878?

The Muslim rebellion in Gansu (1862–1878) was a period of intense conflict that resulted in catastrophic devastation and significant depopulation across the region. Before the intervention of Zuo Zongtang, the province suffered from a total breakdown of law and order, characterized by widespread bloodshed and destruction.12

The rebellion affected more than 10 million people. Following the destruction of rebel strongholds, Zuo Zongtang worked to stabilize the area by extending Chinese educational and civil service systems into the conquered districts, which helped subside the violence and restore peace.1

On a broader scale, the suppression of such uprisings contributed to the decentralization of the Qing dynasty. Because the central government struggled to fund expeditions to remote provinces, it relied on local armies and provincial leaders, which increased the military and financial autonomy of regional governors. Furthermore, the success of these campaigns shifted the locus of political power from the Manchu elite toward the Chinese leaders who commanded the armies responsible for the pacification.2