The Nature of the "Three Feudatories Rebellion" and the Causes for Its Failure

Abstract

In 1673, the of Western Pacification [P'ing-hsi Wang] Wu San-kuei [1612-1678], of Southern Calm [Ching-nan Wang] Keng Ching-chung [d. 1682] and the Prince of Southern Pacification [P'ing-nan Wang]Shang Chih-hsin[d. 1680] rose in succession against the Ch'ing in what is historically called the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories. This is great event in early Ch'ing history; the war lasted eight years in its entirety, and it was only in 1681 that the Three Feudatories were suppressed by the Ch'ing court. The old feudal historians have various opinions toward the rebellion. Those who have viewed Wu from the perspective of loyalty to the ruler harshly condemn him as a traitor to two dynasties [liang-ch'ao luan-tse], who under the destroyed the Ming [tsai-Ming wang-Ming] and while serving the Ch'ing betrayed the Ch'ing [shih-Ch'ing p'an-Ch'ing].