Throughout modern Chinese history, the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 has been mythologized to serve various political purposes. When the West is defined as the aggressor, the Boxer resistance were treated in laudatory terms. But when the West is seen as the source of modern life, the Luddite-like machine-bashing of the Boxer movement was seen as embarrassing and was roundly condemned.
The Taiping Rebellion, 50 years before the Boxer Rebellion, amassed far more casualties and lasted a decade longer. How was the Taiping Rebellion mythologized in China compared to the Boxer Rebellion?
Surprisingly, despite being a christain the leader of the rebellion and the Taiping kingdom, Hong Xiuquan, has been looked upon favourably because he fought against the corrupt Qing empire and he and his ministers had some communist like ideas. Also, Sun-Yat sen a famous Chinese republican was said to be an admirer of Xiuqans.
Source: Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom by stephen Platt