太平天国的失败表面上看是被以曾国藩为首的湘军所镇压。实际上更深层的原因还在于以洪秀全为首的太平天国的文化意识和政治取向不能顺应时代发展要求而丧失了军心民心。对外军事斗争的胜负 ,取决于内在政治军事思想的进步和统一。而思想的进步和统一则来源于文化的进步与开明 The defeat of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was ostensibly suppressed by the Hunan army headed by Zeng Guofan. In fact, the deeper reason is that the cultural awareness and political orientation of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom led by Hong Xiuquan can not meet the requirements of the development of the times and have lost its morale and the people. The outcome of foreign military struggles depends on the progress and unity of the internal political and military thoughts. The progress and unity of thought come from cultural progress and enlightenment