Origin, Transformation and Application: Hong Xiuquan’s Mysticism in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Journal of Chinese Theology January 15, 2024 Dong Ning, Jingxin Pu 3 citations
Hong Xiuquan, believing that God exists through mystical experiences, studied Eastern and Western religions and launched the Taiping Rebellion, which combined Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, witchcraft, and medicine with Manchu-Han conflict. The rebellion was more cruel and vast than the American Civil War. This paper compares his own and Western perceptions of his religious experience to analyze the causes and principles of his miraculous phenomena—such as his life, dreaming, and preaching—from a theological and life-practice perspective. It re-examines religion's role in the historical processes of China, America, and Eurasia and addresses whether Hong's beliefs and miracles truly existed and how the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was established through different religions. The research also helps judge warfare forms across cultural and religious contexts.