Blackwell Reference Online

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Hong Xiuquan was born on December 10, 1814 to a literate peasant Hakka family in Guangdong. Following the contemporary path toward social mobility, Hong sought to enter the national civil service. In 1827 he took the exam and failed miserably. A second attempt followed with dismal results. In 1837, after failing the exam for the third time, Hong fell deathly ill, with ailments now assumed to be triggered by his mental collapse. During the subsequent days he had what he described as a mystical vision in which he was visited by an ancient figure with a beard of gold. This man told him that the world was filled with evil spirits, provided Hong with a sword and seal, and instructed him to use these as weapons to destroy them. A second man came to him during these delusional days and taught him how to use the instruments he was provided with by the old man. Hong recovered from his despair and returned to his village, before returning to Guangzhou in 1843 one more time to attempt the exam. The result was his fourth failure. Returning to his life as a schoolteacher, Hong soon found himself reading a book entitled Quanshi liangyan (“Good Words for Exhorting the Age”). He had obtained this tome, written by a Chinese Christian missionary, during his trip to Guangzhou in 1837, but is said to have left it on his bookshelf at home until his cousin, Li Jingfang, brought it to his attention. ... log in or subscribe to read full text