Hong-
Siu-Tsuen-- for such was his name-- saw visions, went into
ecstasies, and entered into relations with the Deity. Shortly
afterwards, he fell in with a Methodist missionary from America,
who instructed him in the Christian religion. The new doctrine,
working upon the mystical ferment already in Hong's mind,
produced a remarkable result. He was, he declared, the prophet of
God; he was more-- he was the Son of God; he was Tien Wang, the
Celestial King; he was the younger brother of Jesus.
The times were propitious, and proselytes soon gathered around
him.
Having conceived a grudge against the Government, owing to his
failure
in an examination, Hong gave a political turn to his teaching,
which soon developed into a propaganda of rebellion against the
rule of the Manchus and the Mandarins. The authorities took
fright, attempted to suppress Hong by force, and failed. The
movement spread. By 1850 the rebels were overrunning the populous
and flourishing delta of the Yangtse Kiang, and had become a
formidable force. In 1853 they captured Nankin, which was
henceforth their capital. The Tien Wang, established himself in a
splendid palace, and proclaimed his new evangel. His theogony
included the wife of God, or the celestial Mother, the wife of
Jesus, or the celestial daughter-in-law, and a sister of Jesus,
whom he married to one of his lieutenants, who thus became the
celestial son-in-law; the Holy Ghost, however, was eliminated.
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