The Visions of Hong Xiuquan 1836

The delirium of Hong Xiuquan

Hong went to Guangzhou again  in 1836 at the age of 22 to take the Confucian state examinations , again failed and was seized with a violent fever upon returning home .and two days after was much worse, with occasional attacks of delirium.. He was seen by two doctors, who could do nothing for him . Perhaps a nervous breakdown .

He fell into a trance, during which his visions were not only much more connected than usual, but so vivid, that he afterwards distinctly remembered them, and believed them to be realities. This dream opened with the sight of a very large procession approaching him from a distance. It came on with music, and banners flying ; with lanterns, and lighted torches ; with artificial dragons, and dire chimeras ; escorted by men-at-arms, and mandarins' horsemen ; and preceded by volleys of fire-crackers. When the procession arrived where Siu-tshuen was, a splendid red and gilt sedan-chair was set down before him, and, on entering it, he was borne away as in triumph.

A New Heart

After that he entered a palace, There Siu-tshuen found a large company of venerable men assembled, including some of the ancient sages, and among them the illustrious surgeon Chin- kwei, who had lived on earth in the Liang dynasty. He had been called in to perform, in the presence of a crowd of worthies, the act of changing the heart of the newly-arrived mortal. Having his instruments duly arranged, he ordered the patient to make bare his breast. When this had been done, he removed the heart, and neighboring parts, from Siu-tshuen's body in less time than it had taken him to pull off his jacket. An attendant standing by with a celestial and brilliantly-red heart in his hand, doctor Chin-kwei clapped it into the place of the one which had been extracted, and sewed up the wound so cleverly that when Siu- tshuen put on his clothes again, he could no longer discern the scar.

The operation was attended with no pain whatsoever. Siu-tshuen was now allowed to go into the presence of the lord of the palace. A number of the venerable sages, who had been present at the operation of his change of heart, escorted him on his way through the halls and courts of the extensive pile of buildings. Its internal magnificence equaled that of the exterior. Siu-tshuen passed through marble halls beautifully decorated with inlaid stones of great value ; through apartments hung with magnificently-embroidered tapestry ; through others entirely covered with gilding ; and others still, which were stained with the most brilliant colors, and their walls adorned either with paintings, or tablets, exhorting to virtue.

 Xiuquan was amazed at all this splendor, and came quite confounded into the presence of the lord of the mansion. Venerable in years, having a long golden beard hanging down his breast, and solemnly robed in black, this personage sat upon an elevated throne, and received the stranger with dignity, but much feeling. He was even affected to tears, and briefly said, "All the human beings in the world are created and sustained by me ; yet, though they eat my food and wear my clothing, not one of them all remembers and venerates me ; they even take of my gifts and pervert them to the worship of demons ; they purposely rebel against me, and arouse my anger. Imitate them not."*

When the aged lord of the palace had finished this speech, he gave  Xiuquan a sword, telling him to exterminate the demons with it ; also a seal which should give him power over evil spirits ; and a yellow fruit from the tree of life which was sweet to the taste. Then, exhorting him to take courage for the work it was given him to do, and promising his constant assistance and protection, he dismissed him from his presence.

Meets Jesus

 Xiuquan was approached by a person of middle age, whom he afterwards called Jesus, his "elder brother," and who led him away to the top of the tower belonging to the palace. Thence showing him the earth in the distance, he said, " Behold the people in yonder world ; they are wicked in all the thoughts of their hearts." Thereupon, Siu-tshuen, looking over the face of the earth, saw that it was indeed full of wickedness ; and his eyes not being able to endure the sight of 80 much iniquity, he awoke from his trance.

When  Xiuquan awoke from his trance, being fully convinced of the reality of what he had seen in imagination, he arose, tottered into the presence of his father, and, making a low bow, said, The venerable old man above has commanded that all men shall turn to me, and all treasures shall flow to me." the next day,  Xiuquan was more furious. than ever. He leaped about in his narrow room, fighting like a soldier with sword in hand. At the same time he shouted aloud, crying repeatedly, " Tsan jan, tsan jan, tsan ah! tsan ah " that is, "Slay the demons, slay the demons, slay, slay !" He was in imagination pursuing the enemies of " the old man," having in one hand the sword which had been given him, and in the other the seal.

Some person had most of the time to watch at his door, to prevent his running out of the house. He was known through the village as the madman.

At the end of forty days, the son of he was restored to health of both body and mind ; and there was an end of his visions. During ten long years the pious tracts of Liang Afah had lain undisturbed on the shelf of  Xiuquan ; but the dust was at length to be brushed from their covers, and they were to be a light in his path, to lighten him until he should ascend the steps of a throne, and fulfill the divine purpose of converting millions of men from the error of idolatry.

 Early Life of Hong Xiuquan

Home

 Xiuquan Rereads the Tracts