Hong Xiuquan's Dangerous Vision

Hong Xiuquan failed the imperial civil service examinations four times, suffering a nervous breakdown during which he had visions. He interpreted them through Christian missionary pamphlets, concluding he was God's Chinese son sent to destroy demons and establish heaven on Earth.

His personal crisis, amplified by millions of desperate peasants, became one of history's deadliest movements. The Taiping Rebellion shaped modern China very profoundly, influencing both Sun Yat-sen and Mao Zedong.