God’s Chinese Prophet: Hong Xiuquan’s Visions and the Religious Roots of the Taiping Rebellion

What if one man's divine vision could ignite a war that killed millions and nearly toppled an empire? In God's Chinese Prophet: Hong Xiuquan's Visions and the Religious Roots of the Taiping Rebellion, Arthur Vance Sterling unveils the electrifying story of Hong Xiuquan, a failed scholar whose fevered dreams of being Jesus' younger brother sparked the Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864), one of history's deadliest conflicts. This gripping historical non-fiction plunges you into the heart of 19th-century China, where a fusion of Christian fervor and Chinese millenarianism rallied millions to challenge the Qing dynasty. Sterling's vivid prose captures the chaos and charisma of a prophet whose visions promised a Heavenly Kingdom but delivered a cataclysm, reshaping a nation's destiny. For readers of historical non-fiction, this is a tale of faith, rebellion, and the shattering cost of utopian dreams. Step into the turbulent world of Guangdong, where Hong's visions transformed a marginalized Hakka community into a revolutionary force. Sterling meticulously traces how a single pamphlet from a Christian missionary ignited Hong's apocalyptic theology, blending it with anti-Manchu rage to form the God-Worshipping Society. Through gripping accounts of battles, betrayals, and the rise of the Heavenly Capital in Nanjing, this book reveals how Hong's divine revelations inspired both heroic sacrifices and devastating purges. With a scholar's precision and a storyteller's flair, Sterling draws on primary sources like the Taiping Heavenly Chronicle and survivor memoirs to bring this seismic upheaval to life, offering a front-row seat to a rebellion that shook the world. The Taiping Rebellion was no mere uprising—it was a clash of cultures, religions, and empires. Sterling explores how Hong's visions drew the attention of Western missionaries and powers, only to falter under the weight of internal strife and Qing counterattacks led by the formidable Zeng Guofan. From the bloody Tianjing Incident to the fall of Nanjing, God's Chinese Prophet uncovers the human toll of Hong's divine mission, where 20–30 million perished in a war fueled by faith. Historical non-fiction readers will find themselves gripped by the parallels to modern ideological conflicts, as Sterling probes the seductive power of a prophet's call and its tragic consequences. This is not just a story of the past but a mirror to our present, asking how far we're willing to go for a vision of paradise. Sterling's masterful narrative weaves together the personal, political, and spiritual, making God's Chinese Prophet a must-read for those who crave history that pulses with drama and insight. Perfect for fans of Jonathan Spence's God's Chinese Son or Stephen Platt's Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom, this book will leave you questioning the fine line between inspiration and destruction. Join the journey through a rebellion that changed China forever—available now at all major retailers. Can a single dream reshape a nation, and at what cost?