An Intertextual Research on “Dingyou Dream”

Dingyou Dream is one of the most critical historical events in studying Hong Xiuquan and the religion in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The only way to understand its religious consciousness is to interpret the texts of this dream and the various events of spirit mediums related to it. Based on the theory of intertextuality, this article examines how the different texts of Dingyou Dream present the concept of subject identity, Hong’s theory of redemption and the power system of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In a deeper sense, it is the local consciousness about imperial power and family group that determines Hong and other Taiping leaders’ misunderstanding of Christian texts, and thus forms the special theological thoughts and religious practices.