Instructing the Heavenly King: Joseph Edkins's Mission to Correct the Theology of Hong Xiuquan

This paper examines Joseph Edkins's failed attempt to correct the theology of Hong Xiuquan during his trip to Nanjing in March and April 1861. Through his debates with individual rebels and his written exchange with Hong, Edkins learned that the Taipings were unwilling to accept ‘orthodox'...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kilcourse, Carl S. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Cambridge Univ. Press [2020]
In: The journal of ecclesiastical history
Year: 2020, Volume: 71, Issue: 1, Pages: 116-134
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Hong, Xiuquan 1813-1864 / Edkins, Joseph 1823-1905 / Taiping rebellion / God / Christology / Geschichte 1861
IxTheo Classification:KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history
KBM Asia
KDH Christian sects
NBC Doctrine of God
NBF Christology
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Description
Summary:This paper examines Joseph Edkins's failed attempt to correct the theology of Hong Xiuquan during his trip to Nanjing in March and April 1861. Through his debates with individual rebels and his written exchange with Hong, Edkins learned that the Taipings were unwilling to accept ‘orthodox' teachings and scriptural interpretations that conflicted with their established belief system. Challenging exclusionary and pathologising discourses, the paper shows that Hong's response to Edkins's efforts was rooted not in his ‘irrational' modes of thinking, but in his desire to preserve both his revelation-based worldview and the personal authority that it legitimised.
ISSN:1469-7637
Contains:Enthalten in: The journal of ecclesiastical history
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1017/S0022046919001209