The Taiping Rebellion led by Hong Xiuquan was marked by a particular richness of visionary texts, in which his dreams were vividly recorded. In one, Hong dreams of being visited by a lin. Lin are hooved chimerical creatures that appear in Chinese mythology, whose presence is said to indicate the arrival or passing of an illustrious ruler. The birth of Confucius was foretold by the arrival of a lin, and more generally they are thought to be symbols of luck, good omens, and signs of protection and prosperity. For Hong, the appearance of this mythical creature in his dreams signaled a divine blessing and guarantee of good fortune in his efforts to overthrow the Qing dynasty and establish a Heavenly Kingdom in its stead.

While much of the imagery in Hong’s dreams are firmly rooted in Christian iconography, this particular vision is reflective of a more hybrid spiritual topography that incorporates classical Chinese symbolism. In this composition, Myers intertwines the deer-like, antlered form of the lin with that of the Paschal lamb, said to symbolize the sacrifice of Christ himself.