Spence (1996), Chapter 22: "Hong Xiuquan ordered his troops and followers to drop the name Taiping, and instead to use the one word "Heavenly", to pay proper homage to God the Father. As Li later phrases his unease: The Heavenly King always used heavenly words to admonish people. We, his officials, did not dare to challenge him, but let him give what names he wanted. Calling them "Heavenly Dynasty, Heavenly Army, Heavenly Officials, Heavenly People, Heavenly Commanders, Heavenly Soldiers and Royal Troops"" Spence, Jonathan (1996). God's Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan. New York: Norton. ISBN0-393-03844-0.
Spence (1996), Chapter 14: "Our Sovereign, the T'ien Wang [Heavenly King], is the true Sovereign of Taiping of the ten thousand nations in the world. Therefore all nations under heaven ought to revere Heaven and follow the Sovereign, knowing on whom they depend. We are especially afraid that you do not understand the nature of Heaven, and believe that there are distinctions between this and that nation, not knowing the indivisibility of the true doctrine. Therefore we send this special mandatory dispatch. If you can revere Heaven and recognize the Sovereign, then our Heavenly Court, regarding all under heaven as one family and uniting all nations as one body, will certainly remember your faithful purpose and permit you, year after year, to bring tribute and come to court annually so that you may become ministers and people of the Heavenly Kingdom, forever basking in the grace and favor of the Heavenly Dynasty, peacefully residing in your own lands, and quietly enjoying great glory. This is what we, the great ministers, sincerely wish. You must tremblingly obey; do not circumvent these instructions" Spence, Jonathan (1996). God's Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan. New York: Norton. ISBN0-393-03844-0.
