Textual Practice and Identity Construction (Chinese Christian Intellectuals' Writings in Chinese, 1583-1949)

Author: Li Chichang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: This book primarily explores two issues: First, how Christian intellectuals in China, who are proficient in Chinese classics, especially Confucian classics, reinterpret and interpret Chinese classics and the Christian Bible after converting to Christianity and engaging with the Bible, as well as the hermeneutical topic of how to creatively interact and harmoniously integrate these two canons. Second, how these Chinese Christian intellectuals, who are immersed in traditional Chinese social, cultural, and religious environments, determine their identity when facing internal psychological conflicts and external social pressures, particularly when one party, such as Christianity, claims to possess the sole truth, leading to more tense conflicts between the two canons.
For the introduction, spread, and development of Christianity in China, previous research has mainly focused on the activities of Western missionaries in China and the works they wrote. This research approach reflects two tendencies: first, an emphasis on the historical study of Christianity in China, and second, a tendency to view Christianity in the Chinese context through the lens of Western religious and cultural concepts, which inevitably leads to many problems.
In addition, more and more people have become aware of the importance of introducing the "mutual influence and exchange between Chinese and Western cultures" as a positioning model in Chinese Christian studies. However, it is often merely considered as an external exchange of material or philosophical ideas. The researchers in this book challenge these existing concepts and demonstrate a new research direction, which is to start from the texts of Chinese Christians themselves and examine the integration and challenges faced by Christianity after encountering China's indigenous traditional religion and culture.