Reconceptualizing the History of Christianity in Late Qing and Republican China

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and cross-archival examination of the history of Christianity in the late Qing and Republican periods in China.

The late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China were important periods of the most fascinating development of Christianity in China. This period not only witnessed the rapid growth of the Christian Church, a large increase in the number of believers, and the flourishing of various church institutions such as schools, hospitals, newspapers and charities, so much so that the 1920s is known as the “golden age” for the development of Christianity in China; it also witnessed the establishment and rise of various local and indigenous churches and church movements, the emergence of a large and well-educated group of Chinese Christian leaders and their active participation on the international religious scene, and the transfer of power from Western missions to local churches in China, as Christianity in China began its historic transformation into Chinese Christianity. At the same time, the Christian Church was closely associated with political events and even revolutionary movements in China during this period, including the Xinhai Revolution, the establishment of the Nationalist Government, the rise of the Communist Party, the non-Christian movement, the movement to restore educational rights, the Northern Expeditionary War, and the War of Resistance against Japan, and was inextricably linked to China's external relations during this period, especially between China and the West. The influence of the Christian Church on Chinese society during this period was so great that it is difficult to understand the Chinese society of the time without studying the development of Christianity in the same period.

In historiographical studies, the history of Christianity during the late Qing and Republican periods has also experienced a rollercoaster fate; since 1949, it was ignored or made the object of criticism in mainland Chinese historiography, described as an accomplice to cultural colonialism and imperialism because of its ties to the Western powers. In fact, the study of Christianity in China became an integral part of the ideological confrontation between China and the West. Since China’s reform and opening up, the missionaries and the Western missions were vindicated to some extent, the Christian cause was generally hailed as a forerunner and promoter of the modernization movement in China, the Western missions were even evaluated more positively by mainland scholars than their Western counterparts, and the impact of the China missions on the West itself and on international relations began to receive the attention of scholars from various countries. As we entered the 21st century, the role of the Christian Church in late Qing and Republican China was examined in a more balanced, nuanced, and comprehensive way, both in China and abroad.

Thanks to the further discovery and opening up of Chinese and foreign archival documents, as well as the emergence of new theories, perspectives, and methods in recent years, the history of Christianity in these periods is broader in connotation and outreach than at any time in the past. We believe that a re-examination of the Chinese Christian churches of these periods will not only help to promote a re-conceptualization of the Church’s history and overturn some previous conclusions, but also reflect the changes in Chinese society and in China's foreign relations since 1949, and shed some light on the role of Christianity in contemporary Chinese society and the religious policies of contemporary China. To this end, we encourage contributions with a view to making this Special Issue a fruitful international exchange and academic collaboration.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send them to the Guest Editor, Prof. Yihua Xu ([email protected]), the Co-Guest Editor, Prof. Peter Tze Ming NG ([email protected]), or to the Assistant Editor of Religions, Ms. Margaret Liu ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Yihua Xu
Prof. Dr. Peter Tze Ming NG
Guest Editors

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• late Qing and Republican China
• Christian studies
• history of Chinese Christianity
• Western missionaries and missionary societies
• Chinese Christianity
• Christian institutions in China
• reconceptualization
• interdisciplinary studies
• Global–local perspectives
• Chinese–Western cultural exchange