Search Results (3)

The early encounters between Buddhism and Christianity in China were primarily characterized by mutual exclusivity and competition. By the Republic of China era, both traditions faced mounting pressures—Buddhism under the impact of modernization, and Christianity in its efforts toward indigenization—which prompted a shift toward inclusive engagement and mutual learning. However, their interactions often remained limited to superficial formalities due to an instrumental approach that treated the other as a means to an end. During the early modern period, some pioneering thinkers began exploring core doctrines from a pluralistic perspective: Zhang Chunyi’s concept of “Buddhicized Christianity” sought to deconstruct essentialist views using the Buddhist wisdom of śūnyatā (emptiness), offering an Eastern philosophical pathway for religious dialogue. Xu Dishan, on the other hand, employed the literature as a medium to transcend doctrinal differences by emphasizing shared ethical practices, thereby constructing what can be termed “aestheticized pluralism”. In the contemporary context of globalization, scholars increasingly rely on comparative theology and comparative religious studies to enable deeper mutual interpretation of core doctrines, bringing more mature forms of interfaith dialogue. These dialogue practices demonstrate unique paradigm shifts and reflections on Western theories of religious dialogue, contributing Eastern-inspired insights for contemporary religious dialogue. Full article

Situated in the unique historical context of Hong Kong—a contact zone between East and West—this study explores how Christianity’s introduction through British colonialism and missionary efforts has intertwined with and influenced Chinese cultural traditions. By examining selected works of Xu Dishan and Chen Zanyi, this study reveals the dynamic negotiations of identity and values between these two cultural and religious traditions. These literary works not only depict the complexities of cultural hybridity but also provide insights into the evolving nature of cultural identity in Hong Kong, illustrating how global religions and local traditions can merge and transform each other. This study contributes to understanding the intricate dance of religious exchange, conflict, and compromise in Hong Kong’s cross-culture setting, suggesting that such literary explorations can bridge Christianity with the socio-economic, cultural, and historical fabric of Chinese society. Full article

I argue that by participating in religious cultural phenomena, the protagonists of Xu Dishan’s and Su Xuelin’s fiction cultivate values that allow them to overcome their sense of social alienation by making them feel more confident about their ability to strengthen their relationships with others. These values include selflessness in the literature of both authors, as well as compassion in Su Xuelin’s literature. I further argue that these two authors’ literary narratives use the category of religion to label these values as existing outside of the space of human social interactions. This then allows protagonists to view the cultivation of these values as an ostensibly perfected resolution to their feeling of social alienation, which in the first place is caused by the imperfect sphere of human social interactions. The two case studies upon which this study draws to exemplify the argument include Yuguan from Xu Dishan’s Yuguan and Xingqiu from Su Xuelin’s Thorny Heart. Full article