A professor highlighted Chinese church leader Watchman Nee's contributions to the medical industry in China other than his devotion to the church.
Professor Guo Ronggang, who is from the Center for the Study of Christianity of Fujian Normal University, delivered the topic “Watchman Nee and Financial Self-Support of Chinese Christianity” in the “Symposium Series of Passing on the Torch of Learning-Watchman Nee Memorial Conference” sponsored by the Journal of Research for Christianity in China online.
This academic seminar was also co-organized by the Center for the Study of Christianity and China in Los Angeles, USA, and the Institute of Christianity and Chinese Culture at GETS Theological Seminary (Global Enrichment Theological Seminary) on November 5.
Professor Guo stated that the academic circles at home and abroad have conducted much research on Watchman Nee as a local theologian in China, while unintentionally or intentionally, they ignored his involvement in the pharmaceutical company.
The pharmaceutical company was formerly a manufacturing and distributing pharmaceutical factory founded in 1931, and had gone through closing and reopening three times. In 1937, China’s Resistance War Against Japanese Aggression broke out in an all-round way. In the December 8th Incident and the Battle of Shanghai, Xinsheng Pharmaceutical Factory, the predecessor of the pharmaceutical company, presented vulnerary medicine to the Chinese army.
Nee made it a target for the company to make the best medicine in China, and many excellent universities such as Fu Jen Catholic University in Beijing, Saint John’s University in Shanghai, and the University of Nanking in Nanjing cooperated with the company to conduct research.
At that time in modern China, where science and technology were backward, Chinese people often looked down on domestic manufacturing but had eyes only on foreign goods. However, Nee advised Chinese people not to blindly admire the foreign moon.
After efforts, the pharmaceutical company not only took the lead in introducing well-known new medicine in China, such as vitamin K5, DDT, and tiredness-relieving pills but also produced medicine to treat hyperacidity, indigestion, cough, and gynecological diseases. In addition, local anesthetics and sleeping pills were presented. The company was the most complete pharmaceutical factory producing sulfonamides in China during the period of the Republic of China.
Sulfonamides, playing a very important role in diminishing inflammation and treating injuries, were of great value and contributed much to the Chinese army struggling to fight against Japanese Aggression at that time.
Back then, an English daily newspaper founded by an American in Shanghai had a good reputation, but for some reason, flies had long plagued its editorial office. After using DDT produced by the pharmaceutical company, it completely solved the fly disaster. In the newspaper’s editorial, the reporter expressed the distress they had experienced as well as the magic of DDT’s effectiveness in a humourous way, offering free advertising for the pharmaceutical company. “Now we can use both hands on the typewriter. Unlike before, one has to use the other hand to kill flies.”
Nee wrote in an announcement published by the pharmaceutical company on March 29, 1943, saying, “We set up the company in the spirit of academic research, having spent much manpower, financial resources, and material resources on research and manufacture, which is not only to seek business development but also to contribute to society. We study vitamin K5, and by that spirit, we also make our own vitamin K5. We hope that in the near future, most raw materials can be made by ourselves, without relying on foreign countries. We are confident that this is not a dream, because there is no end to learning. ”
Nee put forward his own “Creeds of the Pharmaceutical Company” in 1942. First, do not be a sordid merchant. Second, do not manufacture secret medicine. Third, do not do meaningless publicity. Fourth, remanufacture instead of modification. Fifth, seek good quality rather than a low price.
The outbreak of the Pacific War led to the Japanese blockade of China’s coastal areas so raw materials and finished drugs were difficult to obtain, due to which the Chinese pharmaceutical industry which had been used to importing before, had to conduct its own medical research. Nee analyzed the situation of the domestic pharmaceutical industry at that time and thought it was a good opportunity for the industry’s development.
During the operation of the pharmaceutical company, new drugs were constantly introduced. Nee issued the “Notice of Medicine Every Week” in September 1946, saying that he would contribute his research efforts to society and hope that one or more new drugs would come out every week after that.
The advertisement of the pharmaceutical company could also reflect Nee’s scholarly attitude. His third creed of the company was: “Do not do meaningless publicity”. Its advertisement was very special among the ones of all domestic manufacturers at that time. Nee even tried to make sure that its advertisements conformed to academic standards. As a result, its advertisements were often accompanied by quotations.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
11月5日，“薪火相传百年祭学术研讨会系列——倪柝声纪念会议”通过网络进行。本次学术研讨会由洛杉矶基督教与中国研究中心，《中国基督教研究》与创欣神学院基督教与中华文化研究所共同举办。
在本次研讨会的第三个主题中，主办方邀请了来自福建师范大学中国基督教研究中心的郭荣刚教授，郭教授为与会者分享了“倪柝声与中国基督教的‘实业自养’ ”这一主题。
国内外学术界对倪柝声作为中国本土神学家研究甚多，却对他经营生化药厂的形迹有意或无意的忽视了。
生化药厂前身为1931年创办的综合制药厂，后经“三次开张三次收歇”。1937年，中国抗日战争全面爆发，在12.8、8.13会战中，生化药厂前身“新生药厂”向中国军队赠送伤药。
倪柝声将制造中国最好的药作为创办药厂的目标，与生化药厂合作进行研究的有北京的辅仁大学、上海的圣约翰大学、南京的金陵大学等优秀大学。
在当时科技落后的近代中国，国人往往看不起本国制造却对外国进口情有独钟。而倪氏却劝诫国人不要盲目的崇拜外国月亮。
经过一系列的努力，生化药厂不仅在国内率先推出了维生素K5、DDT、避倦丸、两窍通等中国知名新药，还出品药物治疗胃酸过多，消化不良，咳嗽，妇科疾病，另外有局部麻醉剂秤抗针，安眠药片绕时榻片等等。生化药厂是民国时期国内生产磺胺类药品最齐全的药厂。
磺胺类药品对于消炎治伤有非常重要的作用，对于当时奋力抗战的中国军队价值很高，贡献良多。
当时一家美国人在上海创办的英文日报名声颇好，然而不知因何缘故，该报纸的编辑部长期以来不断受到苍蝇的深深困扰。但是当他们使用了生化药厂生产的DDT以后，竟然彻底解决了蝇灾。在社评中，该报记者以幽默的行文表述了他们曾经所经历的苦恼和生化药厂DDT效用的神奇，为生化药厂免费打广告。“现在能用双手在打字机上，不像从前须另用一手去打苍蝇。”
1943年3月29日，倪氏在生化药厂所发表的一篇公告中写道：“我们以治学的精神开办药厂，花了不少的人力、财力与物力，去研究与制造。不但是求营业发展，也希望对社会有所贡献。我们研究维他命K5，自制维他命K5，就是根据这种精神制作的。我们希望在最近的将来，多数原料都能够自造，无需仰求于外国。我们自信这并不是梦想，因为学无止境。”
倪氏在1942年就提出了自己的《生化信条》，（一）不作市侩；（二）不制造秘药；（三）不做无聊宣传；（四）重制造不重改装；（五）求物美不求价廉。
太平洋战争爆发以后，由于日军封锁中国沿海，原料与成品药物都难以获得，此前一直习惯于进口的中国制药业不得不自己进行药品研究。倪氏分析了当时国内的制药业状况，认为这是中国药业发展的良好机会。
生化药厂经营过程中，始终不断推出新药。1946年9月，倪氏发布《每周一药启事》称，要将几年研究的心血，贡献给社会，希望在此后每个星期都有一种或一种以上的新药问世。
生化药厂的广告也能够反映出来倪氏的学人态度。在倪氏《生化信条》第三条有“不做无聊宣传”。生化药厂的广告在当时国内所有厂商的广告中显得十分特别。倪氏甚至力求生化药厂的广告符合学术规范。因此，其广告往往带有引文注释。
学术|倪柝声纪念会议系列（二）：倪柝声与中国基督教的“实业自养”
A professor highlighted Chinese church leader Watchman Nee's contributions to the medical industry in China other than his devotion to the church.
Professor Guo Ronggang, who is from the Center for the Study of Christianity of Fujian Normal University, delivered the topic “Watchman Nee and Financial Self-Support of Chinese Christianity” in the “Symposium Series of Passing on the Torch of Learning-Watchman Nee Memorial Conference” sponsored by the Journal of Research for Christianity in China online.
This academic seminar was also co-organized by the Center for the Study of Christianity and China in Los Angeles, USA, and the Institute of Christianity and Chinese Culture at GETS Theological Seminary (Global Enrichment Theological Seminary) on November 5.
Professor Guo stated that the academic circles at home and abroad have conducted much research on Watchman Nee as a local theologian in China, while unintentionally or intentionally, they ignored his involvement in the pharmaceutical company.
The pharmaceutical company was formerly a manufacturing and distributing pharmaceutical factory founded in 1931, and had gone through closing and reopening three times. In 1937, China’s Resistance War Against Japanese Aggression broke out in an all-round way. In the December 8th Incident and the Battle of Shanghai, Xinsheng Pharmaceutical Factory, the predecessor of the pharmaceutical company, presented vulnerary medicine to the Chinese army.
Nee made it a target for the company to make the best medicine in China, and many excellent universities such as Fu Jen Catholic University in Beijing, Saint John’s University in Shanghai, and the University of Nanking in Nanjing cooperated with the company to conduct research.
At that time in modern China, where science and technology were backward, Chinese people often looked down on domestic manufacturing but had eyes only on foreign goods. However, Nee advised Chinese people not to blindly admire the foreign moon.
After efforts, the pharmaceutical company not only took the lead in introducing well-known new medicine in China, such as vitamin K5, DDT, and tiredness-relieving pills but also produced medicine to treat hyperacidity, indigestion, cough, and gynecological diseases. In addition, local anesthetics and sleeping pills were presented. The company was the most complete pharmaceutical factory producing sulfonamides in China during the period of the Republic of China.
Sulfonamides, playing a very important role in diminishing inflammation and treating injuries, were of great value and contributed much to the Chinese army struggling to fight against Japanese Aggression at that time.
Back then, an English daily newspaper founded by an American in Shanghai had a good reputation, but for some reason, flies had long plagued its editorial office. After using DDT produced by the pharmaceutical company, it completely solved the fly disaster. In the newspaper’s editorial, the reporter expressed the distress they had experienced as well as the magic of DDT’s effectiveness in a humourous way, offering free advertising for the pharmaceutical company. “Now we can use both hands on the typewriter. Unlike before, one has to use the other hand to kill flies.”
Nee wrote in an announcement published by the pharmaceutical company on March 29, 1943, saying, “We set up the company in the spirit of academic research, having spent much manpower, financial resources, and material resources on research and manufacture, which is not only to seek business development but also to contribute to society. We study vitamin K5, and by that spirit, we also make our own vitamin K5. We hope that in the near future, most raw materials can be made by ourselves, without relying on foreign countries. We are confident that this is not a dream, because there is no end to learning. ”
Nee put forward his own “Creeds of the Pharmaceutical Company” in 1942. First, do not be a sordid merchant. Second, do not manufacture secret medicine. Third, do not do meaningless publicity. Fourth, remanufacture instead of modification. Fifth, seek good quality rather than a low price.
The outbreak of the Pacific War led to the Japanese blockade of China’s coastal areas so raw materials and finished drugs were difficult to obtain, due to which the Chinese pharmaceutical industry which had been used to importing before, had to conduct its own medical research. Nee analyzed the situation of the domestic pharmaceutical industry at that time and thought it was a good opportunity for the industry’s development.
During the operation of the pharmaceutical company, new drugs were constantly introduced. Nee issued the “Notice of Medicine Every Week” in September 1946, saying that he would contribute his research efforts to society and hope that one or more new drugs would come out every week after that.
The advertisement of the pharmaceutical company could also reflect Nee’s scholarly attitude. His third creed of the company was: “Do not do meaningless publicity”. Its advertisement was very special among the ones of all domestic manufacturers at that time. Nee even tried to make sure that its advertisements conformed to academic standards. As a result, its advertisements were often accompanied by quotations.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
Lecture: Watchman Nee and 'Self-Support' of Chinese Christianity
