Recently, the first physical exhibition hall in Jiangsu Province with the theme of the sinicization of Christianity opened at Wuxi Church. It showcases the integration of Christianity and Chinese culture since the gospel was introduced into China over 1300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty.
In 1901, the Church Mission Society sent President Gouverneur Frank Mosher and Chinese Clerk Zhu Baoyuan to preach in Wuxi. In 1915, a new church named "Holy Cross Church" was built in Wuxi. After Wuxi TSPM was established in 1958, all denominations in Wuxi held joint worship services, and the church was renamed "Wuxi Church".
The exhibition was organized into four parts. The first part delved into the historical development of the sinicization of Christianity, including Nestorianism, which quoted classical texts from Buddhism and Taoism during the Tang Dynasty, as well as the Mongolian translation of scriptures by Arcaoun in the Yuan Dynasty. In addition, it explored the interactions and collisions between Catholicism and Confucian culture during the Ming and Qing dynasties. For example, Matteo Ricci used Confucianism to interpret Christianity; the Chinese Rites controversy took place; and the Qing state banned the religion for one hundred years.
The second part introduces the exploration of sinicization by well-known missionaries and Chinese church leaders in modern times. The commentator mentioned the first Protestant missionary to China, Robert Morrison, who translated the entire Bible into the Chinese language with the distribution of the Scriptures and compiled and printed the first English-Chinese dictionary in Chinese history. He also ordained the first Chinese pastor, Liang Fa, founded the first Chinese monthly magazine Chinese Monthly Magazine and created the first Chinese school, "Ying Wa College," run by missionaries in modern history.
Additionally, Chinese church leaders continued to establish "Three-Self" churches and carry out indigenization movements. Local churches originally associated with foreign missionary societies became self-supporting churches composed purely of Chinese Christians and pastors.
This exhibit also showed the attempts made by the Chinese church in terms of indigenization, such as translating theological masterpieces, building churches with Chinese characteristics, and singing hymns with national tunes.
The third part then demonstrated the results of the sinicization of Christianity since the Three-Self Movement was launched, including the exploration activities in theological education, hymns, theological thought, and social services. CCC&TSPM established the Chinese Christian Hymns Committee and the social service department and published CCC&TSPM's flag magazine, Tianfeng, an anthology of Chinese theologians, and gazetteers of seminaries across China in collaboration with seminaries and related organizations.
The fourth part introduced the practices of the Wuxi Church in promoting Christianity in the Chinese context and participating in public welfare and charity activities.
In addition to pictures and texts, commentaries were given by pastoral staff, volunteers, and some highly educated individuals from the church.
Senior Pastor Yan Zheng stated that Chinese Bible translation was the sinicization of Christianity in language, and that sinicization was for better evangelism. He emphasized that, in addition to exhibiting the progress of the contextualization of Christianity in China, churches should tell the stories of Chinese believers themselves.
Believers can visit this hall at the regular time after the morning and afternoon services every Sunday.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
近日无锡市基督教中国化文化展览馆在无锡教堂揭牌开放。作为江苏省内首家以基督教中国化为主题的实体展馆，它讲述着自唐代传入以来，基督教与中华文化的交融与适应。
1901年，圣公会派遣麦甘霖会长、朱葆元会吏来锡传教， 1915 年，始建新礼拜堂命名为“无锡圣十字堂”。1958 年，基督教三自爱国运动在无锡扎根，无锡市基督教各宗派实行联合礼拜，更名为“无锡市基督教堂”。
展馆共分四大部分，第一部分展示基督教中国化的历史探索，包括最初唐朝景教依佛仿道，到元朝也里可温教蒙文译经。至明清天主教与儒家文化的交流碰撞，如利玛窦以儒释耶及后来的礼仪之争与清百年禁教等。
第二部分介绍近代以来，一批知名的传教士与中国教会领袖，在中国化方面的不断探索。展览讲到，第一位进入中国大陆的基督教新教传教士马礼逊翻译、刻印了第一部完整的汉语《圣经》、编纂和刻印了中国历史上第一部英汉字典，按立了第一位华人宣教士梁发，创办第一份中文月刊《察世俗每月统记传》，创建了近代史上由传教士开办的第一所中文学校“英华书院”。
除此之外，中国教会领袖也不断开展自立教会和本色化运动。自立教会运动是指一些原属外国差会系统的地方教会，建立纯粹由中国基督徒和牧师组成的自立教会。
展会还展示出中国教会在本色化方面做出的尝试，比如翻译神学名著，建造具有中国特色的教堂建筑，使用具有民族曲调的赞美诗等。
第三部分接着展示出三自运动发起至今的基督教中国化成果，包括在神学教育、圣诗圣乐、神学思想、社会服务等方面的探索努力，如成立中国基督教圣诗委员会；带领学院和相关机构出版《天风》、中国神学家文集、和各地神学院神学志；成立社会服务部。
第四部分介绍了无锡市基督教堂在坚持基督教中国化进程中的实践，参与公益慈善活动。
该堂展览馆除了静态的图文信息外，还动员义工、教牧同工特别是教会的高学历人才来做讲解员。
其主任牧师严峥谈到：“圣经翻译就是语言上的中国化；中国化是为了更好传福音。除了做展览馆展示历史以来的基督教中国化进程，更要讲中国信徒自己的故事。”
每周主日上午、下午礼拜结束后的固定时间内，信徒都可以前往参观此展览馆。
无锡市基督教中国化文化展览馆参访小记
Recently, the first physical exhibition hall in Jiangsu Province with the theme of the sinicization of Christianity opened at Wuxi Church. It showcases the integration of Christianity and Chinese culture since the gospel was introduced into China over 1300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty.
In 1901, the Church Mission Society sent President Gouverneur Frank Mosher and Chinese Clerk Zhu Baoyuan to preach in Wuxi. In 1915, a new church named "Holy Cross Church" was built in Wuxi. After Wuxi TSPM was established in 1958, all denominations in Wuxi held joint worship services, and the church was renamed "Wuxi Church".
The exhibition was organized into four parts. The first part delved into the historical development of the sinicization of Christianity, including Nestorianism, which quoted classical texts from Buddhism and Taoism during the Tang Dynasty, as well as the Mongolian translation of scriptures by Arcaoun in the Yuan Dynasty. In addition, it explored the interactions and collisions between Catholicism and Confucian culture during the Ming and Qing dynasties. For example, Matteo Ricci used Confucianism to interpret Christianity; the Chinese Rites controversy took place; and the Qing state banned the religion for one hundred years.
The second part introduces the exploration of sinicization by well-known missionaries and Chinese church leaders in modern times. The commentator mentioned the first Protestant missionary to China, Robert Morrison, who translated the entire Bible into the Chinese language with the distribution of the Scriptures and compiled and printed the first English-Chinese dictionary in Chinese history. He also ordained the first Chinese pastor, Liang Fa, founded the first Chinese monthly magazine Chinese Monthly Magazine and created the first Chinese school, "Ying Wa College," run by missionaries in modern history.
Additionally, Chinese church leaders continued to establish "Three-Self" churches and carry out indigenization movements. Local churches originally associated with foreign missionary societies became self-supporting churches composed purely of Chinese Christians and pastors.
This exhibit also showed the attempts made by the Chinese church in terms of indigenization, such as translating theological masterpieces, building churches with Chinese characteristics, and singing hymns with national tunes.
The third part then demonstrated the results of the sinicization of Christianity since the Three-Self Movement was launched, including the exploration activities in theological education, hymns, theological thought, and social services. CCC&TSPM established the Chinese Christian Hymns Committee and the social service department and published CCC&TSPM's flag magazine, Tianfeng, an anthology of Chinese theologians, and gazetteers of seminaries across China in collaboration with seminaries and related organizations.
The fourth part introduced the practices of the Wuxi Church in promoting Christianity in the Chinese context and participating in public welfare and charity activities.
In addition to pictures and texts, commentaries were given by pastoral staff, volunteers, and some highly educated individuals from the church.
Senior Pastor Yan Zheng stated that Chinese Bible translation was the sinicization of Christianity in language, and that sinicization was for better evangelism. He emphasized that, in addition to exhibiting the progress of the contextualization of Christianity in China, churches should tell the stories of Chinese believers themselves.
Believers can visit this hall at the regular time after the morning and afternoon services every Sunday.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Visit to Sinicization of Christianity Cultural Exhibition Hall in Jiangsu
