With thirty volumes, the new book A Collection of Christian Historical Records in Modern China was published in September by the National Library of China Publishing House, covering the photocopies of seven magazines published by missionaries in China from the mid 19th to mid 20th century.
Between the mid 19th and mid 20th centuries, a large number of Protestant missionaries came to preach in China, who left a wealth of records about every aspect of Chinese society, according to the National Library of China Publishing House.
"During the period of the Republic of China, missionaries were particularly active, exerting an important influence on Chinese society through contributions in medication, education, and other missionary activities. They also acted as the intermediary of cultural exchanges between China and the West," the press introduced.
It added, "The observations and records of missionaries in China were preserved through their magazine publications, which provided both a unique perspective for readers to understand the political and cultural life in modern China, and made rich materials for anthropologists, sociologists, and geographers to study."
In view of the political environment in mainland China in the first half of the 20th century, most of these journals were published irregularly, making it difficult to obtain accurate statistics and complete collections of the publications. Inevitably, this book holds an incomplete collection of the journal issues.
The book includes microfilm photocopies of seven English Christian journals: China Mission Advocate (1839), The Foochow Messenger (1903 - 1940), Hainan Newsletter (1912 - 1949), The China Christian Advocate (1914 - 1941), Fenchow, (1919 - 1936), The Bulletin of the Diocese of Western China (unknown - 1951), and The Anking Newsletter (unknown - 1948).
China Mission Advocate was first published in January 1839 and stopped after one year, releasing one volume of 12 issues. Although it was short-lived, it left important records of early missionary life in China.
The Foochow Messenger was started in 1903 and continued until around 1940, experiencing several suspensions.
Hainan Newsletter was published from September 1912 to 1949 on an irregular basis. The early issues described the local mission work in detail. Since the start of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the mission was hindered. The Newsletter reflected the challenges they faced as well as the development of Communist campaigns.
The China Christian Advocate was published from February 1914 to 1941 by the Methodist Publishing House in Shanghai, and for most of the time was issued monthly. It was more like a comprehensive magazine. Apart from church news, it set up columns such as Current Comments, Book Reviews, Correspondence, and New Books.
Fenchow was published by Tientsin Press Ltd from 1919 to 1936 (estimated). It used to publish special issues on particular themes from time to time. Apart from introducing the mission work to the west, it also included English translations of Chinese classics, making it important first-hand material of early China-West cultural communication.
The Bulletin of the Diocese of Western China used various names and was issued irregularly. It mainly recorded church activities.
The Anking Newsletter reported on the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the recovery after the war as well as the rise of Communism in China.
The book series was selected and edited by Xu Haiyan and Professor Tao Feiya. Tao is professor of history at Shanghai University, chief expert for Collection and Research of Chinese Christianity Literature, a major project of The National Social Science Fund of China, and chief editor of Journal of the Study on Religion and History. He is the author of Marginalized History: Christianity And Chinese Society (2005), Introduction to Christianity and Chinese Social Study (2009), and A Christian Utopia in China: The Jesus Family (1921–1952).
- Translated by Grace Song
本书收录19世纪中期至20世纪中期的一百多年间，在华传教士出版的英文基督教刊物7种，按创刊时间依次为《中国差会之声》（China Mission Advocate，1839），《福州信使》（TheFoochow Messenger,1903—1940），《海南通讯》（HainanNewsletter，1912—1949），《兴华报》（TheChina Christian Advocate，1914—1941），《汾州》（Fenchow, 1919—1936），《华西教区通讯》（TheBulletin of the Diocese of Western China，？—1951)，及《安庆通讯》（TheAnking Newsletter，？—1948）。最后两种创刊时间不详，依据收入本书最早一期的时间排序。本书据中国国家图书馆藏缩微胶卷影印。
19世纪中期至20世纪，越来越多的新教传教士涌入中国。这些传教士留下了大量关于中国社会方方面面的记载。民国时期，传教士的活动尤其活跃，他们通过医疗、教育及其传教活动，对中国社会产生了重要的影响，并成为中西文化交流的中介。
在华传教士们对中国社会的观察与记录，通过这些刊物得以保存，从而为人们提供了了解中国政治、文化生活的独特视角，为人类学家、社会学家，以及地理学家提供了丰富的资料。鉴于20世纪上半叶中国大陆的政治环境，这些刊物大多出版得不太规律，导致收藏机构很难精确统计、完整收藏，因此本书所收录内容或有缺失，特此说明，正文里不一一标注。
《中国差会之声》创刊于1839年1月，仅出版1年即停刊，共1卷12期，每期32页。尽管出版时间非常短暂，但是依然留下了早期在华传教士对中国社会生活的诸多记录，弥足珍贵。
《福州信使》创刊于1903年10月，比《中国差会之声》晚了半个多世纪，其风格与内容与前者截然不同。1903—1917年10月共出版14卷。1917年10月，该刊发布了停刊通知，说明由于未能实现刊物宗旨，即向美国国内的朋友介绍公理会在中国的工作，因此决定停刊。此后，1917—1922年春停刊。1922年4月复刊，至1931年间共出版10卷。1934—1940年间出版频率不太固定。鉴于当时的政治环境，这份刊物出版得不太规律，因此很难精确统计具体卷期。该刊很可能于1940年即抗战期间停刊。
《海南通讯》创刊于1912年9月，1949年停刊，出版频率不固定。早期的刊物上刊登了多篇文章，详细介绍传教事业在当地的发展情况。抗日战争爆发之后，传教事业也面临危机。《通讯》的评论也反映了当时的危机，以及共产主义运动的发展。
《兴华报》创刊于1914年2月，除1927年6—9月期间为周刊外，其余均为月刊，停刊时间可能是1941年。由位于上海市吴淞路10号的华美书局（MethodistPublishing House）出版。《兴华报》的内容包罗万象，更像是一份综合性刊物。除了教会方面各种信息之外，还有诸如“时评”（Current Comment）、“书评”（Book Reviews）、“通讯”（Correspondence）、“书讯”（New Books）等相对固定的栏目。
《汾州》创刊于1919年8月，停刊时间可能是1936年。第1—4卷每年出版5期，之后出版频率不固定。该刊由天津印字馆（TientsinPress Ltd.）出版，每期发行量不固定，1919年8月第1卷第1期仅发行600本，第2期发行量就上涨至1000本。1921—1923年间，发行量曾经达到每期2000本，1925年8月又降至1225本。该刊不定期会围绕某个主题出版特刊。除了向西方介绍传教工作，该刊还经常选载一些中国经典著作的英译本，是早期中西文化交流的一手资料。
《华西教区通讯》创刊时间不详，本书收录1934年第121期至1951年第178期，以及1951年7月新刊第1期，其中缺第166期。出版频率不固定；刊名不固定，自1934年第121期起为TheBulletin of the Diocese of Western China；1937年第142期至1946年第165期，封面除英文刊名外，还有中文“中华圣公会四川东西教区”；自1947年第167期起，刊名为中英文对照“四川（Four Streams）”。从栏目设置来看，该刊主要记录教会的各项活动。
《安庆通讯》创刊时间不详，本书收录1937年第17卷至1948年新刊第22卷。出版频率不固定，1942—1944年间停刊，1945—1947年间为油印本。刊名不固定，其中1938—1941年间刊名为“安庆地区通讯”（District of Anking Newsletter）。除了报道中国人民的抗日战争之外，该刊也报道了抗战结束之后的重建，以及共产主义力量的崛起。
新书 | 近代基督教史料汇编（英文、全三十册）
With thirty volumes, the new book A Collection of Christian Historical Records in Modern China was published in September by the National Library of China Publishing House, covering the photocopies of seven magazines published by missionaries in China from the mid 19th to mid 20th century.
Between the mid 19th and mid 20th centuries, a large number of Protestant missionaries came to preach in China, who left a wealth of records about every aspect of Chinese society, according to the National Library of China Publishing House.
"During the period of the Republic of China, missionaries were particularly active, exerting an important influence on Chinese society through contributions in medication, education, and other missionary activities. They also acted as the intermediary of cultural exchanges between China and the West," the press introduced.
It added, "The observations and records of missionaries in China were preserved through their magazine publications, which provided both a unique perspective for readers to understand the political and cultural life in modern China, and made rich materials for anthropologists, sociologists, and geographers to study."
In view of the political environment in mainland China in the first half of the 20th century, most of these journals were published irregularly, making it difficult to obtain accurate statistics and complete collections of the publications. Inevitably, this book holds an incomplete collection of the journal issues.
The book includes microfilm photocopies of seven English Christian journals: China Mission Advocate (1839), The Foochow Messenger (1903 - 1940), Hainan Newsletter (1912 - 1949), The China Christian Advocate (1914 - 1941), Fenchow, (1919 - 1936), The Bulletin of the Diocese of Western China (unknown - 1951), and The Anking Newsletter (unknown - 1948).
China Mission Advocate was first published in January 1839 and stopped after one year, releasing one volume of 12 issues. Although it was short-lived, it left important records of early missionary life in China.
The Foochow Messenger was started in 1903 and continued until around 1940, experiencing several suspensions.
Hainan Newsletter was published from September 1912 to 1949 on an irregular basis. The early issues described the local mission work in detail. Since the start of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the mission was hindered. The Newsletter reflected the challenges they faced as well as the development of Communist campaigns.
The China Christian Advocate was published from February 1914 to 1941 by the Methodist Publishing House in Shanghai, and for most of the time was issued monthly. It was more like a comprehensive magazine. Apart from church news, it set up columns such as Current Comments, Book Reviews, Correspondence, and New Books.
Fenchow was published by Tientsin Press Ltd from 1919 to 1936 (estimated). It used to publish special issues on particular themes from time to time. Apart from introducing the mission work to the west, it also included English translations of Chinese classics, making it important first-hand material of early China-West cultural communication.
The Bulletin of the Diocese of Western China used various names and was issued irregularly. It mainly recorded church activities.
The Anking Newsletter reported on the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the recovery after the war as well as the rise of Communism in China.
The book series was selected and edited by Xu Haiyan and Professor Tao Feiya. Tao is professor of history at Shanghai University, chief expert for Collection and Research of Chinese Christianity Literature, a major project of The National Social Science Fund of China, and chief editor of Journal of the Study on Religion and History. He is the author of Marginalized History: Christianity And Chinese Society (2005), Introduction to Christianity and Chinese Social Study (2009), and A Christian Utopia in China: The Jesus Family (1921–1952).
- Translated by Grace Song
Photocopy Collection of English Mission Journals in Modern China Published
