On August 24, the commemorative service for the publication of the Korean version of The History of Christianity in China was held at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary (referred to "Presbyterian Seminary" hereinafter) in the Gwangjin district of Seoul, South Korea.
The ceremony was hosted by the Research Center of Christian Thoughts and Culture at the Presbyterian Seminary. The Chinese version of the book was first published by CCC&TSPM in August 2019; it was compiled by the research department of CCC&TSPM over a period of nearly ten years, with Rev. Xu Xiaohong, chairman of the National TSPM, serving as editor-in-chief, and the participation of 30 professors of church history from 21 seminaries in China. It is the state-compiled textbook designated for the History of Christianity in China course by more than 20 seminaries in China.
Dr. Wu Dongri, a representative of the translation team for the Korean version and a former professor at the Presbyterian Seminary, shared that the book was chosen for translation because of its special significance. In the book, the Chinese church analyzes and evaluates its history from its own perspective and point of view; rather than from the perspective of Western missionaries, it is Chinese history written from the Chinese perspective. Therefore, Dr. Wu invited several professional Christian scholars from Presbyterian Seminary who are proficient in both Korean and Chinese to help with the translation. He believes that the publication of the Korean version of the book "will serve as a very important cornerstone" for future exchanges between Christianity in China and Korea.
This book is also the first overseas edition of The History of Christianity in China. Dr. Wu Dongri said that Chinese Christianity is the research focus of many scholars in South Korea, and many of them are international scholars who often publish their works in English. Therefore, the publication of the Korean version of the book will have an impact not only on the Korean-speaking community but also on the international Christian community and academic circles, allowing them to have a more comprehensive understanding of the history of Christianity in China.
The book covers the history of Chinese Christianity over a thousand years, from the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century to the period of reform and opening up in the 20th century. The book discusses both the merits and demerits of the Protestant missionaries who came to China in the 19th century; it not only describes the great contributions the missionaries made to Bible translation, cultural exchange, medical care, elimination of bad habits, and social reform, but also discusses the negative issues such as their disregard for Chinese culture and tradition with arrogance and prejudice. The book further argues that although not all of the missionaries were imperialists, it cannot be said that missionaries were all good, and therefore a balanced view of their merits and demerits is needed.
In the foreword to the Korean version of the book, Rev. Wu Wei, president of China Christian Council, writes, "Over the past 70 years, Christianity in China has changed, shedding its image as a Western religion and becoming more acceptable to a greater number of Chinese people."
- Translated by Joyce Leung
8月24日，《中国基督教史》韩文版出版纪念礼拜在位于首尔长津区的长老会神学大学（简称：长神大）举行。
该新书纪念仪式是由长神大的基督教思想文化研究所主办。本书的中文版是2019年8月中国基督教两会出版的《中国基督教史》，它是由中国基督教两会研究部花了近十年时间编写而成的，共有来自中国21所神学院30位教会史的教授参与编著。徐晓鸿主编，是中国二十多所神学院校指定的《中国基督教史》统编教材。
该书韩文版的翻译代表、曾担任长神大教授的吴东日分享说，之所以选取这本书翻译，是因为这本书有着重要的意义。这在于它是中国教会用自己的角度和观点来梳理和评价自己的历史，是一本从中国人的角度书写的中国史，而不是西方传教士的角度。因此，他邀请了长神大的几位既熟悉韩语和中文，又有着深厚的基督教专业知识的学者共同翻译。他相信这本书韩文版的出版，为未来中韩基督教之间的交流“可以到一个非常重要的基石作用”。
这也是《中国基督教史》第一本海外版的出版。吴东日教授介绍说，在韩国，也有许多学者关注和研究中国基督教，尤其是其中也有不少是国际学者，他们常常也会英文写作因。此，该书韩文版的出版不仅仅会对韩语界有影响，还会延伸到国际基督教界和学术界对中国基督教历史的一个更为全面的认识。
该书涵盖从7世纪的唐朝到20世纪改革开放时期基督教在中国的上千年的历史。对于19世纪新教传教士到中国后的功过，该书既谈到传教士致力于圣经翻译、文化交流、医疗卫生、消除不良习惯和社会改革等做出的巨大贡献。但也谈到以傲慢和偏见无视中国文化和传统等负面问题。认为虽然并非所有传教士都是帝国主义者，但传教士不能说一切都是好的，因此对他们的功过需要持一个平衡的观点。
中国基督教协会会长吴巍在该书韩文版的序言中写到，“过去70年来，中国的基督教发生了变化，摆脱了西方宗教的形象，被更多的中国人所接受”。
《中国基督教史》韩文版出版纪念仪式首尔落幕
On August 24, the commemorative service for the publication of the Korean version of The History of Christianity in China was held at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary (referred to "Presbyterian Seminary" hereinafter) in the Gwangjin district of Seoul, South Korea.
The ceremony was hosted by the Research Center of Christian Thoughts and Culture at the Presbyterian Seminary. The Chinese version of the book was first published by CCC&TSPM in August 2019; it was compiled by the research department of CCC&TSPM over a period of nearly ten years, with Rev. Xu Xiaohong, chairman of the National TSPM, serving as editor-in-chief, and the participation of 30 professors of church history from 21 seminaries in China. It is the state-compiled textbook designated for the History of Christianity in China course by more than 20 seminaries in China.
Dr. Wu Dongri, a representative of the translation team for the Korean version and a former professor at the Presbyterian Seminary, shared that the book was chosen for translation because of its special significance. In the book, the Chinese church analyzes and evaluates its history from its own perspective and point of view; rather than from the perspective of Western missionaries, it is Chinese history written from the Chinese perspective. Therefore, Dr. Wu invited several professional Christian scholars from Presbyterian Seminary who are proficient in both Korean and Chinese to help with the translation. He believes that the publication of the Korean version of the book "will serve as a very important cornerstone" for future exchanges between Christianity in China and Korea.
This book is also the first overseas edition of The History of Christianity in China. Dr. Wu Dongri said that Chinese Christianity is the research focus of many scholars in South Korea, and many of them are international scholars who often publish their works in English. Therefore, the publication of the Korean version of the book will have an impact not only on the Korean-speaking community but also on the international Christian community and academic circles, allowing them to have a more comprehensive understanding of the history of Christianity in China.
The book covers the history of Chinese Christianity over a thousand years, from the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century to the period of reform and opening up in the 20th century. The book discusses both the merits and demerits of the Protestant missionaries who came to China in the 19th century; it not only describes the great contributions the missionaries made to Bible translation, cultural exchange, medical care, elimination of bad habits, and social reform, but also discusses the negative issues such as their disregard for Chinese culture and tradition with arrogance and prejudice. The book further argues that although not all of the missionaries were imperialists, it cannot be said that missionaries were all good, and therefore a balanced view of their merits and demerits is needed.
In the foreword to the Korean version of the book, Rev. Wu Wei, president of China Christian Council, writes, "Over the past 70 years, Christianity in China has changed, shedding its image as a Western religion and becoming more acceptable to a greater number of Chinese people."
- Translated by Joyce Leung
Commemorative Service for the Korean Edition Publication of The History of Christianity in China in Seoul
