- 280 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
About this book
Christianity TodayÂ
Award of Merit in History/Biography (2025)
A balanced, accessible, and thorough history of Jingjiao, the first Christian church in China
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Many people assume that the first introduction of Christianity to the Chinese was part of nineteenth-century Western imperialism. In fact, Syriac-speaking Christians brought the gospel along the Silk Road into China in the seventh century. Glen L. Thompson introduces readers to the fascinating history of this early Eastern church, referred to as Jingjiao, or the "Luminous Teaching."Â
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Thompson presents the history of the Persian church's mission to China with rigor and clarity. While Christianity remained a minority and "foreign" religion in the Middle Kingdom, it nonetheless attracted adherents among indigenous Chinese and received imperial approval during the Tang Dynasty. Though it was later suppressed alongside Buddhism, it resurfaced in China and Mongolia in the twelfth century. Thompson also discusses how the modern unearthing of Chinese Christian texts has stirred controversy over the meaning of Jingjiao to recent missionary efforts in China. Â
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In an accessible style, Thompson guides readers through primary sources as well as up-to-date scholarship. As the most recent and balanced survey on the topic available in English, Jingjiao will be an indispensable resource for students of global Christianity and missiology.
A balanced, accessible, and thorough history of Jingjiao, the first Christian church in China
Â
Many people assume that the first introduction of Christianity to the Chinese was part of nineteenth-century Western imperialism. In fact, Syriac-speaking Christians brought the gospel along the Silk Road into China in the seventh century. Glen L. Thompson introduces readers to the fascinating history of this early Eastern church, referred to as Jingjiao, or the "Luminous Teaching."Â
Â
Thompson presents the history of the Persian church's mission to China with rigor and clarity. While Christianity remained a minority and "foreign" religion in the Middle Kingdom, it nonetheless attracted adherents among indigenous Chinese and received imperial approval during the Tang Dynasty. Though it was later suppressed alongside Buddhism, it resurfaced in China and Mongolia in the twelfth century. Thompson also discusses how the modern unearthing of Chinese Christian texts has stirred controversy over the meaning of Jingjiao to recent missionary efforts in China. Â
Â
In an accessible style, Thompson guides readers through primary sources as well as up-to-date scholarship. As the most recent and balanced survey on the topic available in English, Jingjiao will be an indispensable resource for students of global Christianity and missiology.
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Yes, you can access Jingjiao by Glen L. Thompson in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Chinese History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- List of Tables
- Foreword by Samuel N. C. Lieu
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: A Story That Needs TellingâCorrectly
- 1. The Syriac Church and Its Eastward Mission
- 2. The Stele from Changâan
- 3. The Jingjiao Is Planted and Grows
- 4. New Evidence Emerges
- 5. The Teachings of the Jingjiao
- 6. The Jingjiao under the Tang
- 7. The Yelikewenjiao Revival under the Yuan
- Epilogue: So What?
- Appendix 1: The Changâan Stele
- Appendix 2: Figures and Maps
- Select Bibliography