Chinese Biblical Anthropology

In this study that is largely intellectual history, Cao Jian observes how Old Testament motifs were introduced by Protestant missionaries and Bible translators, with the help of Chinese co-workers in the beginning, and how those motifs drew attention from local converts and led to discussions among them in light of the norms in Confucianism. Then, Cao demonstrates how Confucian reformists started reacting to missionary publications and showing interest in Old Testament motifs. After the defeat of China in 1894-1895 in the Sino-Japanese War, the response to the Old Testament became more active and influential among China's population. The author shows new interests and tendencies in Old Testament interpretation among educated Chinese with various political ideals at a time of national crisis. He also demonstrates how the vernacular movement in Bible translating and missionary Old Testament education popularized and modernized Old Testament reading and studies in Chinese society. After that transitional period, discussions of Old Testament motifs became even more abundant and diverse. The author concentrates on those regarding the notion of God and monotheism. In China's nationalism, the Old Testament proved no less stimulating. The author deals with Moses and the prophets to understand how they became valid to those active in both religious and secular realms.

""In the unsettling era of change and crisis covered by the book, Chinese intellectuals have gained some insight and inspiration in the reading of the Chinese Union Version translation of the Bible, especially the Mandarin version of 1919, which is being celebrated for its centennial this year. Their contextual readings have contributed to the significant tradition of interpretation of a foreign text in the multiple textual heritage of China, which this present work sets out to critically engage. It is indicative to find that monotheistic perspective of the Bible is one of the challenging ideas not only in the Chinese cultural and religious context, but also for the very quest for a China in its modern setting.""
--Archie C. C. Lee, Professor of the Hebrew Bible, Divinity School of Chung Chi College

""Cao Jian's study of the translation and reception of the Hebrew Scriptures in Chinese literary, political, and philosophical writings offers an impressive new vision of the scope of intellectual engagement with Scripture in the late Qing and early twentieth centuries. From political readings of the Jewish nation to poetic renditions of Lamentations, Cao's book expands and enriches our understanding of the Bible in Chinese history as pedagogical text, literary inspiration, and intellectual sounding-board.""
--Chloe Starr, Associate Professor of Asian Christianity and Theology at Yale Divinity School


Cao Jian is an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. He completed his PhD in Biblical Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (2...