A Study On Christian Rural Reconstruction Movement In China (1907-1950)

This thesis focuses on the Christian rural reconstruction movement in China. It started in 1907 when the first agricultural missionary came to China and came to an end in 1950. Christianity played an active role in the rural reconstruction movement in modem China. However, this movement has been largely ignored, especially in the academic circle on the history of Christianity in China. There are only three monographs in the Chinese language on this topic in Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China during the last 20 years. Although some achievements have been made in the past research, some basic questions still remain to be answered. For examples, how was the Christian rural reconstruction originated? What was the method and aim of this movement? How did Christianity respond to the social and political challenges in the movement? What is the significance of Christian rural reconstruction as part of the indigenization of Christianity in China? Moreover, most of the past research works either focus on one geographical area or one particular period, or on some specific questions. They are lack of macro framework within the entire time period, and the nature and overall characteristics of this movement have not been fully addressed. Therefore, this thesis, on the basis of rich, published and unpublished primary resources, attempts to respond to these questions. It also discusses the significance of Christian rural reconstruction as a part of the Christian movement and the dilemma of social gospel in modem China. This thesis is the first monograph that focuses on the entire historical process of this movement. This thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter reviews the past research works, and introduces the methodology and materials used in this research. This thesis puts the rural reconstruction from 1907 to 1950 in the framework of the entire Christian movement on the basis of the author抯 research work. Within social movements in modem China as background, it reconstructs the entire historical course in respond to the relationship between religion and society. Social gospel, which is the theological base of the Christian rural reconstruction, its origination, dissemination and its effect on Christian missions in China are also introduced in this chapter. Chapter Two, Three and Four are the main parts of this thesis. The origin of the Christian rural reconstruction, the commonly adopted methods and practice are discussed respectively in these chapters. At the beginning of 20~ century a new type of Christian mission approach appeared in the North America. Missionaries began agricultural and rural service work. Later, they were called 揳gricultural missionaries? Under the iii I DOCTORAL DISSERTATION propaganda of famous laymen and agricultural scientist Kenyon L. Butterfield, the agricultural mission became a new mission method. As a result, an agriculture mission movement came into being in the world. The agricultural missionaries came to China and learned that if they wanted to make 揅hina for Christ? they must first make the 搑ural area for Christ? Consequently, they advocated a 搑uralized Christian church? The agricultural missionaries in the University of Nanking, for example, extended the agricultural education and technology with the church network. By and large, agricultural mission became another important Christian cause from the 1920s, and the Christian rural reconstruction movement was originated from it. Historical evidence indicates t...