A Research On The Scottish Missionary William Milne(1785-1822)

William Milne (1785-1822) was a Scottish missionary sent by the London Missionary Society to China in the early 19th century. Due to the Chinese government edicts at that time, Milne was even unable to reside in China, so he had to depart on a journey to find some place as their missionary headquarter in Malacca. While working in Malacca station, Milne, among other things, translated Sacred Edict into English, helped R. Morrison to translate the Old Testament, created a Chinese monthly magazine and a English quarterly magazine, established the printing press, published religious books and founded the Anglo-Chines College. Throughout his life, Milne worked very hard for conveying the Gospel to Chinese people. Despite the fact that he could not stay in China, however, what he did for this religious goal have made tremendous impacts to the cross-cultural exchanges between the West and China cultures. Its not only triggered the extension of Western knowledge to China but also helped spreading Chinese literature and wisdom to the west. Due to his short life and R. Morrison’s bigger success, he has been overlooked for so many years. Based on the materials in Chinese and English languages, scholars have made a good progress in the study of certain aspects of Milne, but untill now, there is no in-depth, systematic and comprehensive research on him in China. Furthermore the scholars from overseas also have limitations when they study on him. As a matter of fact, most of them focus on the religious activities instead of Milne’s Chinese works. From this point of view, this dissertation will be the first in-depth, systematic and comprehensive research on him in China. This paper aims to research on William Milne and all his works as an important case study in the history of overseas Sinology, with setting Milne and his activities in the background of cultural exchange and undertaking the view of cross-cultural studies. Also in order to help to promote the depth of the missionary Sinology studies, and at the same time to contribute to nowadays cross-cultural exchange.On the basis of existing research results, this paper is going to make multiple perspectives describe and comparative analysis on Milne’s whole life as well as his contribution with the help of the original archives and manuscripts from London Missionary Society and the British library. This paper has seven sections:Chapter I:This paper begins with an introduction on the background in both the UK and China at that time; and it follows to discuss the contingency and inevitability of Milne’s coming to China. And then, on the basis of existing research results, this paper tries to introduce the early life and education of Milne correctly with the help of the original archives and manuscripts, and makes a critical thinking of how he gradually became a model missionary and pioneer in Malacca from a shepherd boy, from the following aspects:planning of coming to China, arrival in China, language study, establish the Malacca mission station, the relationships between him and other missionaries, his death and influence, etc.. At the same time depicting the missionary work in Malacca around the early 19th century. Chapter Ⅱ:This part is going to analyze the dialogues between Christian doctrines and Confucian classics with the help of the articles by Milne for the Chinese monthly magazine from the perspective of Western knowledge to China; and analyze the Chinese imagine created by Milne in the early 19th century with the help of the articles by Milne for the English quarterly magazine from the perspective of spreading Chinese literature and wisdom to the west. Chapter Ⅲ:Firstly, this chapter discusses the impacts of the translations of the Sacred Edict and the Holy Bible on Milne. Secondly, it makes a critical thinking about his understanding of Chinese culture, especially the Confucian culture. Thirdly, focuses on Milne’s contribution to the Chinese theology. Chapter Ⅳ:This chapter discusses Milne’s cultural and educational work in Malacca and its influence. Then it focuses on his character and manners, to depict a most vivid William Milne through his reacts to the complex relationship between Anglo-Chinese College and Malacca mission station, as well as the disputes between him and his friends and enemies. Chapter Ⅴ:This chapter is mainly about his missionary works. Firstly, gives a brief introduction on its eighteen Chinese works; secondly, focuses on his famous Christian tract Dialogues between Two Friends, to analyze Milne’s mission strategy and tactics, with the comparison to Matteo Ricci’s Tianzhu Shiyi (The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven). Chapter Ⅵ:Last but not the least, this chapter analyzes and gives an overall image of Milne from a cross-cultural perspective. It’s not difficult to see, Milne’s missionary work not achieving the goals that him or the London Missionary Society’s expects is one thing, his activities and writings in Malacca promoting bilateral exchanges between Chinese and Western cultures through more diverse ways is another.