An Exploration Of Zhang Yijing's Thoughts On The Sinicization Of Christianity

The history of Christianity in China before the Republic shows that whether Christianity can be well developed in China depends on the solution of the problem of Sinicization of Christianity.At present,the issue remains unresolved.Following the publication of the Blue Book:Annual Report on Religions in China and the outline of the five-year plan for promoting the sinicization of Christianity in China(2018-2022),The issue of Sinicization of Christianity is being paid close attention to and promoted by Chinese academic circles,religious circles and political circles synchronously.So far,however,there are few master-doctoral papers entitled on Sinicization of Christianity.On the basis of comprehensive application of historical literature survey,historical research,qualitative analysis,comparative research,interdisciplinary research and other research methods,taking the theoretical origin of Zhang Yijing's sinicization of Christianity as the research starting point,from the aspects of initial formation of thought,thought of indigenous theology,thought of indigenous church and historical influence and significance,a case study of the sinicization of Christianity by Zhang Yijing,a famous character preacher and a patriotic theologian in modern China,is to be carried out in the multi-dimensional perspective,in order to present the essential connotation and theoretical characteristics of Zhang Yijing's sinicization of Christianity,and to make an objective and fair evaluation on the historical influence and status of Zhang Yijing's thought of sinicization of Christianity.Meanwhile,trying to take this as an opportunity to provides important inspiration and reference for contemporary movement of sinicization of Christianity,so as to reflects the contemporary value and significance of Zhang Yijing's sinicization of Christianity.While acknowledging the theoretical value and practical significance of Zhang Yijing's thought on sinicization of Christianity,the historical limitation of his thought should also be pointed out with dialectical and critical attitude.Because the accumulation of positive and negative theories,for the sake of current and future research,is valuable and beneficial.Following the internal logic of the above-mentioned research methods and purposes,this doctoral dissertation is divided into five chapters as follows:Chapter One,focusing on the analysis of previous results and relevant conclusions as a starting point,expounds the necessity and significance of the research on the historical influence and status of Zhang Yijing's thought on sinicization of Christianity,and also points out the research innovation and the specific writing ideas and content.Chapter Two mainly discusses the theoretical origin of Zhang Yijing's thought of sinicization of Christianity.This chapter reveals the direct and indirect reasons for theinitial formation of Zhang Yijing's thought of sinicization of Christianity and briefly discusses the core content and theoretical features of Zhang Yijing's thought of sinicization of Christianity from two aspects of indigenous theology and indigenous church.Chapter Three,from the multi-dimensional aspects of literal evangelism and the relationship between indigenous theology and Chinese folk custom,Confucianism,Taoism,Buddhism and mohism,probes into cultural self-criticism spirit in Zhang Yijing's thought of sinicization of Christianity.At the same time,it also reflects the connotation and theoretical characteristics of the basic principles of creation,renewal and redemption of Christianity.Despite the targeted rational analysis and trade-off of Chinese culture,and hope to use the beneficial elements of Christianity to reform and renew it,but meanwhile,it also acknowledges the logical self-consistency and the close spiritual relationship between Christianity and Chinese culture indeed,and emphasizes that Christianity should be better integrated into Chinese culture and society as well.Chapter Four,from the multi-dimensional perspectives of the proposition of indigenous church,the relationship between indigenous church and the progress of Chinese civilization,the development of indigenous church,and the relationship between indigenous church and politics and the state,the connotation and theoretical characteristics of Zhang's thought of indigenous church are comprehensively and systematically explored.Zhang put forward a concrete plan with strong operability for the creation of indigenous church,and pointed out that indigenous church had greatly promoted the progress of Chinese civilization.In his opinion,Christian thought and action of patriotic salvation is the only good way to promote Christianity in China.Zhang hoped to achieve the goal of sinicization of Christianity and national prosperity through the self-reliance of churches and the establishment of the indigenous churches.Chapter Five discusses the influence and significance of Zhang Yijing's thought on sinicization of Christianity.Firstly,the chapter explores his historical influence on the thought of indigenous church and theology in the period of the Republic of China.And then,the chapter discusses his inspiration for the contemporary movement of sinicization of Christianity.Finally,the chapter expounds Zhang Yijing's historical limitation in the thoughts of literal evangelism,indigenous church and evaluation of Chinese culture by fundamentalist theology which emphasizes the absoluteness and completion of the authority of the Bible.