Christianism
Christianity in China is a growing minority religion that comprises Protestants, Catholics, and a small number of Orthodox Christians. Although its lineage in China is not as ancient as beliefs such as Confucianism, Taoism, or Buddhism, Christianity has developed in China since at least the 7th century and has demonstrated increasing influence for over 200 years. The Christian culture, along with its delicate equipments, science and technology, culture, took foot in China, and influenced the development of China.
Christianity has existed in China during several different historical periods. The earliest record of Christianity in China dates back to the Nestorianism, a Syrian Christian sect. it first appeared in China in the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century when a Syrian named Raban presented Christian scriptures to the imperial court in Chang’an (present-day Xi’an). This event and the construction of a Nestorian monastery in Chang’an are recorded on a large stone tablet made in 781, now displayed in the Xi'an Forest of Stone Tablets Museum. When introduced into China, it got its Chinese name "Jingjiao". Nestorianism existed in China for 300years and was gradually absorbed into Chinese society. However, the Tang dynasty adopted anti-religious measures in 845. Meanwhile, Christianity reached the periphery of China as far as Mongolia.
Christianity again came to China was during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), when Franciscan missionaries were commissioned by the Pope in 1294. The Nestorian church also returned at this time with the Mongols. During this period the Chinese language employed the same name for both branches of the Christian faith. Organized Christianity failed to survive the end of the Yuan dynasty in China. At that time, there were groups of Christians in Genghis Khan’s army. Again, as earlier, it was absorbed into the prevailing Chinese culture; only minor pockets of Christianity survived in China before the 17th century.
Another wave of missionaries came at the end of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when Jesuits arrived in Beijing via Guangzhou. The most famous was Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), an Italian mathematician who came to China in 1588 and lived in Beijing in 1600. He became a friend of Xu Guangqi, Minister of Rites to the Ming court. Ricci was welcomed at the imperial court. He introduced Western astronomy, calendar making and mathematics. With the permission of Emperor Shenzong, he built a Catholic church in Beijing. From then on, China saw an influx of missionaries of various Catholic orders and congregations.
Emperor Kangxi banned the Roman Catholic Church in 1075, because the Pope and missionaries forbade Chinese Catholics to worship Confucius and their own ancestors. The western capitalist powers, following the Opium War of 1840, forced open the gate of China and imposed a series of unequal treaties on the Qing government. Thus, the Roman Catholic Church recovered its legitimate status in China. Christianity began to take root in a significant way in the Chinese Empire during the Qing Dynasty, and although it has remained a minority religion in China, it has had significant recent historical impact. Further waves of missionaries came to China in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) as a result of contact with foreign powers. Protestantism reached China in the 19th century. In 1807, during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Robert Morrison, a pastor of the London Mission, became the first Protestant missionary to reach China. After the Yihetuan Movement (the Boxer Uprising) of 1900, the Protestant missionaries and their foreign missions moved into the field of culture. They opened schools, set up hospitals and other cultural and religious institutions in China. Both Roman Catholics and Protestants founded numerous educational institutions in China from the primary to the university level. Missionaries worked to abolish practices such as foot binding. Some of the early leaders of the Chinese Republic, such as Sun Yat-sen were converts to Christianity and were influenced by its teachings.
Today in large, international cities such as Beijing foreign visitors have established Christian church communities which meet in public establishments such as hotels. These churches and fellowships, however, are typically restricted only to holders of non-Chinese passports.
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