Consuming missionary legacies in contemporary China: Eric Liddell and evolving interpretations of Chinese Christian history

Abstract

As a significant theme running through China’s modern history, Christianity’s inglorious role has helped redefine the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) self-proclaimed role as the liberator of the long-suffering nation from imperialist forces. The association between missionaries and Western imperialism has predominated the Chinese communist historiography. Nevertheless, recent years have witnessed a burgeoning movement to reinvent China’s Christian past and reconstruct historical memories of stigmatized missionaries. This article suggests that local governments in China are increasingly recognizing value in the history of Chinese–missionary encounters. This is evident in how local authorities have organized and promoted commemorative activities for Scottish missionary and Olympic champion Eric Liddell (1902–45). In presenting the case of Liddell, this article reveals how the Chinese government takes the initiative in consuming historical memories of Western missionaries, and finds instrumental value in the legacy of such figures despite their religious connections.

Revisiting religious higher education in China: comparative analysis of Furen University narratives

“…This is timely because contemporary Chinese scholars in the PRC have become increasingly interested in excavating the history of Furen and other Christian colleges in modern China. Growing academic interest in the history of religious higher education is related to ongoing changes in writing the PRC's history, wherein the orthodox narrative of Chinese modern history established in the Maoist era has been reinterpreted to some extent (Li 2013;Liu 2017;Liu and White 2019;Zhang and Weatherley 2013). For example, the historical narrative of Christian missionaries' role in modern Chinese society has been given a new spin in some ways.…”

“…For example, the historical narrative of Christian missionaries' role in modern Chinese society has been given a new spin in some ways. Instead of being portrayed as agents of imperialism, the value and contributions of some non-Chinese missionaries have been increasingly recognized by local communities and even by the PRC government (Liu 2017;Liu and White 2019). Interestingly, over the decades, mainland Chinese society has also experienced the "Republican fever" phenomenon, which grants contemporary PRC historians and public media greater freedom to explore various aspects of social life during the Republican era , for example, school textbooks, political culture, economic development, and other social issues (Zhang and Weatherley 2013).…”

“…Shifting narratives on Christian colleges also echo ongoing changes in historical studies in the PRC ever since Mao's rule ended. Li's (2013) research on Chinese historiography indicates that historical narratives about modern China are highly politically contested, and the party-state has powerfully manipulated society's collective memory to consolidate its political legitimacy (Liu and White 2019). In recent decades, emerging generations of researchers have not adhered simply to traditional paradigms that largely aim to "serve the Party's needs in legitimating its leadership and policies" (Li 2013, p. 255).…”