Silent Messengers: Visualizing the Growth of Christianity in China by Chinese Christian Posters, 1927-1942

Christians in China experienced both the hopefulness and the hopelessness in 1930s China. The re-establishment of the Nanjing government in 1927 partially alleviated the fierce anti-Christian sentiments prevalent in China. Having recognized the daunting circumstance which Christianity in China was in, Christians needed a more practical approach to ensuring the growth of Christianity in China. They might also try to apply Christianity in responding to social changes in China. Based on Chinese Christian posters as central sources and other archives of mission societies in China as supporting sources, this thesis analyzes how Chinese Christian visual materials supported Christians to build the Christian community in China. It argues that Christian posters, unifying strength of foreign missionaries and Chinese converts, brought Christianity to the Chinese and brought the Chinese to a broader Christian world. The thesis considers Chinese Christian posters the product of collaboration between Chinese converts and foreign missionaries, suggesting the cooperation between Chinese culture and Christian culture. By product, it means that Chinese Christian posters promoted mission work in China and helped cultivate a Christian spirit among the Chinese, and they also introduced Chinese culture to the worldwide Christian community and then increased diversity of Christianity.

Author dc:creator

• Liu, Lingshu

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dong, Madeleine Y

• Asian history

Statement dc:rights

• none

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1773/46987

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.lib.washington.edu:1773/46987