KSCB077 Christianity in China and Taiwan: merging of identities

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Bc. Magdaléna Rychetská, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Bc. Magdaléna Rychetská, M.A., Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites (in Czech)
KSCA001 Introduction to Chin. Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
In this course, students will gain a basic understanding of the development of Christian missions in China and Taiwan. Christianity has always been perceived as a foreign religion in  China , which is why Christians have faced many pitfalls and challenges in trying to connect their religious identity (often perceived as foreign) and their local Chinese identity. Throughout the course, students will learn how missionaries tried to make Christianity attractive to the Chinese population, what specific strategies they employed, and how their own identities intersected and changed. They will also understand the situation of Christianity in China and Taiwan today, how different Christian groups face socialism in the PRC, or what is meant by the "Sinicization of Christianity.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course the student will be able to: understand and explain basic facts about Christianity in China and Taiwan; summarize important moments of Christian missions in the Chinese context interpret key passages from relevant primary sources in the context of the course topic
Syllabus
  • Christianity in China vs Chinese Christianity
  • Christianity and colonialism
  • Christianity and the 19th century Chinese uprisings
  • The Republic of China: Christianity as a source of inspiration for change
  • Christianity vs Communism
  • Sinicization of Christianity
  • Christianity and syncretism
  • Christianity in the PRC today
  • Christianity in Taiwan
  • Final class
Literature
  • BAYS, Daniel H. A new history of Christianity in China. 1st pub. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, x, 241. ISBN 9781405159555. info
  • GOSSAERT, Vincent and David A. PALMER. The religious question in modern China. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011, xi, 464. ISBN 9780226304168. info
  • TIEDEMANN. Handbook of Christianity in China: Volume Two: 1800 to the Present. Leiden Boston: Brill, 2010. info
  • CLART, Philip and Brewer JONES. Religion in Modern Taiwan: Tradition and Innovation in a Changing Society. University of Hawaii Press, 2003. info
  • SPENCE, Jonathan D. God's Chinese son : the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan. 1st pub. as a Norton pbk. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997, xxvii, 400. ISBN 9780393315561. info
  • RUBINSTEIN, Murray. The Protestant Community on Modern Taiwan: Mission, Seminary, and Church. Armonk London: M.E. Sharpe, 1991. info
  • GERNET, Jacques. China and the Christian impact : a conflict of cultures. Translated by Janet Lloyd. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985, vi, 310. ISBN 0521266815. info
Teaching methods
Seminars, discussions, presentations
Assessment methods
a) home preparation based on the assigned readings; (b) active participation in class; (c) semester presentation of the selected topic.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2018, Spring 2020, Spring 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/KSCB077