Chinese Christian Witness: Identity, Creativity, Transmission and Poetics

This groundbreaking book brings Chinese missiology to the forefront, offering a rare insider’s perspective on the rise of Chinese Christianity. It explores the diverse expressions of the missionary impulse that have driven Chinese Christians for centuries―across continents and theological traditions―to share their faith with remarkable dynamism and impact. Interdisciplinary, intergenerational, interdenominational, and ecumenical in scope, this book showcases the depth and breadth of Chinese Christian witness in both local and global contexts. By delving into themes of identity, creativity, transmission, and poetics, it draws on unpublished data, archival sources, and rare images to offer fresh insights and perspectives. Readers will discover how Chinese literary pioneers, bold missionaries, and visionary artists are transforming individuals, cultures, and societies worldwide through their vibrant and enduring faith.

Contributors are: Tobias Brandner, Michel Chambon, Chen Yongtao, Christie Chui-Shan Chow, Michael Copeland, Dao Zi, Aleksandrs Dmitrenko, Jacob Chengwei Feng, Daryl Ireland, Gu Li’an, Hu Jie, Ji Jingyi, Jiang Yuanlai, John T.P. Lai, Joseph Tse-Hei Lee, Lü Xiaomin, Grace Lung, Alex Mayfield, Dirk Moench, David Ng, Antoine Ren, Shi Wei, Joshua Dao Wei Sim, Jue Wang, Ye Weilin, and Xiaoli Yang.

Xiaoli Yang, Ph.D (2016) is a teaching and research academic at University of Divinity and Charles Sturt University, Australia. She is also a spiritual director and a bilingual poet. She has published widely including A Dialogue between Haizi’s Poetry and the Gospel of Luke: Chinese Homecoming and the Relationship with Jesus Christ (Brill, 2018 English & CYCU, 2022 Chinese).
Daryl R. Ireland, Ph.D (2015) Boston University, USA, is a Research Associate Professor and the Associate Director of the Center for Global Christianity. He has published extensively on popular Chinese Christianity, including Visions of Salvation: Chinese Christian Posters in an Age of Revolution (Baylor University Press, 2023).