The Three PillarsThe Three Pillars

A glimpse of Chinese Church history A glimpse of Chinese Church history from 1583-1644ADfrom 1583-1644AD

A background to Shangdi…A background to Shangdi…

Until 600BC the Han Chinese race were Until 600BC the Han Chinese race were known as monotheists worshipping One known as monotheists worshipping One Creator God known in the Chinese language as Creator God known in the Chinese language as Shangdi.Shangdi.

The move away from monotheism started with The move away from monotheism started with Confucius introducing the reverence of Confucius introducing the reverence of ancestors, and moving to Lao Tse and later to ancestors, and moving to Lao Tse and later to Buddhism where polytheism and atheism were Buddhism where polytheism and atheism were introduced to Chinese philosophy.introduced to Chinese philosophy.

Chinese temples….Chinese temples….

Early missionaries to Early missionaries to China were surprised to China were surprised to find that Chinese find that Chinese temples had a layout temples had a layout very similar to the very similar to the Tabernacle of Moses.Tabernacle of Moses.

Chinese Temples Chinese Temples showed that they had showed that they had once been used for the once been used for the worship of only one worship of only one God.God.

The Three PillarsThe Three Pillars

Paul Hsu (Xu Guangshi)Paul Hsu (Xu Guangshi) Michael Yang (Yang Tingyun)Michael Yang (Yang Tingyun) Leon Li (Li Zhizao)Leon Li (Li Zhizao) All came from upper class backgrounds, and All came from upper class backgrounds, and

distinguished themselves in the government distinguished themselves in the government service and intellectual studies, and were service and intellectual studies, and were enormously influential both in building the enormously influential both in building the Chinese Church but also in introducing Chinese Church but also in introducing Western science and philosophy to China.Western science and philosophy to China.

Parallels to the time of Daniel some Parallels to the time of Daniel some 2,500 years earlier…2,500 years earlier…

In the time of Daniel there were three men who were In the time of Daniel there were three men who were outstanding in their contribution to the wisdom and outstanding in their contribution to the wisdom and knowledge of the King’s (Nebuchadnezzar King of knowledge of the King’s (Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon) court.Babylon) court.

Read Daniel chapter 1verses 7, 17 and 20.Read Daniel chapter 1verses 7, 17 and 20. ““God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every

branch of literature and wisdom” v 17.branch of literature and wisdom” v 17. ““The King found them, ten times better than all the The King found them, ten times better than all the

magicians and conjurers who were in his realm” v 20.magicians and conjurers who were in his realm” v 20.

Nebuchadnezzar’s pagan court.Nebuchadnezzar’s pagan court.

King Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon a King Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon a kingdom renowned for its idolatry and witchcraft and kingdom renowned for its idolatry and witchcraft and occult arts. occult arts.

Abraham had left this Chaldean culture 1,000 years Abraham had left this Chaldean culture 1,000 years before this because he found it very difficult to live a before this because he found it very difficult to live a godly life amongst the constant idolatry of Ur of the godly life amongst the constant idolatry of Ur of the Chaldees. Chaldees.

Now God planned to make an open show of the Now God planned to make an open show of the powerlessness of this corrupt pagan culture.powerlessness of this corrupt pagan culture.

God chose his special servants..God chose his special servants..

God chose his humble servants, Shadrach, God chose his humble servants, Shadrach, Meshach, and Obed-nego for a special mission Meshach, and Obed-nego for a special mission to expose the corrupt nature of the Babylonian to expose the corrupt nature of the Babylonian Empire and its powerlessness compared to Empire and its powerlessness compared to God’s power. God’s power.

These three men were put in a fiery furnace to These three men were put in a fiery furnace to be killed but God protected them in both be killed but God protected them in both situations and delivered them completely situations and delivered them completely unharmed. Daniel 3 verses 12 – 30.unharmed. Daniel 3 verses 12 – 30.

The three pillars in China..The three pillars in China..

Paul Hsu first met Catholic missionary Matteo Ricci Paul Hsu first met Catholic missionary Matteo Ricci in 1600 and four years later he was thoroughly in 1600 and four years later he was thoroughly converted because he was deeply impressed how converted because he was deeply impressed how much the moral teachings of the missionaries much the moral teachings of the missionaries surpassed that of Confucianism, and how superior the surpassed that of Confucianism, and how superior the Christian faith was to the religious teachings of Christian faith was to the religious teachings of Buddhism. He asked to be baptised. He later phrased Buddhism. He asked to be baptised. He later phrased his position in the elegant Chinese motto; his position in the elegant Chinese motto; “Christianity supplements Confucianism and “Christianity supplements Confucianism and displaces Buddhism”.displaces Buddhism”.

Paul Hsu wrote….Paul Hsu wrote…. “ “ According to the Christian teachings, the service of Shangdi According to the Christian teachings, the service of Shangdi

(God) is the fundamental principle; the protection of the body (God) is the fundamental principle; the protection of the body and the salvation of the soul are the utmost importance; and the salvation of the soul are the utmost importance; loyalty, filial piety, compassion, and love are loyalty, filial piety, compassion, and love are accomplishments; reformation of errors and the practice of accomplishments; reformation of errors and the practice of virtue are initial steps; repentance and purification of sin are virtue are initial steps; repentance and purification of sin are the prerequisites for personal improvement; true felicity of the prerequisites for personal improvement; true felicity of celestial life is the glorious reward of doing good; and the celestial life is the glorious reward of doing good; and the eternal misery of hell is the recompense of doing evil.”eternal misery of hell is the recompense of doing evil.”

Academically Hsu was outstanding even though when he was Academically Hsu was outstanding even though when he was young he twice failed his lower examinations. He later said young he twice failed his lower examinations. He later said that his failures were divinely arranged to ensure he met the that his failures were divinely arranged to ensure he met the Christian fathers and found salvation in Jesus Christ.Christian fathers and found salvation in Jesus Christ.

Paul Hsu’s elevation….Paul Hsu’s elevation….

In 1603 he passed his doctoral examinations.In 1603 he passed his doctoral examinations. He became a member of the 24 man Imperial He became a member of the 24 man Imperial

Academy.Academy. In 1606 he passed further examinations and In 1606 he passed further examinations and

became the highest member of the 12 man became the highest member of the 12 man Imperial Court.Imperial Court.

Thereafter he became the most respected Thereafter he became the most respected leader in the Kingdom, protector of leader in the Kingdom, protector of Christianity and second only to the Emperor.Christianity and second only to the Emperor.

Paul Hsu’s legacy…Paul Hsu’s legacy…

Working with Father Dr Matteo Working with Father Dr Matteo Ricci he made Western mathematics, Ricci he made Western mathematics, astronomy, hydraulics and geography astronomy, hydraulics and geography known throughout the Kingdom of known throughout the Kingdom of China.China.

He was the first Chinese to translate He was the first Chinese to translate European books into Chinese.European books into Chinese.

Among Christians he was revered for Among Christians he was revered for his piety, and discipline in the faith his piety, and discipline in the faith and for his contextualisation of the and for his contextualisation of the gospel in China without syncretism.gospel in China without syncretism.

The second pillar…Leon Li,The second pillar…Leon Li,

A native of Hangzhou from a military family.A native of Hangzhou from a military family. He was fascinated with the maps of Matteo Ricci, and He was fascinated with the maps of Matteo Ricci, and

grateful to Ricci for expanding his understanding of grateful to Ricci for expanding his understanding of geography, and mathematics.geography, and mathematics.

A strong Buddhist he resisted Christian teaching A strong Buddhist he resisted Christian teaching because he was a polygamist with concubines.because he was a polygamist with concubines.

Ricci was soon able to intellectually convince him of Ricci was soon able to intellectually convince him of the folly of Buddhist idolatry, but it took 10 years for the folly of Buddhist idolatry, but it took 10 years for him to agree to be baptised with only one wife. Once him to agree to be baptised with only one wife. Once baptised, he quickly built the first church in Nanjing. baptised, he quickly built the first church in Nanjing.

Leon Li’s unique discovery..Leon Li’s unique discovery..

In 1625 Leon Li discovered an inscription on a In 1625 Leon Li discovered an inscription on a monument near ancient Chang-an, now known monument near ancient Chang-an, now known as Xian, put there by Portuguese Christian as Xian, put there by Portuguese Christian missionaries 990 years earlier. That was even missionaries 990 years earlier. That was even before Marco Polo.before Marco Polo.

This discovery helped Leon Li prove to his This discovery helped Leon Li prove to his Chinese scholars and critics that Christianity Chinese scholars and critics that Christianity was not a foreign religion. was not a foreign religion.

The third pillar…Michael Yang,The third pillar…Michael Yang,

A scholar in Hangzhou deeply attracted to A scholar in Hangzhou deeply attracted to Buddhism.Buddhism.

He loved religious argument and had formed He loved religious argument and had formed his own “Truth Society” to promote the search his own “Truth Society” to promote the search for philosophical reality.for philosophical reality.

He met Jesuit missionary Lazzaro Cattaneo at He met Jesuit missionary Lazzaro Cattaneo at the home of his relative Li Zhizao (Leon Li) the home of his relative Li Zhizao (Leon Li) and was fascinated with his talk of the and was fascinated with his talk of the existence of God.existence of God.

Michael Yang’s stumbling block…Michael Yang’s stumbling block…and triumph…and triumph…

The concept of the incarnation of and infinite The concept of the incarnation of and infinite God in a human Christ was a stumbling block God in a human Christ was a stumbling block for Michael. for Michael.

He converted to Christ and was baptized in He converted to Christ and was baptized in 1613. Yang wrote many books in defence of 1613. Yang wrote many books in defence of the Christian faith especially aimed at his the Christian faith especially aimed at his Buddhist critics. Buddhist critics.

Through his influence the provincial capital of Through his influence the provincial capital of Zhejiang became the centre of Christianity in Zhejiang became the centre of Christianity in China.China.

The three pillars influence on The three pillars influence on China…China…

Their maps, and geographical books Their maps, and geographical books shocked China into acknowledging the shocked China into acknowledging the world was not flat and the advanced nature world was not flat and the advanced nature of the other cultures. of the other cultures.

Ricci’s book “On Friendship” published in Ricci’s book “On Friendship” published in 1595, disarmed Chinese suspicions of 1595, disarmed Chinese suspicions of foreigners.foreigners.

Paul Hsu produced six books in 1607 that Paul Hsu produced six books in 1607 that revolutionised Chinese mathematics, and revolutionised Chinese mathematics, and astronomy.astronomy.

Hsu’s book “The True meaning of the Hsu’s book “The True meaning of the Lord of Heaven” revolutionised the Lord of Heaven” revolutionised the theological defence of Christianity against theological defence of Christianity against Buddhists. Buddhists.

Paul Hsu’s correction of the Muslim Paul Hsu’s correction of the Muslim mathematicians…mathematicians…

In 1611 Muslim mathematicians responsible for In 1611 Muslim mathematicians responsible for preparing the Imperial calendar made a mistake in preparing the Imperial calendar made a mistake in their calculations of an eclipse, an unforgivable error their calculations of an eclipse, an unforgivable error in a Court where the calendar regulated every in a Court where the calendar regulated every protocol.protocol.

The high Christian Mandarin Paul Hsu offered to The high Christian Mandarin Paul Hsu offered to correct the error and was granted permission by the correct the error and was granted permission by the Emperor. Leon Li assisted the correction process and Emperor. Leon Li assisted the correction process and the Muslims lost their influential position in the Court the Muslims lost their influential position in the Court of the Emperor.of the Emperor.

Christians in China in 1610..Christians in China in 1610..

Numbered 2,500.Numbered 2,500. The population of China at that time was The population of China at that time was

125millions.125millions. The influence of the Christians on China was The influence of the Christians on China was

outstanding compared to their numbers.outstanding compared to their numbers. Although the Emperor did not become a Although the Emperor did not become a

Christian as far as we know, he did provide a Christian as far as we know, he did provide a place near the West Wall of the “Temple of place near the West Wall of the “Temple of Heaven” for the burial of Christian leaders.Heaven” for the burial of Christian leaders.

God’s blessing on His servants…God’s blessing on His servants…

In Daniel 12 verse 3 we read of the servants of the In Daniel 12 verse 3 we read of the servants of the Lord; “They who have insight will shine brightly like Lord; “They who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse heaven, and those who the brightness of the expanse heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”ever.”

Daniel chapter 12 verse 10 says that “those who have Daniel chapter 12 verse 10 says that “those who have insight will understand.”insight will understand.”

Understand the truth about God and eternal life, and Understand the truth about God and eternal life, and understand the times and seasons we are living in on understand the times and seasons we are living in on earth. earth.

It is God’s intention that His worshippers would be It is God’s intention that His worshippers would be those with great wisdom and knowledge.those with great wisdom and knowledge.

The Emperor of Heaven…ShangdiThe Emperor of Heaven…Shangdi

Invites you to become His servant who will Invites you to become His servant who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

He will enable you to become a child of His by He will enable you to become a child of His by accepting His only Son Jesus Christ into your accepting His only Son Jesus Christ into your life today.life today.

He will give you His Spirit, the Spirit of Truth He will give you His Spirit, the Spirit of Truth and Wisdom and Knowledge.and Wisdom and Knowledge.

He has destined you for greatness in His He has destined you for greatness in His Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Will you accept His free gift ?Will you accept His free gift ?