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Chinese terms for God, especially a "Supreme God", have produced many variations for the title. The oldest records of the term Westerners translate as "God", "Most High God", "Greatest Lord" appear to exist in the earliest documents of Chinese literature as Shangdi (上帝, pinyin: Shàngdì, literally "Above Emperor"). This representation may be as old as 2000 BC or older, with the earliest documentation around 700 BC. However, as Chinese religion changed to incorporate later interperatations of Confucianism, Daoism, & Buddhism, the term seems to have merged, in the views of some philosophers, with an impersonal Shung Tian, or heaven. (See Shangdi, Pangu, Tian, and Chinese Mythology, for examples and details. Shangdi or Shang Ti (Wade-Giles) (上å¸, pinyin Shà ngdì), literally translated, Lord Above or Sovreign Above, in Chinese culture, is the name used both in traditional Chinese religion as well as Christianity for a supreme deity. ...
Shangdi or Shang Ti (Wade-Giles) (上å¸, pinyin Shà ngdì), literally translated, Lord Above or Sovreign Above, in Chinese culture, is the name used both in traditional Chinese religion as well as Christianity for a supreme deity. ...
In later Chinese mythology, Pangu (盤å¤; pinyin: pan2 gu3; also PanGu, PanKu, Pan Guo) was the first living being and the creator of all. ...
Tian (天 Pinyin TiÄn) is the Chinese character for heaven or sky. ...
Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written form. ...
General Uses
The following is not necessarily a representation of how the word "God" would actually be translated from the Bible. For example, the first occurrence of a term for God in the Bible is in Genesis 1:1 and is rendered in the English as "God". However, many other titles( LORD (usually capitalized, as a replacement for the tetragrammaton see below for more detail ),Almighty, etc.), and God's personal name in different languages (Jehovah:English, Yahweh:Hebrew, Yehova:Spanish,etc.), are also used.
Assyrian - Main article: Nestorianism in China
The earliest introduction of documented Judeo-Christian religion appears to be Jǐng jiào (景教, literally, "bright teaching") around 635 AD, whose proponents were from the Assyrian Church of the East, often inaccurately referred to as Nestorianism. Their term for God was Zhēnzhǔ (真主, literally "Veritable Majesty", or "True Lord"). The form of Christianity often called Nestorianism but better described as the Church of the East spread widely across the continent of Asia following the banishment and condemnation of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, at the Council of Ephesus in 431. ...
Events Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England Nestorian China Births Pippin of Herstal, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (approximate date) 23 May - Chan Bahlum II, king of Palenque Deaths Categories: 635 ...
The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East (Syriac: Ü¥Ü•Ü¬Ü Ü©Ü•ÜÜ«Ü¬Ü Ü˜Ü«Ü ÜÜšÜÜ¬Ü Ü©Ü¬Ü˜Ü ÜÜ©Ü Ü•Ü¡Ü•Ü¢ÜšÜ Ü•Üܬܘܪ̈ÜÜ) under His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV is a Christian church that traces its origins to the See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, said to be founded by Saint Thomas the Apostle as well as Saint Mari and Addai as evidenced in the...
Nestorianism is the doctrine that Jesus exists as two persons, the man Jesus and the divine Son of God, or Logos, rather than as a unified person. ...
Catholic - Main article: Medieval Roman Catholic Missions in China
- See also: Jesuit China missions
The earliest documented Chinese Roman Catholic church was founded in China about 1289. The Roman Catholic Church historically favored Tīanzhǔ (天主, literally, "Heavenly Lord", or "Lord of Heaven"), and so "Catholic" is rendered Tīanzhǔ jìao (天主教). Korean and Vietnamese Catholics also use cognates of the term for God. This appears to have been used by the Catholic Church to separate Confucian traditions, which were reported to worship spirits and therefore incompatible with the exclusive biblical worship of God. Ironically, although versions of popular Confucianism became strongly associated to idol worship, traditionalists, notably the Qing emperor Kang Xi, did not believe such idolization to accurately reflect Confucius intent. The Second major thrust of Christianity into China occurred during the thirteenth century. ...
The history of the missions of the Jesuits in China in the early modern era stands as one of the notable events in the early history of relations between China and the Western world, as well as a prominent example of relations between two cultures and belief systems in the...
The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ...
For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ...
This article needs cleanup, so as to conform to a higher standard. ...
Protestant - Main article: 19th Century Protestant Missions in China
The earliest Protestant, Robert Morrison appeared in China in 1807. Before this time, Bibles were not printed for distribution. Protestants are referred to as Jīdū jìao (基督教, colliquially meaning "religion of Christ") a term that sometimes refers to all Christians, or Xīnjìao (新教, literally, "new religion") to distinguish Protestants as a group from Roman Catholics. Their translations, occurring later and separately, chose to use the older terminology "Shangdi", apparently believing Shangdi was a valid or preferable representation of the "Most High God". During the last half of the eighteenth and the opening decades of the nineteenth century little was done to advance the cause of Christ in China. ...
Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...
Robert Morrison (Chinese: 馬禮éœ; born January 5, 1782 in Bullers Green, near Morpeth, Northumberland; died August 1, 1834 in Canton; buried in the Old Protestant Cemetery in Macau) was a Scottish missionary, the first Protestant missionary in China. ...
Year 1807 (MDCCCVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ...
Shangdi or Shang Ti (Wade-Giles) (上å¸, pinyin Shà ngdì), literally translated, Lord Above or Sovreign Above, in Chinese culture, is the name used both in traditional Chinese religion as well as Christianity for a supreme deity. ...
Translations - Main article: Chinese Bible Translations
Chinese Dialects and Vernacular Versions of the Bible [1] // Old Testament (Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky), 1875 New Testament (Peking Committee), 1870 New Testament (Griffith John), 1887 New Testament, 1889 Portions of New Testament for the Blind New Testament, 1856 New Testament, 1881 Isaiah-Daniel, 1886 New Testament, 1870 New Testament...
God The term used commonly in Protestant Chinese bibles for God is Shén, or "神". This term is much more generic, meaning god, God, spirit, or soul. This probably appeals to groups who are not committed to interpreting Shangdi as a historical or spiritual equivalent to the "God Most High" of the Bible. The issue has remained controversial for over a century and Protestant organizations have published two versions of the Bible, using the two different words.
Tetragrammaton In addition, the Tetragrammaton, a four letter pronunciation of the name of God from the original Hebrew often rendered as "YHWH", is rendered in different ways. Catholics have translated this into Yǎwēi (雅威, literally "Elegant Powerful," cf. English "Yahweh"). Protestants originally rendered it as Yéhuǒhuá (爺火華, literally "(old) Gentleman of Fiery Magnificence," cf. English "Jehovah"). A modern Protestant usage is Yēhéhuá (耶和華, phonetic). Some versions translate this term as Shàngzhǔ (上主, literally "Above Lord"), similar to the translation decision that uses a capitalized "LORD" by both Catholics and traditional Protestants. Catholics, Anglicans, & Lutherans particularly use Shàngzhǔ in prayers of the Eucharist. It has been suggested that Yahweh be merged into this article or section. ...
Phoenician silver drachm from ca. ...
Phoenician silver drachm from ca. ...
For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ...
Lord The term Zhǔ (主,literally "Lord") is used by both Catholics and traditional Protestants in list formal prayers, and usually by contemporary Protestants.
Other less formal terms are used, for example, Tīanfù (天父, literally "Heavenly Father").
References - Example - notice how Shen and Shangti (shangdi) alternatives are offered at the top of the page.
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