Here is the branch of the Society of Jesus in China, headquartered in Beijing!
The provincial president of the Chinese branch of the Society of Jesus was named Fu Fanji, and the inspector was named Ben Ande. They jointly held a special meeting.
This is the third meeting of this kind.
Over the past twenty years, there have been disagreements within the Society of Jesus. Some people agree to use the word God, God, while others oppose the use of God, God. Those who agree believe that it is more conducive to missionary work, while those who oppose it believe that it distorts the doctrine.
At the first meeting, no outcome was reached through the debate, so a compromise was adopted: God and Tian were not allowed to be used, but God could be used. Because God and Tian were both existing Chinese terms, but God was coined by Matteo Ricci.
In fact, God also belongs to the existing vocabulary. He was the main god among the eight gods in the Qin and Han Dynasties. Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty would worship God when they enshrined Zen. These missionaries were not very educated and could not figure it out.
The Second Council, just nine years ago, permitted the use of the words Deus and God in missionary contexts.
"The Ming Dynasty has been destroyed. I heard that the Ming Emperor died in a peasant rebellion," said Fu Fanji, the provincial chairman. "China's new country is called Datong, and the new emperor is called Zhao Han. The emperor issued an order in Nanjing to destroy some materials containing
God, God, God’s missionary book. It will be implemented soon in Jiading. Everyone, please express your opinions.”
There were also Jesuit missionaries in Nanjing. After receiving the news, they immediately returned by boat to inform the headquarters.
The news from the Jesuits is faster than the official one, because this is not an emergency decree, and the official is issuing documents step by step at the normal speed.
"I have long said that you cannot use the words God and God. It is because you have never listened to my opinion!" Long Huamin pounded the table excitedly.
Long Huamin is Matteo Ricci's successor and has been serving as President of the Society of Jesus in Beijing.
After Chongzhen succeeded to the throne, he handed over the work in Beijing to Tang Ruowang and went to Shandong to preach.
Six months ago, a plague broke out in Shandong. He fled from Shandong to the south. He was detained while crossing the Huaihe River and was quarantined for a month before being released. Six of the missionaries who went south together died of illness along the way. They finally arrived in Jiading this month.
Don't look at Long Huamin's opposition to the use of God, God. He is actually more conservative and stubborn.
He believes that God is the traditional Chinese god and cannot be equated with Deus and God in Christianity. Otherwise, it would be blasphemy against God and forced submission to Confucianism!
He also prohibited Chinese believers from worshiping Confucius and their ancestors, believing that these were foolish superstitious activities and a complete betrayal of the true God of Christianity.
Matteo Ricci, on the contrary, tried to integrate with Confucianism and allowed believers to worship Confucius and their ancestors. He believed that using God would be more conducive to preaching.
The more Long Huamin spoke, the more excited he became. He stood up directly: "The Jesuits should not follow the scholar's route when spreading their teachings in China, but should follow the civilian route. Chinese society is unequal and there are many slaves. I was very successful in preaching in Shandong.
, I tell the common people that everyone is equal before God. Many common people have become religious because they want equality! But the scholars are aloof and do not need to believe in religion. They believe in God and their ancestors, and they believe in Confucius and Mencius.
It is a force that hinders missionary work!”
Fu Fanji reminded: "Maybe Mr. President, you just came from the north and don't know much about China in the south. China's new emperor has long declared that everyone is equal. Your civilian missionary route will not work in the south. This
In the past two years, many civilian believers have even chosen to renounce religion."
"Civilians abandoned their religion? What's the reason?" Long Huamin found it difficult to understand.
Fu Fanji explained: "The new emperor declared that everyone is equal, farmers can divide their fields, and urban people can settle down. No matter in the city or in the country, people's lives have become better. Especially the people in the countryside, they all have land. There is not enough land.
Those who were divided were also immigrated further north to be divided into fields. So they renounced their religion, and they no longer prayed to God, but worshiped the emperor at home."
"Worship the emperor?" Long Huamin thought he heard wrongly.
Fu Fanji sighed: "Yes, many farmers worship the emperor as a god."
Ben Ande, a long-term inspector sent by the Holy See, interrupted the conversation between the two and reminded: "Two priests, the issue to be discussed today is whether to destroy all missionary books immediately. Also, China's new emperor has already
A negative impression has been created on the Jesuits, and we should send someone to contact the Chinese emperor."
Long Huamin said: "It is necessary to destroy missionary books and reprint them. I have always disagreed with the use of God and God. It really violates our teachings! If the new emperor of China believes that everyone is equal, I can go to see him in person
, maybe we can convince the emperor to become a religious believer."
"You are crazy. It is impossible for the Chinese emperor to become a religious believer." Fu Fanji shook his head.
"No, no, no, I'm not crazy. As long as the emperor sees me, I will be sure to convince him to join the religion." Long Huamin was confident. When he was in Shandong, he once persuaded a Ming Dynasty clan to join the religion.
Fu Fanji objected: "I still think we should start with Chinese scholars. We once attracted three outstanding scholars and successfully developed their religion. They automatically spread dozens of scholar believers, and more and more people
Taxi people know that God exists."
The three outstanding scholars are: Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and Yang Tingyun.
When the Jesuits were debating whether to use God or God, they specifically asked the three of them for their opinions. As a result, all three of them, Xu Guangqi, supported it and believed that the God in the Confucian scriptures was the God of the West.
Ben Ande had a headache and interrupted again: "Both of you, let's get back to the topic first. Should we destroy the previous missionary books?"
"This is not something we can decide. We must first consult the Holy See."
"Not to mention asking the Holy See for instructions, I'm afraid Chinese officials will come and forcibly destroy them before they even get to Guangzhou by boat."
"I think we cannot anger the Chinese emperor. We will temporarily compromise while sending people back to Rome to ask the Pope for instructions."
"You should not use the word God and God. This is blasphemy!"
"..."
The missionaries attending the meeting immediately started arguing. Even though it was just a translation of the name, it touched the core of Christianity!
Whether the main God of Christianity is a Trinity has been debated in Europe for hundreds of years, triggering countless wars. Whether it should be translated as God, God, is no less sensitive than the Trinity. It has also been argued for two hundred years in history. Several major branches of Christianity in China
Missionary organizations fight with each other to the point of losing their minds.
Translated as God, God, it not only blasphemes the traditional Chinese gods, but also blasphemes the Western gods.
In the end, the conservative faction compromised, the Holy See also compromised, and the Chinese diocese became a strange flower that openly violated the doctrine. It is unique in the world.
The meeting argued for a long time, and Ben Ande made a decision: In order to ensure the safety of Chinese dioceses and missionaries, and to cooperate with officials in destroying previous missionary books, he would personally return to Rome to ask the Pope for further instructions.
Ben Ande added: "The second issue is, if the translation of the Bible does not use God, Heaven, God, then what should it be used?"
"God, or Doosi." Long Huamin said.
Deus is Deus, the god in Latin.
Fu Fanji said: "Let's use both. There are too many gods in China. It can only be translated as God, and believers can't figure out which god it is. It can only be translated as Duosi, and they don't know that Duosi is a god."
Destroying all previous missionary books was a serious blow to the Chinese diocese of Christianity.
Long Huamin still felt that he should go to see the emperor in person. He wanted to persuade the Chinese emperor to become a Christian!
As soon as this guy left Jiading County, he saw officials starting to enforce the government order, rushing into churches, searching and burning Chinese Bibles. Notices were posted everywhere, asking churchgoers to voluntarily hand over Bibles. If they were found to be hiding privately and not cooperating with the authorities, they would burn them.
Those who obstruct law enforcement will take back their property, and their descendants will be prohibited from serving as officials for three generations.
Taking back the property under his name and prohibiting his descendants from serving as officials. These two clauses frightened many parishioners and turned their Bibles over to the government for disposal.
Due to the underdeveloped printing technology, it is impossible for lower-class believers, whether they are European believers or Chinese believers, to have a Bible. Those who have such a book in their hands are all gentry and wealthy businessmen. How can they be willing to take risks and keep it privately?
Long Huamin came to Nanjing by boat, reported his identity as the president of the Chinese Jesuit Diocese, and was successfully received by Zhao Han.
Although this man opposed the integration of Christianity and Confucianism, he wore a Confucian shirt. After bowing his hands, he said in very fluent northern Mandarin: "Long Huamin, Supervisor of the Jesuit China Mission, pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor of China!"
"Sit down." Zhao Han continued to review the memorial.
Long Huamin sat down and said: "Your Majesty, the great Emperor, I have always opposed the translation of the Supreme Creator as the Chinese God, Tianhe God. This is wrong. It is a blasphemy against the Chinese God and the supreme deity of our religion.
.”
"What else?" Zhao Han asked.
Long Huamin continued: "I heard that His Majesty the Emperor preaches the idea of equality for all. This is completely consistent with the teachings of my religion..."
Zhao Han interrupted: "Don't talk about doctrine with me. Do you know mathematics, geometry, and physics? Or do you know astronomy, navigation, prospecting, and shipbuilding?"
Long Huamin was stunned for a moment: "Reporting to your Majesty, I know philosophy, calendar, and painting."
"A liberal arts student among missionaries." Zhao Han felt a little disappointed.
Long Huamin persevered and continued: "Your Majesty, do you know where people come from?"
Zhao Han said: "I don't know where people come from, but I know where you come from. This morning, I consulted my cabinet minister. It turns out that you have been famous for a long time, and you are the culprit who caused the Nanjing Mission Incident.
.If you dare to stop Chinese believers from worshiping their ancestors, believe it or not, I will directly declare a nationwide religious ban just like Emperor Wanli!"
"Don't dare!" Long Huamin replied quickly, so frightened that sweat broke out on his forehead.
Zhao Han said: "Stay and help Qintianyuan revise the calendar. I will not give you a salary, nor will I prevent you from preaching, but you are not allowed to preach in public. I will formally notify the Jesuits that if they find that Christianity violates
According to Chinese customs, the imperial court would immediately expel all missionaries!"
"Yes." Long Huamin bowed cautiously.
Zhao Han added: "If possible, call Tang Ruowang from Beijing."