| This dissertation is a historical study of the intellectual odyssey from Confucianism to Christianity of Wu Leichuan (1870-1944), the first Chinese chancellor of Yenching University and a Christian reformer in Republican China. It analyzes his interpretation of Christianity and his attempt to utilize it in saving China from disintegration. It also explains that Wu's understanding of this foreign faith, as well as of socialism, was shaped by his Confucian heritage. Its logic and language inspired his comprehension.; The Chinese mind-set which was syncretistic and moral in tone influenced Wu's view of Christianity. Just as Confucianism sees education as cultivating the Way (dao), so Wu saw Christianity in a similar light. His Confucian Way was to follow the human nature imparted by Heaven as the Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean) suggests. The Zhongyong together with other Confucian classics not only molded his religious consciousness but also served as the inspiration and source of strength for his ongoing moral appeal and social reform.; In his life, Wu always adhered to the Confucian life-ideal, ren (humanity) by means of zhong (conscientiousness) and shu (altruism). He believed that ren was the Holy Spirit in Christianity and Jesus, because of his personal development and steadfast confidence to his mission even to death, was the perfect role model for humankind. Jesus' teaching, he believed, could make some Confucian values more substantial and practical.; Though Wu utilized Christianity to buttress his social reform, the Confucian tradition prevented him from proposing a more specific and concrete agenda for the transformation of Chinese society. The Confucian element in his reform was mainly dependent on moral initiative and voluntarism which in China in a period of disaster ultimately was of little help. Consequently, Wu's reform found little response in a Chinese population, beset by economic disruption, social change, political chaos and military warfare. |
