Research On Shanxi Catholicism In Ming And Qing Dynasty(1620-1900)

In recent years,the study of regional Christian history has been in the ascendant.This article takes the Catholicism in Shanxi from 1620 to 1900 as the research object,focusing on the analysis of the introduction of Catholicism into Shanxi during the Ming and Qing Dynasties,and the process of its development,stagnation and redevelopment in Shanxi.The first chapter of this article discusses Shanxi Catholicism before the Ming Dynasty.Before the Ming Dynasty,Catholicism came to China on a large scale twice in the Tang and Yuan dynasties,and each time it entered Shanxi,but it did not have extensive influence.Chapter Two discusses the basic situation of the introduction of Catholicism into Shanxi in the late Ming Dynasty.Catholicism was introduced to Shanxi in 1620,and the rise of practical learning was the internal reason for the acceptance and introduction of Catholicism by the gentry class in Shanxi,and Alelis sought out the wine used for mass as the external reason.At the end of the Ming Dynasty,Shanxi began to teach.The Italian missionary Gao Yizhi contributed the most.Father Gao Yizhi developed religious affairs in the southern part of Shanxi with Jiangzhou as the center.Catholicism in this area was active in the late Ming Dynasty.Chapter Three discusses the foreign missionaries and native clergy in Shan from 1620 to 1900.It was the Jesuits who first entered Shanxi to preach.From 1620 to 1716,the Jesuits were in charge of the entire teaching affairs of Shanxi.From 1716 to 1890,the educational administration in Shanxi was mainly managed by the Franciscans of Italy.In 1890,the religious division of Shanxi was divided into two dioceses in the south and north.The diocese of Beiqi was under the jurisdiction of the Italian Franciscans,and the diocese of Nanqi was under the jurisdiction of the Franciscans of the Netherlands.The local clergy played an important role during the prohibition period.The Chinese priests trained by the Holy Family College made great efforts for the continued existence of Shanxi Catholicism during the prohibition period.The fourth chapter discusses the attitude of the officials and people of Shanxi towards Catholicism before the Yongzheng prohibition.Shanxi’s local officials’ attitudes and policies towards Catholicism are basically consistent with those of the imperial court.The people’s attitude towards Catholicism is not only affected by official policies,but also related to their mentality of seeking religious blessings.At the end of the Ming Dynasty,many local officials and gentry in Shanxi had a very friendly and relaxed attitude towards Catholicism.A large number of people joined Catholicism,especially Jiangzhou,which became one of the most active areas for Catholicism in the country.During the wars of the Ming and Qing Dynasties,Catholicism fell into a short-term stagnation,and then under the preferential policy of Emperor Shunzhi,the Catholicism of Shanxi gradually resumed development.Emperor Kangxi’s policy towards Catholicism went through a process from strict to lenient to strict,and the development of Catholicism in Shanxi followed this process.The fifth chapter analyzes the difficult situation from the Yongzheng prohibition of religion in 1724 to the lifting of the ban on Catholicism in 1860.For more than a hundred years,the development of Catholicism in Shanxi has almost stagnated.During this period,Shanxi local officials arrested Catholic organizations many times,and the believers were in a very difficult situation.Chapter 6 analyzes the rapid development of Catholicism in Shanxi after the lifting of the prohibition.As a large number of foreign missionaries re-entered Shanxi,Catholicism spread throughout Shanxi.Not only did the areas where Catholicism was introduced before 1860 resumed its education,but Catholicism also continued to be introduced into new areas.This article discusses the development of Catholicism in Shanxi during the Ming and Qing Dynasties in six parts.From an overall point of view,the development of Catholicism in Shanxi during the Ming and Qing Dynasties was carried out under the background that Catholicism entered China for the third and fourth time,Compared with other provinces,its development was universal.From the perspective of regional history,the development of Catholicism in Shanxi during the Ming and Qing Dynasties was a process of continual integration with Shanxi’s native society,and its development was unique.