인도에서 이루어진 한문 성서의 번역 · 출판 배경과 경위

Abstract

The first translation of the Protestant Chinese Bible was completed in India in the early 19th century. It has been known as the Marshman-Lassar version. Despite this remarkable event in Chinese Bible translation history, this endeavor for the first Chinese Bible translation had been unknown until it was uncovered through the recent Chinese researches. However, their perspective was limited as their analysis depended mainly on Marshman’s materials.BR The aim of this paper is to reconstruct a broader understanding of Marshman’s version in consideration of the social-political context, and on the basis of 19th century materials by Buchanan, a priest of Church of England and by Baptist missionary. In detail, this paper covers Bible translation efforts of the College of Fort William; how Lassar and Marshman got involved in the translation; and Marshman’s approach to Chinese language study, translation process, and development in printing technology. This comprehensive approach attempts to give an outline of the first Chinese Bible translation in India.BR Chinese Bible translation in India was started by the College of Fort William which promoted Bible translations into eastern oriental languages. Lassar, who was hired for Chinese language teaching and Bible translation into Chinese, was introduced to Marshman under the prospect of a college downsize plan. Under Lassar’s instruction, Marshman learned Chinese language with Confucian canons. In the translation, Marhman’s main work was to revise and improve Lassar’s first translation draft from the Armenian Bible with Greek or Hebrew text. In the process of translation, the movable metal-type printing system was also developed. Finally, this comprehensive approach also examines the main contributors of the first Chinese Bible translation, and thus it is clarified that the Chinese Bible translation in India is a relic of Christian union.