Portrait of a Twentieth-century Chinese Christian in Shandong

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the role of Wang Juntang, a prominent figure in the Baptist church in Shandong province before, during, and after World War Two. Discussion of his role exemplifies some of the relationships between the Baptist missionaries and their Chinese colleagues. It also illustrates how a prominent Chinese Christian could be viewed somewhat differently by foreign missionaries and by successive Chinese administrations. This in turn raises questions about the reliability of historic records, about the importance of different perspectives, and about how far historic records are open to re-interpretation.