The Spirit and the Flesh in Shandong, 1650-1785 / Edition 1

by D. E. Mungello author of The Great Encounter of China and the West, 1500-1800

Overview

In the spring of 1738, Fr. Bernardino Bevilacqua was hustled out of Shandong to quiet the uproar over his sexual seduction of young Chinese converts. Fr. Alessio Randanini followed him to Macau in 1741. The story of this scandal has remained largely untold for nearly three centuries. Among Christians in Shandong and southern Zhili provinces during the years 1650-1785, the spirit and the flesh lived in constant tension as the aspirations of the spirit (faith, hope, love, devotion, mercy, and piety) contended with the passions of the flesh (hatred, jealousy, lust, and pride). The Spirit and the Flesh in Shandong tells the deeply human story of the introduction of Christianity to a provincial region in China where European missionaries shared the poverty and isolation of their Chinese flocks. Their close personal relationships led to intellectual and pastoral collaboration, suppression, an underground church, imprisonment, apostasy and martyrdom as well as peasant secret society affiliations, self-flagellation, and sexual seduction. In the remote villages of this region, the missionaries and their converts lived out their pious aspirations and eternal damnations under a darkening sky of growing anti-Christian policies from the capital.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742511644
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/21/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.84(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

D. E. Mungello is professor of history emeritus at Baylor University. His books include The Great Encounter of China and the West, 1500–1800, Drowning Girls in China: Female Infanticide since 1650, Western Queers in China: The Fight to the Land of Oz, and The Catholic Invasion of China.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Introduction
Chapter 3 Prelude: Wondrous Signs
Chapter 4 The Trials and Endeavors of Father Antonio
Chapter 5 The Attempt to Blend Confucianism and Christianity
Chapter 6 The Return to Shandong after the Anti-Christian Persecution of 1664-1669
Chapter 7 To Kiss the Image of the Crucified Jesus and to Feel the Whip Upon One's Flesh
Chapter 8 Christianity and Chinese Heterodox Sects, 1701-34
Chapter 9 Shepards, Wolves, and Martyrs in the Underground Church
Chapter 10 Postlude: Requiscat in pace
Chapter 11 Chinese-Character Glossary

What People are Saying About This

Eugenio Menegon

"In The Spirit and the Flesh, Mungello directs his attention to the daily life of the Franciscan Christian communities in the northern Chinese province of Shandong between 1650 and 1785. He chronicles through the biographical experiences of Spanish and Italian Franciscans, belonging both to the Spanish Province of San Gregorio Magno and to Propaganda Fide, the difficult beginnings, the hard-won developments, and the eventual demise of the Shandong misison.

Daniel H. Bays

Mungello objectively captures the triumphs and tragedy of Franciscan priests and Chinese converts on the plains of Shandong. . . . Meticulously researched, engagingly written, and full of insights into the nature of early modern Chinese Catholicism.

Joanna Waley-Cohen

In this meticulous and fascinating account, David Mungello brings vividly to life the human experience of missionaries working across the provinces of Qing China—the sense of isolation, the poverty, the interdenominational friendships and disputes, and the worldly temptations. Illuminating the dependence of European missionaries on their Chinese converts, he shows the extent to which Christianity became assimilated into Chinese culture prior to the growth of European imperialism and, tantalizingly, suggests that often, the locales in which Christianity has resurfaced in China today correspond to the centers of clandestine mission activity two centuries ago.

Lionel M. Jensen

If, as Aby Warburg once wrote, 'God is in the details,' then D. E. Mungello's masterful reconstruction of the indigenization of Christianity in seventeenth and eighteenth century Shandong is divine. With his signature mastery of sources and ethnographic sensitivity to the scattered records of European missionaries and Chinese Christians, he vividly retraces the movements of body and spirit within a discrete interval of the Sino-western encounter to disclose the perilous but productive convergence of cultures presaging our global present. Most importantly, Mungello draws from these irreducible, faithful dead a tale of poignancy and power that in its eloquence binds readers of today (students and scholars alike) with a courageous creative minority whose ingenious embrace of Christianity was responsible for its assimilation into Chinese culture.

Editorial Reviews

David Mungello's latest monograph is a pioneering effort [that serves] to open up for examition by a larger public the little-known Franciscan sources on Christianity in China, and to offer insights into exciting themes for future research.

The Catholic Historical Review

Lucid, concise, and absorbing.

China Review

In this meticulous and fascinating account, David Mungello brings vividly to life the human experience of missionaries working across the provinces of Qing China—the sense of isolation, the poverty, the interdenominational friendships and disputes, and the worldly temptations. Illuminating the dependence of European missionaries on their Chinese converts, he shows the extent to which Christianity became assimilated into Chinese culture prior to the growth of European imperialism and, tantalizingly, suggests that often, the locales in which Christianity has resurfaced in China today correspond to the centers of clandestine mission activity two centuries ago.

Joanna Waley-Cohen

Lively and all too human are the people who inhabit D. E. Mungello's latest work on European missionaries and Chinese Christians during the early Qing years. Like his previous books, The Spirit and the Flesh in Shandong is outstanding and accomplishes what every historian seeks to do: put the reader in the time and place where the story happens. Meticulously researched and masterfully written.

Kathleen L. Lodwickn Historical Review

Mungello objectively captures the triumphs and tragedy of Franciscan priests and Chinese converts on the plains of Shandong.. .. Meticulously researched, engagingly written, and full of insights into the nature of early modern Chinese Catholicism.

Daniel H. Bays

Mungello's discussion on the underground church throws important light on our understanding of religious questions, especially Catholic problems in modern China.

China Quarterly

If, as Aby Warburg once wrote, 'God is in the details,' then D. E. Mungello's masterful reconstruction of the indigenization of Christianity in seventeenth and eighteenth century Shandong is divine. With his signature mastery of sources and ethnographic sensitivity to the scattered records of European missionaries and Chinese Christians, he vividly retraces the movements of body and spirit within a discrete interval of the Sino-western encounter to disclose the perilous but productive convergence of cultures presaging our global present. Most importantly, Mungello draws from these irreducible, faithful dead a tale of poignancy and power that in its eloquence binds readers of today (students and scholars alike) with a courageous creative minority whose ingenious embrace of Christianity was responsible for its assimilation into Chinese culture.

Lionel M. Jensen

A meticulous reconstruction of indigenization through an ethnographic approach utilizing records of European missionaries and Chinese Christians.

Missiology: An International Review

"In The Spirit and the Flesh, Mungello directs his attention to the daily life of the Franciscan Christian communities in the northern Chinese province of Shandong between 1650 and 1785. He chronicles through the biographical experiences of Spanish and Italian Franciscans, belonging both to the Spanish Province of San Gregorio Magno and to Propaganda Fide, the difficult beginnings, the hard-won developments, and the eventual demise of the Shandong misison.

Eugenio Menegon

...compelling and richly documented history. The author succeeds so admirably in this endeavor because he has mastered both the European and the Chinese sources, making extensive use of Church documents. The book also includes good maps as well as excellent images.

"In The Spirit and the Flesh, Mungello directs his attention to the daily life of the Franciscan Christian communities in the northern Chinese province of Shandong between 1650 and 1785. He chronicles through the biographical experiences of Spanish and Italian Franciscans, belonging both to the Spanish Province of San Gregorio Magno and to Propaganda Fide, the difficult beginnings, the hard-won developments, and the eventual demise of the Shandong misison.

A meticulous reconstruction of indigenization through an ethnographic approach utilizing records of European missionaries and Chinese Christians.

As meticulous and detailed as this material is, it has been presented in a very readable style, illustrated with maps, photographs, and drawings. Above, however, its value as a resource for the study of the church in this time and place, Mungello has alerted us to the richness and variety of Christian presence in China dating to the second generation of the Lutheran Reformation.

David Mungello's latest monograph is a pioneering effort [that serves] to open up for examition by a larger public the little-known Franciscan sources on Christianity in China, and to offer insights into exciting themes for future research.

If, as Aby Warburg once wrote, 'God is in the details, ' then D. E. Mungello's masterful reconstruction of the indigenization of Christianity in seventeenth and eighteenth century Shandong is divine. With his signature mastery of sources and ethnographic sensitivity to the scattered records of European missionaries and Chinese Christians, he vividly retraces the movements of body and spirit within a discrete interval of the Sino-western encounter to disclose the perilous but productive convergence of cultures presaging our global present. Most importantly, Mungello draws from these irreducible, faithful dead a tale of poignancy and power that in its eloquence binds readers of today (students and scholars alike) with a courageous creative minority whose ingenious embrace of Christianity was responsible for its assimilation into Chinese culture.

In this meticulous and fascinating account, David Mungello brings vividly to life the human experience of missionaries working across the provinces of Qing China-the sense of isolation, the poverty, the interdenominational friendships and disputes, and the worldly temptations. Illuminating the dependence of European missionaries on their Chinese converts, he shows the extent to which Christianity became assimilated into Chinese culture prior to the growth of European imperialism and, tantalizingly, suggests that often, the locales in which Christianity has resurfaced in China today correspond to the centers of clandestine mission activity two centuries ago.

Lively and all too human are the people who inhabit D. E. Mungello's latest work on European missionaries and Chinese Christians during the early Qing years. Like his previous books, The Spirit and the Flesh in Shandong is outstanding and accomplishes what every historian seeks to do: put the reader in the time and place where the story happens. Meticulously researched and masterfully written.

Lucid, concise, and absorbing.

Mungello objectively captures the triumphs and tragedy of Franciscan priests and Chinese converts on the plains of Shandong. . . . Meticulously researched, engagingly written, and full of insights into the nature of early modern Chinese Catholicism.

Mungello's discussion on the underground church throws important light on our understanding of religious questions, especially Catholic problems in modern China.

Reading this book, the phrase 'rich tapestry' comes to mind, in praise of the meticulous research.

From the Publisher

Mungello's discussion on the underground church throws important light on our understanding of religious questions, especially Catholic problems in modern China.

The China Quarterly

As meticulous and detailed as this material is, it has been presented in a very readable style, illustrated with maps, photographs, and drawings. Above, however, its value as a resource for the study of the church in this time and place, Mungello has alerted us to the richness and variety of Christian presence in China dating to the second generation of the Lutheran Reformation.

Concordia

Reading this book, the phrase 'rich tapestry' comes to mind, in praise of the meticulous research.

Journal of Asian Studies

...compelling and richly documented history. The author succeeds so admirably in this endeavor because he has mastered both the European and the Chinese sources, making extensive use of Church documents. The book also includes good maps as well as excellent images.

Itinerario

Lively and all too human are the people who inhabit D. E. Mungello's latest work on European missionaries and Chinese Christians during the early Qing years. Like his previous books, The Spirit and the Flesh in Shandong is outstanding and accomplishes what every historian seeks to do: put the reader in the time and place where the story happens. Meticulously researched and masterfully written.

American Historical Review - Kathleen L. Lodwick

Reading this book, the phrase 'rich tapestry' comes to mind, in praise of the meticulous research.

Journal Of Asian Studies

David Mungello's latest monograph is a pioneering effort [that serves] to open up for examition by a larger public the little-known Franciscan sources on Christianity in China, and to offer insights into exciting themes for future research.

Catholic Historical Review

A meticulous reconstruction of indigenization through an ethnographic approach utilizing records of European missionaries and Chinese Christians.

Missiology: An International Review

Lively and all too human are the people who inhabit D. E. Mungello's latest work on European missionaries and Chinese Christians during the early Qing years. Like his previous books, The Spirit and the Flesh in Shandong is outstanding and accomplishes what every historian seeks to do: put the reader in the time and place where the story happens. Meticulously researched and masterfully written.
— Kathleen L. Lodwick

American Historical Review

Lucid, concise, and absorbing.

The China Review

An account of the experiences of European missionaries working in provincial China and of their Chinese converts. From the Franciscan missionaries' viewpoint, the work was isolated and difficult, conversions coming slowly and with a great deal of hardship; the new Christians suffered under the strain of a hostile imperial government as well as pressure from local scholar-officials, who viewed Christianity as an alien and subversive force. Mungello (Baylor U.) views spirit and flesh as complements aptly illustrating the tensions between the moral ideals that inspired the missionaries and the human weaknesses and temptations that brought their downfall in the 18th century. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews