Die Katholische Fu-Jen-Universität in Peking im Dienst der Evangelisierung
Catholic University Fu Jen in Peking Serving Evangelisation

Summary/Abstract: The article by K.J. Rivinius concerns the foundation and development of the Christian mission in China (16th century), its determining factors which influenced their spread and activity, and especially the role that was played by Fu Jen University. In the introductory remarks, the author gives a brief history of the mission work undertaken in China by the Jesuits (M. Ricci), who – from the very beginning – followed the principle that faith should be conveyed alongside with general knowledge. The aim of such procedures was to prove the superiority of Christianity to the native world of religious thought. At that time, Europe became increasingly interested in China and kind of cultural exchange – missionaries offered Christian faith to the Chinese, and their reports about their missionary activities, descriptions of the land and its people were reflected in the works of the outstanding writers of the Enlightment. The so-called Opium War (1840-1842) put an end to that exchange. Since it was over, the originally fruitful and interesting exchange had acquired a rather commercial character. Merchants spread a rather negative image of China. In that spirit, also the Church contributed a lot to spreading western culture and science in China (mainly philosophy and sociology); protestant mission posts undertook criticism of Confucianism, suggesting its replacement with western pragmatism and practical attitude. As a result of the Boxers’ Uprising a particular attention was paid to China’ backwardness in comparison to Japan for instance, which – at that time – was influenced to a high extent by European culture and way of life. The so-called “100 Day-Reform” was initiated. The whole country felt the need of modern education, which was satisfied by protestant and catholic missions. They attempted to exert influence on China by means of higher schools’ graduates’ activities. All that created an appropriate atmosphere for the foundation of China’s first catholic university. Vincent Ying Lien Chih (1867-1962), a dedicated Catholic, turned to Pope Pius X (1835-1914) with a petition to consent to establishing a Catholic university, which both Catholics and non-Christians would be granted an access to. In the beginning, there was no reaction to this proposal on the part of the Holy See, which was apparently caused by an inconvenient political situation (the World War I); only after it had been ended, Pope Benedict XV, in agreement with the apostolic visitator Jean-Baptiste Budes de Guebriant, focused on that issue in his mission encyclical Maximum illud. He also expressed a conviction that China desperately needs Catholic schools; he expressed his concern as well.Establishing a university was entrusted to American Benedictines, George Barry O’Toole was to become its first rector, and Vincent Ying Lien Chih – its president. On October 1, 1925, the “Academy of Chinese Studies” – MacManus – was solemnly inaugurated, a school which was supposed to be a kind of preparatory stage of the new university. Later it was developed, new faculties were added, until, in 1931, it was officially recognised by the state. In 1938, a faculty for women was established; it was then that the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit joined the University. The political situation at that time was quite convenient as to foster a further development of the University and broadening its didactic sector that gradually embraced more and more teaching disciplines, such as theology, philosophy, Chinese studies, liberal arts and literature, sciences – China maintained good relations with the Holy See. At that time the school got its official name Fu Jen Da Xue (Fu Jen University). The further period was characterised by many difficulties of mainly financial nature which was connected with the world economic crisis at the beginning of the thirties. In 1933, the management of the University was passed over to the Society of the Divine Word by Pope Pius XI. Joseph Grendel was the SVD Superior General by then. Although there were quite a few personal problems and tensions, the school was undergoing continuous development. Two years after, it had been taken over by the SVD, the bulletin „Monumenta Serica” started to be published (Magazine of Oriental Studies); earlier, it was preceded by the “Peking Catholic University Bulletin.” The aim of the missionaries involved in initiating both the bulletins was to combine the missionary activities with ethnological and cultural research. Publishing those two periodicals was a proof of the Fu Jen University’s high level.The bulletin „Monumenta Serica” had to undergo all kinds of vicissitudes – before the communists seized power in 1949, the publishing house and library had been transferred to Japan first, and later, via the USA, to Sankt Augustin in Germany (1972).Apart from the bulletins mentioned above, the SVDs wanted to publish a Catholic encyclopedia as well, wishing to serve the needs of educated people in China. To better explain the Christian doctrine of faith, some suitable elements of the Chinese religious thought were used in order to reach that goal.A considerable influence on the development of the mission activities in China was exerted by Wilhelm Schmidt, who arrived here in 1935. He assessed the situation in Fu Jen University. He hoped to attract young Chinese scholars to cooperation. It was supposed to help face challenges as miserable linguistic and cultural preparation of European and American missionaries, as well as the rather low level of the native Chinese clergy. Wilhelm Schmidt often met with strong criticism and misunderstanding of his attempts which is why only a part of them could be put into practice.The year 1949 marks the end of Fu Jen University’s activity in connection with the seize of power by the communists. Up till that moment, however, some 13,000 young people managed to graduate from the University and get a degree. In 1961, it was decided to continue University educational activity in Taiwan. The official opening of the new school took place in 1963. It is being run commonly by Jesuits, SVDs and the Taipei Diocese. Students from the Mainland China are also granted access.

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