Życie kardynała Tomasza Tian Gengxina (1890-1967) na tle burzliwego okresu w historii Chin
The Life of Cardinal Thomas Tian Gengxin (1890-1967) against the Background of a Turbulent Period in Chinese History

Summary/Abstract: This article presents the figure of Thomas Tian Gengxin, the first “colored” and Chinese cardinal in the history of the Catholic Church. It is not just a biographical sketch, but it shows the life of Cardinal Tian against the background of complicated period of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in the history of China and Taiwan. It is the history of China of that time that influenced the life of Cardinal Tian and even contributed to his personal tragedy – the impossibility of returning to mainland China. The pressure of many people who were in favor of the return of Cardinal Tian to Beijing (including Abp. Antonio Riberi, Fr. Domenico Tardini – on behalf of the Secretariat of the State of the Holy See) or his remaining in exile (Abp. Yu Bin, Chiang Kai-shek), certainly deepened the personal drama of the Cardinal. The situation, in which Cardinal Tian found himself was complex and even tragic. Every decision he made – whether he would remain on the spot or return to Beijing – seemed fatal. The hierarch was aware of that and he expressed it in the letter of July 11, 1954 to Chu Cheng-ying. Still, we should not judge his behavior too hastily.

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