This book is part of Paul Hattaway’s “China Chronicles” series. The series is devoted to preserving the history of Christianity in China, each volume focuses on one particular province in the country. The author plans to have these books made available in Chinese as well, so that believers in China can be made aware of their Christian history and be ‘strengthened, edified, and challenged” by what they read (page xiii). In addition, the author desires to have “a record of God’s mighty acts in China” (page xiii).

Hainan means “South of the Sea,” it is the largest island of China (except for Taiwan) and has a population of over 10 million people (page 1). That being said, it is among the smallest and least populated provinces in China (page 19). Hainan actually is made up of over 200 islands, but most people only know about the main island (page 2). The weather for the majority of the year is both warm and humid (page 2). Powerful typhoons are common for a number of months during the year, and there are potential hazards for people that can be found on the land, these include quicksand and bubbling sulfur springs (page 2). The nickname for Hainan used to be “The gateway to hell,” but later it came to known as “Isle of Palms” (page 3).

Hainan Province, China.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

The original inhabitants of Hainan were the Li people, who “arrived from the mainland at least 2,000 to 2,500 years ago” (page 5). About 80% of the population of Hainan are Han Chinese, though the group is made up of people from different linguistic groups (page 6). The Hainanese, who have their own unique language, are the major group of the Han (pages 7). Also, “more than 30,000 people from Vietnam and Indonesia have been repatriated to Hainan since the 1950s” (page 8). Currently two industries that are major sources of income for Hainan are agriculture and tourism/hospitality (page 14).

The religious beliefs found among the people are diverse, the goddesses Mazu and Guanyin are honored, and their statues can be found along the coast (page 19). They have been worshipped for hundreds of years and are believed to protect fishermen (page 19). In addition to them, many other gods and goddesses are revered in Hainan (page 19). Animism and the influence of shamans can be found in certain areas, and ancestor worship is part of the religious tradition in Hainan (page 19).

Sanya Nanshan Dongtian Park in 2015.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

The Christian message entered into and made an impact in the above-mentioned idolatrous context. Catholics were the first to expose the residents of Hainan to the Christian faith, they did this about 250 years before Evangelical missionaries arrived (page 22). The very first Catholic missionary was Baltasar Gago in the 16^th century, he was accompanied by two Franciscans, whose names we do not know (page 22). Matteo Ricci, an Italian missionary, also had an impact on the island though he never visited it himself, his influence reached Hainan through a family contact he made in Beijing (pages 22, 23). Other Catholics who ministered in Hainan include Pierre Marquez and Benoit de Mattos (pages 23-25). A second wave of Catholic missions was begun in 1849 by French missionaries (page 26).

Lingshui, Hainan in 2013.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

The chapters that follow focus on Christianity in Hainan during a particular time period, or on a particular topic. There are chapters on: the 1890s (pages 46-51), 1900s and 1910s (pages 52-64), 1920s (pages 65-77), 1930s (pages 78-87), 1940s and 1950s (pages 102-114), 1960s and 1970s (pages 115-123), 1980s (pages 130-136), 1990s (pages 137-152), 2000s (pages 197-212), and 2010s and 2020s (pages 213-219). In addition to these there are chapters given to people groups. The Kim Mun people have a chapter devoted to them (pages 88-101), as do the the Indonesians (pages 124-129) and the Li people (pages 181-196). Other chapters in the book are: “When Heaven Came to Hainan” (pages 153-163), “Stories from the Frontlines” (pages 164-180), and “The Future of the Church in Hainan” (pages 220-222).

Below is some significant information from a number of the chapters in the book.

• 1890s: Hattaway says that Presbyterian missionaries regularly served in Hainan, in fact, they were the only missionary society that had workers on the island for decades (page 46). The missionary force during this time period included a steady stream of women (page 47).
• 1900s and 1910s: One interesting piece of information about this time period is that when churches in other provinces in China endured terrible persecution from the Boxer rebels, the small number of Christians in Hainan were, for the most part, untouched (page 53). Citing Brown, Hattaway tells us that between the years of 1909 and 1917 Evangelical church members grew from 375 to 1,642 (page 54). In 1915 the Presbyterians expanded their work into different areas of the province (page 56). They taught the new believers to be generous in giving both their time and money to God (and others), they also taught them to be self-supporting and not rely on foreign funds (pages 56. 57). A prominent missionary during this time period was Frank Gilman who served in Hainan for 32 years (page 60). He, along with his first wife, Marion, were very involved in planting mission stations in various places in Hainan (page 60).
• 1920s: During this decade medical missions remained the main way that people were made aware of the teachings of Christ, the Presbyterians continued to run the sole hospital on the island (page 66).
• 1930s: A key missionary couple served in this decade, Henry and Louise Bucher (pages 83-87). They served in Hainan (page 83) and also in Thailand (page 86).
• Kim Mun People: Hattaway tells us that after more than a century since the first members of this people group (who can be found in China, Vietnam, and Laos) became believers in Jesus they still do not have even one page of the Bible translated into their language, though they do have some audio and video gospel materials (page 101).
• 1940s and 1950s: This chapter tells us that persecution caused the church in Hainan to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than on foreign help (page 103).

Rice fields near Xinlong, Hainan in 2015.
Image: Anna Frodesiak / Wikimedia Commons

• The Indonesians: The author tells us that there are about 6000 Indonesians in Hainan, who live in the county of Qionghai (page 124), “approximately half of the Indonesians who settled in Hainan were Christians” (page 125). Today, most of the Indonesians in Hainan are committed Christians (page 129).
• 1980s: The author labels these years as “a decade of harvest” (page 130). The churches throughout Hainan were overflowing by 1987 (page 131).
• 1990s: When the 1990s began less than 1% of the population of Hainan claimed to be followers of Jesus Christ (page 137). During the 1990s the church experienced remarkable growth. Part of this was due to the implementation of a house church ministry strategy of a Baptist missionary and his family (pages 141-144). Hattaway, citing an unpublished missionary report, informs us that in one network between April 1993 and April 1998 the number of believers grew from less than 100 to 55,000 (page 144). And the number of churches during this time grew from 3 to about 550 (page 144). The intentional focus on evangelism and discipleship in the house churches contributed to their tremendous growth rate (page 147). At the peak of the revival at this time the number of Christians in Hainan doubled every 7 months (page 147)!
• Stories from the Frontlines: This chapter informs us that the revival in Hainan over the last 30 years has witnessed miracles, signs, and wonders which have helped spread the gospel (page 177).
• 2010s and 2020s: The text dealing with these decades tells us that the revival in the house churches in Hainan eventually spilled over into the Three-Self Registered Churches (page 216).
• The Future of the Church in Hainan: The closing chapter of the book informs readers that the church in Hainan is currently experiencing the worst persecution in its history (except for the persecution that occurred during the Cultural Revolution), nonetheless there is hope that the church will endure, indeed flourish, in the midst of this hostility because of its foundations and strong history (page 222).

This current volume, like the others in the “China Chronicles” series, contains photos throughout the text, it also has an appendix at the back of the book that contains tables and maps.

Hainan: Pearl of the South China Sea continues in the tradition of the earlier titles in the “China Chronicles” series, it shares a part of Christian history that has largely been hidden from view. This book helps pull back the curtain so we can see what God has been doing in a country that in recent decades has a reputation for hostility to the message of Jesus Christ. God is at work in the world, and Hainan is one of the places where He is working, and we can have confidence that He will continue the work that He has begun (Phil. 1:6).

Reviewed by John Lathrop

This present volume is the seventh book in Paul Hattaway’s “China Chronicles” series. In each book the author focuses on the Christian history of a specific province in China. As the title indicates, this latest offering focuses on Shaanxi. The book begins with some pertinent information about the province. The meaning of the word Shaanxi is “west of the mountain passes,” this area is located in northern China (page 1) and has an area of 79,500 square miles (page vi). In 2020 it had a population of 39,528,999, the Han Chinese make up the largest segment of the population, 99.5% (page vi). The land can be divided into 3 main areas: north, central, and south (pages 2-3). “Four great inventions” were used in Shaanxi well before they were used in other parts of the world, these inventions are: “the compass, paper, printing, and gunpowder” (page 4). The explorer Marco Polo briefly passed through Shaanxi on his journeys (page 5). The province has endured floods, famines, and according to a Wikipedia entry the author references, an earthquake in 1556 that is estimated to have taken the lives of 830,000 people (pages 6, 249). The current leader of China, Xi Jinping, was raised in Shaanxi (pages 9-10). Significant industries in this province include aircraft and aerospace production, electronics, and textiles (page 10-11).

In the chapter titled “The Cradle of Chinese Civilization” the author writes about the various dynasties that were in power at different times in the history of China (pages 12-35). One feature of this chapter that may be of particular interest to some readers is the material which points out the proximity of certain time periods in Chinese history to specific biblical events (pages 12-14).

Shaanxi Province within China.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

The next couple of chapters focus on Christian beginnings. Hattaway says that it is widely held belief that Christianity first entered China through the province of Shaanxi (page 42). He further says that it is commonly believed that Christianity entered China in AD 635, however, there is evidence which may indicate that Christians were in China much earlier (page 43, 54-55). Artifact evidence “suggest that Christians were in China as early as the first century” (page 55). The majority of historians believe that the Nestorians were the first Christians in China in AD 635 (page 51). The author devotes a whole chapter to discussing the Nestorians. He speaks about both their accomplishments and persecutions (pages 59-66). Due to their favorable relationship with the Emperor Taizong and his support of them, they were able to have a church and a monastery 3 years after their arrival in the province of Shaanxi (page 59). The Nestorians were persecuted at different times in their history in China (pages 61-62, 64-66).

The ancient city of Xi’an in 2022. According to the 2020 census, more than 12 million people live in the city.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Most of the remaining chapters are devoted to looking at Christianity in Shaanxi in different decades. The first decade covered is the 1870s, this is when Evangelical missionaries first went to Shaanxi (page 72). The first missionaries who went to Shaanxi were from the China Inland mission, which was founded by Hudson Taylor, their names were Frederick Baller and George King (pages 72-73). These men were able to share the gospel with Hui Muslims (page 74). Other missionaries who served in Shaanxi during this decade included: George Easton, George Parker, and Charles Budd, James Cameron also went through the area (page 75). George King and his wife, Emily, established the first Evangelical mission in the province (page 76). Emily is believed to be the first woman from the West to live in Shaanxi (page 77). Citing Valerie Griffiths, Hattaway tells us that Emily King died from typhoid (pages 77, 254).

A significant development in the 1880s was the acceptance of the ministries of single women missionaries including: Elizabeth Wilson, Annie Faussett, and Annie Harrison (page 80-81). At a time when single women were not generally welcomed as missionaries, the China Inland Mission was open to them (page 80). The ministry of a native Chinese Christian worker named Xi Shengmo also took place during this decade (pages 85-86). He is described as “one of the greatest Chinese Christian leaders of the nineteenth century” (page 85).

The 1890s saw the arrival of a number of missions organizations. Two were Scandinavian, the Scandinavian Alliance Mission and the Swedish China Mission (pages 88-89). The third was the English Baptist Mission (pages 92-94). Amid increased missionary activity, persecution also marked this period, including the brutal beating of the American Franciscan missionary Capistran Goette who served for 35 years in China (pages 94-97).

As the 1900s dawned, the Boxer Rebellion took place. Interestingly enough, no Evangelical missionaries were killed in Shaanxi during this time because Duan Fang, the governor, protected them (page 103). However, native Chinese believers did suffer persecution and some lost their lives during this time (page 104). Missionary Jessie Gregg carried on a significant ministry in the 1910s in a number of places in China (pages 125-127). She was a single woman who served as an evangelist with the China Inland Mission (page 125). This time was also marked by violence in Shaanxi and missionaries were sometimes on the receiving end of it (pages 127-130). The 1920s was a time characterized by trouble, however, a Chinese Christian named Feng Yuxiang rose to prominence in Shaanxi and helped to bring some order (pages 134-136). In the chapter on the 1930s and 1940s the ministries of Mary Anderson, Gustaf Tornvall, and John Sung are mentioned (pages 144-148). The 1940s was also a time of trouble for believers in the province (page 153).

Loess Plateau in Wubu County, Shaanxi.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

The focus on decades resumes with the 1950s and 1960s. The chapter that deals with these two decades is quite short, 5 pages, and touches on communism. In spite of its power, Communism could not ultimately destroy the church (page 168). Two of the great needs of the church in China in the 1970s were Bibles and good Bible teaching (pages 172, 174). A few Christian ministries sought to address the need for Bibles by smuggling them into China (page 173). In the 1980s, Christianity grew in Shaanxi largely as a result of a revival that was taking place in nearby Henan province (page 181). The Heavenly Man, Brother Yun, ministered in Shaanxi during this time period (pages 185-188). Miracles also took place in the province at this time (pages 188-192). The growth of the church continued in the 1990s due in part to the boldness and courage of the believers in spite of persecution (pages 196, 202). Specific examples of faithful Christian believers during this time are mentioned in the chapter. The chapters of the book, which deal with the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s, also speak of persecution (pages 215-219, 228-229, 232-235). But the church in Shaanxi has experienced growth (page 227). The closing chapter, which looks at the future of the church in Shaanxi, notes that the province has not experienced as widespread a move of God as some of the other provinces in China (page 237).

There is a lot of information in Shaanxi: The Cradle of Chinese Civilization and there is a lot of inspiration in it. There is much to admire in the faith of our Chinese brothers and sisters. Their boldness and commitment is very strong. Most of those that you will read about in this book are people that you have probably never heard of before. As you read, be prepared to be both inspired and challenged. It is good that this Christian history is being preserved.

Reviewed by John Lathrop

Read excerpts and see more pictures at the Asia Harvest page: https://www.asiaharvest.org/shaanxi-a-new-book-by-paul-hattaway

This book is volume 6 of Paul Hattaway’s China Chronicles Series. It focuses on the province of Xinjiang, which is located in the northwest area of China, it serves as a passageway “between China and the rest of the world” (page 1). It is the largest province in China and borders the countries of “India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Mongolia” (page 2). The province began being called Xinjiang in 1759 when it was given this name by rulers who were part of the Qing Dynasty (pages 4, 21-22). The author also mentions other interesting facts about this province, including its population numbers, which, with one exception, have grown over the years (page 3), that Marco Polo visited this area (pages 6-8), and that Islam is believed to have entered the province in AD 708 (page 8). Xinjiang has been the entry point not only for Islam but for a number of other religions as well including Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity (page 15). Islam spread in this area through the use of force (pages 24, 26). Hattaway says that the province has experienced great cruelty throughout the centuries (page 13). In early 2021 it was believed that there were about 15,000 mosques in the province, this is, at least in part, due to the presence of the Uyghurs (page 29).

Xinjiang Province within China.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

But the focus of the book, as is true of all the other books in the series, is the Christian history of the area. Hattaway says that the history in this province can be divided into two major eras. The first concerns the significant impact that Nestorian Christians had in the area from 7^th century through to the 13^th century, and the second is the spread of the faith in the last century and a half (page 13). The author further notes that Swedish believers carried on significant ministry in Xinjiang and that Muslims in this province came to faith in Christ, hundreds of them (pages 13-14). In the book he covers Catholic missions (pages 43-54) but he indicates that Catholics make up a very small part of Christians in Xinjiang (page 54). The majority of the text is given to a consideration of Protestant missions and native Chinese workers. Hattaway says that today there are approximately “twenty times as many church members” in Evangelical Christianity as in Catholicism (page 54). As readers work their way through the book, they will find that many of the chapters are given to consider particular decades of Christian history. There are chapters devoted to the 1890s (pages 55-65), 1900s-1910s (pages 66-77), 1920s (pages 101-116), 1930s (pages 124-135), 1940s (pages 153-161), 1950s-1960s (pages 196-203), 1970s-1980s (pages 204-216), 1990s (pages 217-230), 2000s (pages 231-253), and the 2010s (pages 273-281). In addition to these chapters there are others devoted to key missionaries who served in Xinjiang and important events that took place there.

One chapter is devoted to George Hunter who was born in 1861, he was a Scottish missionary who served in the northwest part of China for 57 years carrying on significant ministry to Muslims (page 78). Hunter was called the “Apostle of Turkestan” (page 78). He could preach in 7 different languages (page 82), did not like the limelight (page 78), and never married (page 79). It seems that he did not see a lot of conversions as a result of his ministry (page 85). However, he remained undeterred in the work of evangelism (page 87). He was a picture of commitment.

This photograph of the Pamir mountains was taken near Karakoram Highway in Xinjiang.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

In addition to the chapters I have already mentioned there are some that focus on other topics as well. These included chapters on: The Modern Back to Jerusalem Movement (pages 254-272) and the Future of the Church in Xinjiang (pages 306-310). Throughout this book you will find the names of people who have engaged in Christian ministry in Xinjiang.

As is true of all of the volumes in the China Chronicles Series, this volume contains a wealth of pictures throughout its pages. It also contains extensive facts and figures in the tables found toward the back of the book. Paul Hattaway has once again brought to light some Christian history that we would likely not find on our own. This volume demonstrates that not all of God’s heroes are household names. Some have served very faithfully outside of the spotlight. Their life stories are truly challenging and inspiring.

Reviewed by John P. Lathrop