Missions Étrangères de Paris (MEP) and China from the Seventeenth Century to the Present ed. by Ji Li (review)

Reviewed by: Missions Étrangères de Paris (MEP) and China from the Seventeenth Century to the Present ed. by Ji Li Dadui Yao Missions Étrangères de Paris (MEP) and China from the Seventeenth Century to the Present. Edited by Ji Li (Leiden: Brill. 2022. 120. 00. ISBN 978-9-004-49869-3. ) The book Missions Étrangères de Paris (MEP) and China from the Seventeenth Century to the Present, edited by Ji Li, fills a significant gap in the research on the history of Christianity in East Asia. While previous studies have primarily focused on the Jesuit Mission and Protestantism in China, this book sheds light on the relatively neglected MEP. Organized into three distinct time periods, the book delves into various themes. These periods explore cultural accommodations in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the intensification of evangelization in the early and mid-nineteenth century, and the expansion of the MEP's presence in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The concluding chapter provides case studies that offer insights into the MEP's activities in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, while an appendix by Jean-Pierre Charbonnier presents a concise historical End Page 439 overview of the MEP's presence in China from the seventeenth century onwards. The book delves into vital subjects like Bible translation, cultural adaptation, local evangelization, and MEP representatives' interaction with local groups. It explores the intertwined histories of the Church, French imperialism, and Chinese history, showcasing the MEP's growth in China alongside France's global expansion. Despite close ties to the French government and Rome, the MEP often diverged from their interests, as missionaries prioritized their dedication to serving God above any specific country or congregation. The MEP and other Christian missions in China faced similar challenges due to the disparities between Chinese and Western cultures, such as the Bible translation and terminology controversies. Jean Basset's Bible translation, as an MEP missionary, influenced subsequent translations by Protestant missionaries like Robert Morrison and Joshua Marshman. François Barriquand discusses Basset's contributions and their impact in chapter 1, while chapter 2 by Yanrong Chen compares Basset's two Chinese gospel texts, examining their relationship and analyzing the translations of the foot-washing story. The MEP's influence on grassroots, minority, and marginalized communities in regions like Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou is a significant topic for further exploration. In chapter 3, Zhijie Kang and Qing Wu's research on the Sichuan Virgins Group provides an excellent demonstration of this influence. They also discuss the broader impact of these rules on the Catholic Church in other areas, shedding light on their significance for Chinese Catholicism. Chapter 7 by Aidong Zhao examines missionary education in the Kangding region of southwestern China. The MEP's involvement in Kangding between 1858 and 1950 not only supported their missionary expansion but also generated significant transformations in local social development, resulting in enduring impacts on this marginalized minority region. Lina Guo's research in chapter 8 shows that Paul-Hubert Pern's work experience in Guizhou and other regions gave him unique local knowledge, distinguishing him from French Sinologists focused on Chinese literary classics. Perny's approach, rooted in missionary work and grassroots engagement, establishes a deeper connection with the real China. In chapter 4, Jean Paul Wiest illuminates Chinese catechists and returning Chinese Christians from Southeast Asia using annual reports and letters. Chapter 5, by Matthieu Masson, extensively discusses the French Protectorate in China and the diverse religious policies of the French government. Chapter 6, authored by Hongyang Xiang, utilizes the Canton Archives to study MEP bishop Philippe Guillemin, emphasizing his localized property acquisitions and their role in establishing the MEP's real estate empire in southern China. These findings underscore the substantial contributions of individual missionaries to the growth of the French Catholic Church in nineteenth-century China. This book enriches our understanding of Christianity's history in China, revealing the interplay between global and local narratives. It explores the MEP's multifaceted presence, emphasizing the importance of thorough research using diverse sources like archives and annual reports. The book highlights the need to End Page 440 examine the MEP's impact on grassroots society, ethnic minorities. . .