This is a list of Chinese Christian hymn books. One such list was compiled by Rev. Donald MacGillivray, D.D., a
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
missionary in
Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...
with the
Canadian Presbyterian Mission in 1911:
[Christian Literature Society for China (1912), 253-259] MacGillivray listed 62 items, but many others have been published since then.
* ''Hymn-book.'' 27 leaves, 1818, by Dr.
Robert Morrison. This contains a short preface and thirty Hymns, being, in general, prose translations of
Psalm
The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...
s, and Hymns commonly used among Christians, which were turned into verse by his Chinese assistants.
* ''Hymn-book.'' 46 leaves.
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coast of Java, the world's most populous island, Jakarta ...
.
Lithography
Lithography () is a planographic method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by the German a ...
. By Dr.
Walter Henry Medhurst
Walter Henry Medhurst (29 April 179624 January 1857), was an English Congregationalist missionary to China, born in London and educated at St Paul's School. He was one of the early translators of the Bible into Chinese-language editions.
Earl ...
. This is a translation of 71 Hymns, chiefly from
John Rippon
John Rippon (29 April 1751 – 17 December 1836) was an English Baptist minister. In 1787 he published an important hymnal, ''A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns'', commonly ...
and
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include "When I Survey the ...
, with one from the Gluey collection. After a thorough revision, this was republished at Shanghai, in 77 leaves, 1856. (see also:
Rippon's Selection)
* ''New Hymn Book'', 10 leaves, by
William Young,
Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
, 1852. This is a collection of 13 hymns in the
Min Nan
Southern Min (), Minnan ( Mandarin pronunciation: ) or Banlam (), is a group of linguistically similar and historically related Sinitic languages that form a branch of Min Chinese spoken in Fujian (especially the Minnan region), most of Taiwan ...
(Amoy) dialect.
* ''Prayers and Hymns'', pp. 22,
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
, 1840, by Dr. Dean. This is on European paper, printed on both sides; neither the leaves nor the pages numbered, and no running title. It commences with a short form of prayer for public use, then a private prayer, and the
Lord’s prayer, after which are two general forms of prayer. This is followed by 82 hymns, having the time for each marked in Roman characters.
* ''New Hymn-Book''. 59 leaves. Xiamen, 1857, by Mr.
Alexander Stronach. The first 13 hymns in this book, which is in the Min Nan dialect, are the collection by Mr. Young; 35 others are from the
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
hymn book, slightly modified; and the remaining 37 are by Mr. Stronach, the compiler.
* ''Hymns of Praise''. 16 leaves.
Ningbo
Ningbo (; Ningbonese: ''gnin² poq⁷'' , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), formerly romanized as Ningpo, is a major sub-provincial city in northeast Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. It comprises 6 urban districts, 2 sate ...
, 1851. By Dr.
Divie Bethune McCartee
Divie Bethune McCartee (Simplified Chinese: 麦嘉缔) (1820–1900) was an American Protestant Christian medical missionary, educator and U.S. diplomat in China and Japan, first appointed by the American Presbyterian Mission in 1843.
In 1845, ...
. This is a collection, chiefly translations, of 23 hymns and a
doxology
A doxology (Ancient Greek: ''doxologia'', from , '' doxa'' 'glory' and -, -''logia'' 'saying') is a short hymn of praises to God in various forms of Christian worship, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns. The tradition derive ...
. It was reprinted at
Fuzhou
Fuzhou (; , Fuzhounese: Hokchew, ''Hók-ciŭ''), alternately romanized as Foochow, is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian province, China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute t ...
.
* ''Hymn-Book''. 61 leaves,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
, 1851. By Rev.
Rudolph Lechler. This is divided into two parts, the first of which in 22 leaves, contains 55 hymns and 7
doxologies, being a selection from
James Legge
James Legge (; 20 December 181529 November 1897) was a Scottish linguist, missionary, sinologist, and translator
who was best known as an early translator of Classical Chinese texts into English. Legge served as a representative of the London ...
’s hymn book.
* ''Hymns and Tunes''. 13 leaves. Ningbo, 1856. By Rev.
Edward Clemens Lord. In this the Chinese and Roman characters are combined.
* ''Hymn Book in the Amoy dialect'', pp. 26. Xiamen, 1859. By Rev.
John Van Nest Talmage
John Van Nest Talmage (18 August 1819 – 19 August 1892), was a Protestant Christian missionary to Amoy, Fujian, China. He was sent by the Reformed Church in America from 1847 to 1890.
Biography
His younger brother Thomas De Witt Talmage was ...
. This is a collection of 25 hymns, printed in the Roman character, of which the first 13 are merely a transliteration of Mr. Young’s book. Of the remainder, some were composed by the Rev. Carstairs Douglas.
* ''Hymns of Praise''. 38 leaves. Shanghai, 1858. By Rev.
William Muirhead. This is a collection of 100 hymns in the
Shanghai dialect
The Shanghainese language, also known as the Shanghai dialect, or Hu language, is a variety of Wu Chinese spoken in the central districts of the City of Shanghai and its surrounding areas. It is classified as part of the Sino-Tibetan languag ...
, prefaced by a statement of thirty principal doctrines of the Christian religion, with an elaborate detail of pertinent Scripture texts under each. A subsequent edition was published in 55 leaves.
* ''Salvation Hymns''. 39 leaves. Shanghai, 1861. By Rev. William Muirhead. This is a collection of 69 hymns.
* ''Hymn Book''. 30 leaves. Xiamen. By Rev.
William Chalmers Burns
William Chalmers Burns (宾惠廉, 1 April 1815 – 4 April 1868) was a Scottish Evangelist and Missionary to China with the English Presbyterian Mission who originated from Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire. He was the coordinator of the Overseas ...
. This is a collection of 64 hymns and 4 doxologies, with table of contents; the greater part are from Dr. Legge’s hymn book, with slight modification; of about a dozen additional, two or three are entirely new, the remainder being founded on hymns in Dr.
Walter Henry Medhurst
Walter Henry Medhurst (29 April 179624 January 1857), was an English Congregationalist missionary to China, born in London and educated at St Paul's School. He was one of the early translators of the Bible into Chinese-language editions.
Earl ...
’s Hymn Book, but entirely remodeled. Mr. Young’s Hymn Book is bound up with it as an appendix.
* ''Hymns in the Chaon-chow dialect''. 21 leaves.
Shantou
Shantou, alternately romanized as Swatow and sometimes known as Santow, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong, China, with a total population of 5,502,031 as of the 2020 census (5,391,028 in 2010) and an administrative ...
, 1861. By Rev. William C. Burns. This is a collection of 29 hymns in the dialect of the people at Shantou and the surrounding region.
* ''Hymns in the Fuh-chow Dialect'', 25 leaves.
Fuzhou
Fuzhou (; , Fuzhounese: Hokchew, ''Hók-ciŭ''), alternately romanized as Foochow, is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian province, China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute t ...
, 1861. By Rev. William C. Burns. A collection of 30 hymns and 3 doxologies, with table of contents and doxology appended; besides two hymns on the back of the title-page, on the "Sufferings of Christ," and "Observance of the
Sabbath
In Abrahamic religions, the Sabbath () or Shabbat (from Hebrew ) is a day set aside for rest and worship. According to the Book of Exodus, the Sabbath is a day of rest on the seventh day, commanded by God to be kept as a holy day of rest, as G ...
."
* ''Hymns in the Amoy Dialect'', Xiamen, 1862. By Rev. William C. Burns. This is a collection of 20 hymns, four or five of which are new, the remainder having been previously published in the Shantou and Fuzhou dialects.
* ''Hymns in the Fuh-chow Dialect''. 53 leaves. Fuzhou, 1865. By Dr.
Robert Samuel Maclay
Robert Samuel Maclay, D.D. (; Pinyin: ''Mài Lìhé''; Foochow Romanized: ''Măh Lé-huò''; February 7, 1824 - August 18, 1907) was an American missionary who made pioneer contributions to the Methodist Episcopal missions in China, Japan and Kor ...
. Thirty-three of these were originally published by Mr. Burns; thirteen of those following are by Dr. Maclay and six by the Rev.
Charles Hartwell
Charles Hartwell (; Pinyin: ''Xià Chálǐ''; Foochow Romanized: ''Hâ Chák-lī''; December 19, 1825 - January 30, 1905) was an American Board missionary to Foochow, China in the second half of the 19th century.
Life and work
Hartwell wa ...
, the remaining twenty-nine being translated by Dr. Maclay from Dr. Legge’s book. There is a preface and table of contents.
* ''Hymn Book''.
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
. By Rev.
Joseph Edkins
Joseph Edkins (19 December 1823 – 23 April 1905) was a British Protestant missionary who spent 57 years in China, 30 of them in Beijing. As a Sinologue, he specialised in Chinese religions. He was also a linguist, a translator, and a philolo ...
, B.A. A collection of 81 hymns.
* ''Hymn Book''. pp. 155. Ningbo, 1860. By Rev.
Henry Van Vleck Rankin. This is a translation, selection, and compilation of 166 hymns in the
Ningbo dialect, printed in the Roman character; a large number being taken from a hymn book printed in 1857 by
John Jones, in 122 pages, containing 111 hymns, by various Ningbo missionaries. The measure and the subject is given at the head of each hymn. At the end there is an alphabetical index, and an index of subjects, followed by 9 doxologies.
* ''Hymn book''. pp. 32. Ningpo, 1S55. By Rev.
Samuel Newell D. Martin. This is in the Ningbo dialect, printed in the "Roman character".
* ''Psalms'', pp. 72. Ningpo, 1857. By Rev.
William Alexander Parsons Martin
William Alexander Parsons Martin (April 10, 1827 – December 18, 1916), also known as Dīng Wěiliáng Lydia H. Liu, ''The Clash of Empires: The invention of China in modern world making'', Harvard University Press, 2004, pp. 113–139 (), was an ...
. This is a selection of the Psalms of David, translated into the Ningbo dialect, and printed in the "Roman character".
* ''Hymns of Praise''. 20 leaves.
Guangzou. 1863. By Rev.
George Piercy
George may refer to:
People
* George (given name)
* George (surname)
* George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George
* George Washington, First President of the United States
* George W. Bush, 43rd Preside ...
. There are altogether 34 hymns in this collection, with the measure marked to each.
* ''Hymn Book''. Shanghai, 1855. By Rev.
Tarleton Perry Crawford
Tarleton Perry Crawford (May 8, 1821 – April 7, 1902) was a Baptist missionary to Shandong, China for 50 years with his wife.
Early life and education
Crawford was born in Warren County, Kentucky. He was the fourth son of John and Lucretia Cr ...
. This is in the Shanghai dialect.
* ''Hymn Book''. 60 leaves. Guangzhou, 1860. By Rev.
John Chalmers, A .M. This contains nearly the whole of Dr. Legge’s Hymn book, set to music according to the European notation. There are 81 hymns and 7 doxologies.
* ''Hymn Book''. 25 leaves. Shanghai, 1800. By Rev.
A. B. Cabaniss. This is a compilation of 21 hymns and 3 doxologies.
* ''Hymn Book''. 87 leaves. Shanghai, 1802. By Rev.
John Livingstone Nevius
John Livingston Nevius (4 March 1829 – 19 October 1893) was an American Protestant missionary in Chinafor forty years, appointed been appointed by the American Presbyterian Mission; his ideas on mission organization were also very important ...
. This is a version in the
Mandarin dialect
Mandarin (; ) is a group of Chinese (Sinitic) dialects that are natively spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. The group includes the Beijing dialect, the basis of the phonology of Standard Chinese, the official language ...
, of 100 hymns from Mr. Rankin’s hymn book, and 10 doxologies. They are for the most part translations of favorite English hymns. There is a preface by a native scholar, and a table of contents. A second edition carefully revised, with 24 hymns added from other sources, was published at Shanghai in 1805, in 111 leaves. There is a preface to this edition by Mr.
John Livingstone Nevius
John Livingston Nevius (4 March 1829 – 19 October 1893) was an American Protestant missionary in Chinafor forty years, appointed been appointed by the American Presbyterian Mission; his ideas on mission organization were also very important ...
, in addition to the other.
* ''Hymns of Praise''. 74 leaves. Shanghai, 1861. By Rev.
James William Lambuth. This is a collection of 100 hymns translated into the Shanghai dialect. The measure is marked to each in Roman letters.
* ''Hymn Book''. 30 leaves. By Rev.
Griffith John
Griffith John ( zh, t=楊格非, p=Yáng Géfēi; 14 December 1831 – 25 July 1912) was a Welsh Christian missionary and translator in China. A member of the Congregational church, he was a pioneer evangelist with the London Missionary Society ...
. This is a collection of 50 hymns. 1876 edition, with 200 hymns.
* ''Chang-chow and Tsenen-chow Hymns''. 39 leaves. Xiamen, 1862. By Rev.
Carstairs Douglas
Carstairs Douglas () (born 27 December 1830 in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire; died 26 July 1877 in Xiamen, China) was a Scottish missionary, remembered chiefly for his writings concerning the Southern Min language of Fujian, in particular his ''Chine ...
. This is in the Min Nan dialect used in the Xiamen region. The first 25 hymns are an edition of Mr. Talmage’s hymn book in the Chinese character. The remainder are by Mr. Douglas the compiler, and other members of the
English Presbyterian Mission English Presbyterian Mission was a British Presbyterian missionary society that was involved in sending workers to countries such as China during the late Qing Dynasty.
English Presbyterian Mission work in China
The Presbyterian Church of England ...
.
* ''Hymns set to music'', pp. x 80. Ningbo, 1858. By Rev.
Elias B. Inslee. In this the music is printed in the European form, and the hymns interlined, first in the Chinese character, the two lower lines being a translation of the same into the Ningbo dialect, printed in the Roman character. The first page contains a short advertisement; next follow, a table of contents, a table of metres, with alphabetical index and five pages of instructions, all in the Ningbo dialect and Roman character. The last five leaves contain the counterpart in the Chinese character, with another table in the Roman.
* ''Hymn Book''. 42 leaves. Beijing, 1864. By Rev. William C. Burns. 1862. A collection of 54 hymns, with table of contents.
* ''Gospel Hymns. Mandarin''. By Rev. J. W. Davis, D.D. 121 Hymns with annotations, specially for enquirers.
* ''Hymns of revival, with music''. By Miss
Dora Yu, Shanghai. Mandarin. 110 Gospel Hymns.
* ''Metrical Paraphrase of the Psalms''. By Rev.
Frederick W. Baller. Mandarin. 158 pages.
* ''Hymn book, Mandarin''. (Nevius and Mateer). Revised and enlarged edition, 1893. I66 leaves.
* ''Hymn Book, Mandarin With two English Indexes''. Foreign Paper. 315 Hymns. By J. Blodget, D.D. Blodget and Goodrich Hymnal, 1910. new edition, 5 styles.
* ''Hymn Book'', Mandarin Foreign Paper. Cloth cover, with English Index. By Rev.
Jonathan Lees,
Tianjin
Tianjin (; ; Mandarin: ), alternately romanized as Tientsin (), is a municipality and a coastal metropolis in Northern China on the shore of the Bohai Sea. It is one of the nine national central cities in Mainland China, with a total popul ...
429 Hymns. (348 by Mr. Lees), 1891.
* ''Memorial Hymn book with Music''. White paper 183 leaves. By Rev. A. Woodruff.
* ''Shanghai Hymn Book'', 132 hymns, by William Muirhead, D.D. 1888.
* ''Union Hymn Book'', Shanghai Dialect. 117 leaves.
* ''Ningpo Hymn Book''. 183 leaves.
* ''Kiang-nan Hymn Book''. Index. 199 Leaves.
* ''Gospel Hymns'', 210 in number, 9 different styles. China Baptist Publication Society, Guangzhou.
* ''Union Hymn Book'', in 11 styles. Central China Religious Tract Society.
* ''Children s Hymnal'', by F. W. Baller,
China Inland Mission
OMF International (formerly Overseas Missionary Fellowship and before 1964 the China Inland Mission) is an international and interdenominational Evangelical Christian missionary society with an international centre in Singapore. It was founded i ...
and Miss Garland.
* ''Hymns of Praise'' (with music) by English
Baptist Missionary Society
BMS World Mission is a Mission (Christian), Christian missionary society founded by Baptists from England in 1792. It was originally called the Particular Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Amongst the Heathen, but for most of its ...
,
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
. Including over 200 tunes specially composed for the Chinese church. Tonic Solfa Edition in preparation. 1910.
* ''Hymn Book of
Protestant Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church, based in the United States with additional dioceses elsewhere, is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a mainline Protestant denomination and is divided into nine provinces. The presiding bishop of ...
of America.''
* ''Evangelistic Hymns'', by P. F. Price, D.D.
* ''Shansi China Inland Mission Hymnal'' 1901 (contains Pastor
Xi Shengmo
Xi Shengmo ( zh, t=席勝魔, w=Hsi Shêng-mo; c. 1836–1896) also known as ''Pastor Hsi'', was a Chinese Christian leader.
Life
He was born ''Xi Zizhi'' in a village near Linfen, became a Confucian scholar, and, after his conversion to C ...
’s hymns)
* ''Southern Baptist Hymnal'', Shandong. 1902
* ''Crawford Hymnal'', Shandong. 1809 (
Tarleton Perry Crawford
Tarleton Perry Crawford (May 8, 1821 – April 7, 1902) was a Baptist missionary to Shandong, China for 50 years with his wife.
Early life and education
Crawford was born in Warren County, Kentucky. He was the fourth son of John and Lucretia Cr ...
)
* ''German Mission Hymnal'', Shandong. 1901
* ''Kiangnan Union Hymnal''. 1809
* ''Ningpo Hymnal''. 1910
* ''Church Missionary Society Hymnal'', Bishop Moule. 1893
* ''Church Missionary Society Hymnal Companion''. 1888
* ''American Church Hymnal''. 1893
* ''Blandford’s Kiangsi Hymnal''. 1895 & 1902
* ''Harry Price’s Kiangsi Hymnal''. 1909
* ''China Inland Mission Hymnal''. 1895
* ''Peking Union Hymnal'', (150 hymns). 1905
* ''Canton Basel Hymnal''. 1884
* ''Hankow Wesleyan Hymnal'', 1875
* ''
Hymns of Universal Praise'', 1936
* ''
Chinese New Hymnal
''The Chinese New Hymnal'' () was published in the early 1980s and is the main hymnal used by the Protestant churches registered through the TSPM in present-day China.
History
''The Chinese New Hymnal'' was begun being edited in the 1980 ...
''
* ''
Canaan Hymns
''Canaan Hymns'' or ''Songs of Canaan'' ( zh, c=迦南诗选, p=Jiānán Shīxuǎn) is a collection of Chinese hymns composed by Lü Xiaomin, a Christian convert peasant woman with no musical education, beginning in 1990. Lü's theological bac ...
''
* ''The Evangel Hymnal'', edited by the
C&MA missionary
William C. Newbern and published in 1940
* ''Youth Hymns'', edited by William C. Newbern and translated by Richard Ho in the 1960s
References
Citations
Sources
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