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Curation Team

Here are five pieces from Post Magazine’s long-running column Reflections by Wee Kek Koon that look at the Chinese Bible’s impact on Mandarin, the forgotten Kaifeng Jews, the journey of Islam in China and how one Hong Xiuquan, who thought he was Jesus Christ’s brother, started the Taiping Rebellion.
1. When a man calling himself Jesus’ brother led the Taiping Rebellion, which saw 20 million Chinese die and doomed the Qing dynasty
Read the fascinating tale of Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be Jesus Christ’s younger brother, sparking the Taiping Rebellion that hastened the downfall of the Qing dynasty. His religious movement, born from failed exams and divine visions, resulted in millions of deaths in the bloodiest of civil wars.
2. Why can China’s Buddhists, Taoists and Confucians get along, yet the world’s Christians, Muslims and Jews cannot?
Explore the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism in China, and how it contrasts with the historical conflicts among Abrahamic faiths. The non-dogmatic nature of Chinese belief systems, which foster inclusivity and syncretism, suggests something can be learned from their approach to religious tolerance and coexistence.
3. Unveiling the Chinese Bible: how it was translated and the long-lasting impact it had on the Mandarin language
The Chinese Union Version of the Bible introduced biblical phrases like “sacrificial lamb” and “a tooth for a tooth” into the Chinese language. Christian translators consulted ancient Greek texts and English editions to create a version for Chinese readers, shaping linguistic and cultural landscapes.

4. The forgotten heritage of China’s Kaifeng Jews and the mysterious history of the ‘religion that pulls out the sinews’
The Kaifeng Jewish community in Henan province has existed for centuries, yet remains largely forgotten. Their story dates back to the Song dynasty and a synagogue that was built in 1163, and now, despite assimilation into Chinese culture, some descendants want to learn about their heritage.
5. The history of Islam in China, from the Tang dynasty to Hui Muslims in Guangzhou and beyond – including a moment of prominence
Follow the journey of Islam in China, from its arrival in the 600s via Middle Eastern trade routes to its brief prominence during the Yuan dynasty. Muslim communities thrived in coastal cities like Guangzhou and integrated during the Ming dynasty, leading to the emergence of the Hui people.
Part of this article was produced with the assistance of generative AI


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History

China’s religious history features Christianity, Judaism and Islam … and a cult that sparked bloody civil war

A drawing of Hong Xiuquan, a Hakka Chinese who claimed to be the brother of Jesus and led the Taiping Rebellion against China’s Qing dynasty. Its brutal suppression by imperial troops left 20 to 30 million people dead. Photo: Getty Images

One of the first Chinese-language bibles to be translated in 1823 featured in an exhibition organised by Hong Kong Bible Society to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Protestant missionary Robert Morrison in China. Photo: SCMP Archives

What China’s shift from feudal to imperial system tells us about today’s political climate

A painting of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Photo: Wikipedia

The Terracotta Army at Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum in Xian, western China. The first Qin dynasty emperor did away with a social order that had been in place for eight centuries. Photo: Shutterstock

A painting of Qin Shi Huang, the founder of the Qin dynasty, who brought in a new system of rule in China after 800 years of feudalism. Photo: Wikipedia

One of the warriors of the terracotta army, which today remains a symbol of Qin Shi Huang’s legacy. Photo: Xinhua

The ancient Chinese general whose calm during surgery is still told of today

A statue of Lord Guan, or Guan Yu, in Thailand. Worshipped by many Chinese, his image adorns homes, restaurants, gambling dens and police stations in Hong Kong and elsewhere. Photo: Shutterstock

Lipomas are slow-growing fatty lumps that typically form between a person’s skin and the underlying muscle layer. Photo: Shutterstock

How ancient China’s standardised vehicle and road ‘specs’ transformed the country

An engraving depicts an early Chinese horse-drawn carriage from the 18th century. More than 2,000 years ago, the Qin dynasty introduced the “standardised axle width”, which played a vital role in shaping ancient China’s military strength, administrative efficiency and cultural integration. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Perlis is a mostly agricultural state in the far north of the Malay Peninsula. Photo: Shutterstock

The first phase of the Perlis Inland Port is scheduled to open in July. Photo: Mutiara Perlis

The ancient Chinese saw earthquakes as messages from the heavens. Why?

King You of ancient China’s Western Zhou dynasty famously faked enemy attacks to amuse his favourite consort, Bao Si. An earthquake two years into his reign was interpreted as a portent of brewing trouble. Photo: Getty Images

Workers spray disinfectant to sterilise the rubble of a collapsed building in Mandalay, days after a major earthquake struck central Myanmar. Photo: AFP

Before modern science taught us about shifting tectonic plates, the ancient Chinese believed that earthquakes were cosmic warnings. Photo: Shutterstock 

A postage stamp bearing an image of Chinese scientist Zhang Heng (78-139 AD). He created the world’s first seismoscope.

Book bans, burnings in ancient China were a loss for all. Is history repeating itself?

Book bans and burnings ordered in Qin dynasty China meant the loss of much knowledge for all eternity. Similar orders were seen in Nazi Germany. Now US conservatives are banning books. Photo: Getty Images

The Library of Congress in Washington. The Trump administration has dismissed the idea that it is banning books. Photo: Shutterstock

German soldiers and civilians in 1933 give the Nazi salute as thousands of books smoulder during one of the mass book burnings implemented throughout the country. Photo: Getty Images

PostMag

Culture

Traditional Asian beliefs and Abrahamic religions have existed in China for centuries, columnist Wee Kek Koon looks at their impact


Traditional Asian beliefs and Abrahamic religions have existed in China for centuries, columnist Wee Kek Koon looks at their impact.


.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Traditional Asian beliefs and Abrahamic religions have existed in China for centuries, columnist Wee Kek Koon looks at their impact

1. .css-jfmysa{display:inline;word-break:break-word;}.css-1ankfgb{cursor:pointer;display:inline;word-break:break-word;}When a man calling himself Jesus’ brother led the Taiping Rebellion, which saw 20 million Chinese die and doomed the Qing dynasty

Traditional Asian beliefs and Abrahamic religions have existed in China for centuries, columnist Wee Kek Koon looks at their impact

1. When a man calling himself Jesus’ brother led the Taiping Rebellion, which saw 20 million Chinese die and doomed the Qing dynasty