In a recent presentation by Daryl Ireland on early twentieth-century Chinese Christian posters, a wealth of insights emerged that illuminate the intersection of faith and culture in China. As Chinese Christians continue to navigate the challenges of their cultural and political environment, the lessons from history can serve as both a warning and an inspiration.
Dr. Ireland’s recent lecture has further enriched our understanding, shedding light on the interplay between media, religion, and society—a timely and thought-provoking topic. We delved deeply into Chinese Christian history and explored his unique take on social media.
The Christian community contributed a third way to imagine national salvation, an equivalent force to the two major political parties, the Nationalists (KMT) and the Communists (CCP)…. Modernist and Fundamentalists… had a common political vision. They both embraced Chinese nationalism and portrayed Christ as the only power that could overcome imperialism.
Join us in April for a fascinating lecture on “Christian Posters in the Early 20th Century China.”
Posters were the most common visual imagery of Christianity in China from 1919 to 1949. In his lecture, Dr. Daryl Ireland showcased some of his collection of nearly 700 posters from both Protestants and Catholics and discussed how they are changing the way we think about Chinese Christianity.
The author brings to our attention Christian propaganda posters, intentionally used in China between 1927 and 1951, aimed at toppling China’s ideological systems. They provide a view of what Chinese Christians believed about their faith, and how they believed Christ could transform China.
A look at how churches are responding.