Christianity in Yunnan

Christianity is a general term for a religion worshiping Jesus as the supreme God. It comprises three principal divisions; Catholism, the Orthodox Eastern Church and Protestantism besides some minor sects. In China, the term Christianity is used in its narrow sense to refer to Protestantism. To make it clear, this book uses the term Protestantism instead of Christianity in its narrow sense. Christmas and Easter Day are the principal holidays for Christians. The former commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ on the 25th of December while the latter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from late March to late April.

There are two division of Christianity in Yunnan: Protestantism and Catholicism.

(1) Protestantism

Protestantism and Catholicism hold almost the same basic beliefs. They differ basically on a few issues. The Protestants don’t accept Mary as the Mother of Jesus Christ, don’t believe on purgatory and don’t accept the final authority of the Apostolic Church.

Protestantism was first introduced to Yunnan in the 3rd year of the Guangxu Period of the Qing Dynasty (1877) by the British missionary John M’Carthy from Shanghai. Missionaries from Canada and Australia followed later and preached their religions in the minority regions. Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Protestantism was only popular among some ethnic groups. After the founding of the new China, the patriotic protestants in Yunnan carried out Three—Self  (The self—government, self—support, and self—propagation) Movement. In July 1963, The Yunnan Branch of the Three—Self Patriotic Movement Committee of Protestant Churches of China was inaugurated. The Christian Association of Yunnan was founded in September 1981 and its office is in the Sanyi (Trinity) Church in Wucheng Road in Kunming.

Now, Protestantism is quite popular in 16 prefectures and township in Yunnan with more than 300,000 believers from the Han, Miao, Lisu, Jingpo, Yi, Wa, Nu, Dulong, Lahu and the Dai nationalities. By May 1986, 1,488 churches were in service and there were 427 places for activities and 1,001 Protestant staff members. Principle churches of Protestantism in Yunnan include: the Sanyi (the Trinity) Church, St.John’s Church, the Church of the Gospel, the Holy Chuch of Xi’an, in Kunming, the Salaowu Church in Luquan County, the Gospel Church in Dali Township, the Nuofu Church in Lancang County in Zhaotong County, and the new Church in Baoshan Town in Luxi Township.

(2) Roman Catholicism

Roman Catholicism was brought to Yunnan during the period of the late Ming and the early Qing dynasties. In the 35th year of the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dynasty (1696), Catholic parishes were set up in Yunnan and in the 23rd year of the Daoguang Period (1843), the Episcopal church was established in Yanjin County, and was moved to Kunming in 1881. in 1948, the Kunming parish was promoted as “the Yunnan General Episcopal Church Parish”. After the founding of the new China, the patriotic Catholics carried out the Three—Self Movement. Yunnan Patriotic Catholic Association and the Administrative Commission of the Yunnan Catholic Church were formed in October 1985 with their offices set in the Catholic Church in Beijing Road, Kunming.

Catholicism is popular mainly in Kunming, Zhaotong, Honghe, Wenshan, Dali, Lijiang, Qujing, Diqing and Dehong prefectures and municipalities. The 30,000 believers are from the Han, Yi, Miao, Lisu, and the Jingpo nationalities. By May 1996, there were 43 service members and 36 churches open to service. The principal Catholic churches are: the Catholic Church in Beijing Road, in Kunming, the Catholic Church in Xinmin Road in Dali Township, the Catholic Church in Maohuo Street in Zhaotong County and the Cizhong Village Catholic Church in Deqing County.