Wu, Andrea Liwei2019-09-252019-09-252017-10-192013http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/166727This paper introduces several Protestant missionaries’ discussion on whether theism is a traditional conception among Chinese. They not only responded to the Jesuits’ topic to explore the meaning of the term Shang Di in pre - Qin literature, but went further to suggest that the Confucians of Song dynasty knew God and the knowledge of theism existed all the time in the long history of China. The value of their opinions can be found in the fact they probably created a new idea of culture through a hemieneutical perspective. This interpretation can hardly be accepted as any now existent tradition, but it brings us inspiration and force to think about development and renewal of cultures, and to think about the cultural communication on the creative level.chiWith permission of the license/copyright holderProtestant missionariescultural communicationhermeneutics of Chinese ClassicsmonotheismSinologyIntercultural and contextual theologiesAsian theologiesArticle