Table Of Contentw
A M E R I C A N U N I V E R S I T Y S T U D I E S
M
a
K. H. Ting (1915–2012) was an important Christian leader and theologian
&
in China. Indeed, since the late-1970s, he has been seen as the spokes-
L
i
person for Christianity in China. Many stories surround his life, but it is a
o
sometimes unclear which ones are true, making him a mysterious figure.
K. H. Ting became the principal of Jinling Theological Seminary in 1952 and
remained in this position until his death, making him the longest-standing
principal of any theological seminary in the world. He experienced many
difficult times in his 97 years, and in any ways the history of Christianity
in China is reflected through the ups and downs he experienced. In Incor- I
n
ruptible Love: The Story of K. H. Ting, the authors offer Christians, as well
as people of other spiritual beliefs, intellectuals, and the general public, a c
greater understanding of K. H. Ting’s life and beliefs. This biography will o
help people learn not only about K. H. Ting, but also about the fundamen- r
tals of Chinese Christianity. r
u
Written in a blend of creative and academic writing styles, Incorruptible p
Love makes the story of K. H. Ting vivid and convincing. This text can be t
used in courses on Christianity in China, the Chinese Church, religion in i
b
China, and modern Chinese history.
l
e
L
o
Ma Jia is Associate Professor at York University. He has been Associate Pro-
fessor at Nanjing University (1996–2000) and a visiting lecturer at Brown v
University (2002–2004), as well as a visiting scholar at Lund University e
(1998–1999) and the University of Toronto (2001–2006). He received his
Ph.D. from Nanjing University, and has published six books.
Liao Suyun is Associate Professor of English at Jiangsu University of Tech-
nology in China.
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A M E R I C A N MA JIA &
U N I V E R S I T Y
LIAO SUYUN
www.peterlang.com S T U D I E S
w
A M E R I C A N U N I V E R S I T Y S T U D I E S
M
a
K. H. Ting (1915–2012) was an important Christian leader and theologian
&
in China. Indeed, since the late-1970s, he has been seen as the spokes-
L
i
person for Christianity in China. Many stories surround his life, but it is a
o
sometimes unclear which ones are true, making him a mysterious figure.
K. H. Ting became the principal of Jinling Theological Seminary in 1952 and
remained in this position until his death, making him the longest-standing
principal of any theological seminary in the world. He experienced many
difficult times in his 97 years, and in any ways the history of Christianity
in China is reflected through the ups and downs he experienced. In Incor- I
n
ruptible Love: The Story of K. H. Ting, the authors offer Christians, as well
as people of other spiritual beliefs, intellectuals, and the general public, a c
greater understanding of K. H. Ting’s life and beliefs. This biography will o
help people learn not only about K. H. Ting, but also about the fundamen- r
tals of Chinese Christianity. r
u
Written in a blend of creative and academic writing styles, Incorruptible p
Love makes the story of K. H. Ting vivid and convincing. This text can be t
used in courses on Christianity in China, the Chinese Church, religion in i
b
China, and modern Chinese history.
l
e
L
o
Ma Jia is Associate Professor at York University. He has been Associate Pro-
fessor at Nanjing University (1996–2000) and a visiting lecturer at Brown v
University (2002–2004), as well as a visiting scholar at Lund University e
(1998–1999) and the University of Toronto (2001–2006). He received his
Ph.D. from Nanjing University, and has published six books.
Liao Suyun is Associate Professor of English at Jiangsu University of Tech-
nology in China.
v
.
3
6
1
P
E
T
Cover image: E
R
L
A
N
G
A M E R I C A N MA JIA &
U N I V E R S I T Y
LIAO SUYUN
S T U D I E S
Incorruptible Love
SERIES VII
THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
VOL.361
This book is a volume in a Peter Lang monograph series.
Every volume is peer reviewed and meets
the highest quality standards for content and production.
PETER LANG
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Ma Jia and Liao Suyun
Incorruptible Love
The K. H. Ting Story
PETER LANG
New York Bern Berlin
Brussels Vienna Oxford Warsaw
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ma, Jia (Assistant Professor), author.
Title: Incorruptible love: the K. H. Ting story / Ma Jia, Liao Suyun.
Description: New York: Peter Lang, 2018.
Series: American university studies. Theology and religion; vol. 361 | ISSN 0740-0446
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017038644 | ISBN 978-1-4331-3911-6 (hardback: alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4331-3912-3 (ebook pdf)
ISBN 978-1-4331-3913-0 (epub) | ISBN 978-1-4331-3914-7 (mobi)
Subjects: LCSH: Ting, K. H. | Catholic Church—China—Bishops—Biography. |
Catholic Church—China. | Christianity—China.
Classification: LCC BX4705.T666 M3 | DDC 282.092 [B]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017038644
DOI 10.3726/978-1-4331-3912-3
Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data are available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.
© 2018 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York
29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006
www.peterlang.com
All rights reserved.
Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm,
xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited.
table of contents
Chapter 1. The Wind Blows When It Chooses 1
Part 1: Where the Story Begins: Interviews with
K. H. Ting 1
Part 2: An Upright Man’s Compassion: Rejoicing
in Truth 5
Chapter 2. New Legend of a Good Christian—K. H. Ting’s Early
Life and Career in Shanghai 13
Part 1: Life at St. John’s University: Development
of Spiritual Beliefs 13
Part 2: Assuming Elijah’s Mantle: Work Experience
After Graduation 25
Part 3: Stronger than David’s Lyre: Influence of a
Courageous Churchman 36
Chapter 3. Discerning Truth through a Long Journey Abroad 45
Part 1: Toronto: Signs of Leadership 47
Part 2: New York: Development of Theological and
Personal Ideals 53
Part 3: Geneva: Preparations for Returning to China 55
Chapter 4. At the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary (NJUTS):
1952–1965 67
vi incorruptible love: the k. h. ting story
Part 1: An Emerging Leader 67
Part 2: Seeking Christian Common Ground 69
Part 3: Moving Forward with Caution 71
Part 4: Struggling under Job’s Question 74
Chapter 5. Looking Back: The Time of GCR 81
Part 1: Who Protected K. H. Ting? 81
Part 2: Together, Though Far Apart 87
Part 3: No Longer Strangers to Revolution 95
Chapter 6. At the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary (NJUTS):
After 1980 107
Part 1: Return to No. 17: Events Before and After the
School’s Reopening 107
Part 2: Saturday Lectures: The Teaching Method of
K. H. Ting 111
Part 3: Attention to Warmth and Love: Ting’s
Management System 116
Part 4: Carrying Back the Olive Branch: NJUTS’
Students Study Abroad 118
Part 5: Peace of Mind in the Face of Disaster: Three
Challenges for K. H. Ting 120
Part 6: New Wine in a New Bottle: Beginning Again 127
Part 7: Looking Towards the Future: The New NJUTS 128
Chapter 7. As Diplomat and Spokesperson for Christianity in China 133
Part 1: The Ladder to Heaven 133
Part 2: On the International Stage 136
Part 3: Always a Pleasure to Greet Friends from Afar 142
Part 4: Christianity and Other Religions in China 153
Chapter 8. The Amity Foundation 161
Part 1: A Foundation without Funds? 161
Part 2: “A Real Hermit Living in the Bustling Place”:
The Special Location of the Amity 164
Part 3: The Story of “Amity Bakery” 168
Chapter 9. A Theologian Who Follows St. Paul 181
Part 1: How to Understand the “Three-Self”
Movement? 182
Part 2: Who Said It’s Simply Two Sides of a Coin? 187
Part 3: Modernist and Fundamentalist Christianity in
China 191
table of contents vii
Chapter 10. A Theologian Who “Writes How I Want to Write” 203
Part 1: The Role of “Cultural Christians” 203
Part 2: Publications about Christianity and
K. H. Ting’s Own Writings 209
Part 3: Treasure in Clay Jars: Theological
Reconstruction in China 214
Part 4: Providing Only Key Points: K. H. Ting’s
Theological Method 224
Chapter 11. Life and Family 237
Part 1: K. H. Ting’s Family: An Intellectual Family
Tradition 237
Part 2: K. H. Ting’s Wife, Kuo Siu May 246
Part 3: K. H. Ting Stated: “I Need Time to Relax!” 256
Chapter 12. Love Never Ends 261
Part 1: My Impression of K. H. Ting: A Philosopher
and A Poet 261
Part 2: Uncompromised Love 270
Afterword 277
Appendices 279
1. A Brief Chronology of K. H. Ting’s Life 281
2. Glossary of Terms in English and Chinese 285
3. Glossary of Chinese and English Names in
the Text 289
Index 295
