L’Estremo Oriente: l’«incognita Cina»

Abstract

The Church in China, in particular in the twentieth century and still today, has participated and participates in tragedies and hopes the chinese people live. At the moment the Church in China fits into the historical and geographical contemporary global context, which sees the increasingly central position of Asia, with its varied and diverse ancient cultures. Beyond mutual stereotypes and prejudices existing both in western and eastern cultures, the in-depth analysis of the Asian situation, particularly the Chinese one, leads to a critical awareness about a common responsibility in the challenges that humanity is facing in today’s world. The spiritual heritage of Chinese culture steeped in Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism, has been enriched over the centuries by contact with western science, philosophy, art and religion, in particular Christianity, which happened in different periods. In the Chinese society, after the dramatic events that shook China during the Twentieth Century, and the turning point to modernisation started in 1978 by Deng Xiao Ping, although the persisting shadows and questions, even for the Church are emerging new opportunities opening to a hopeful future, searching for harmony with the ancient spiritual traditions and the new social conditions of the Asian continent.