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Monument for "Sino-Christian Theology"

Since 2002 ISCS has transformed itself to be an academic platform for scholars who are willing to promote Sino-Christian theology. In the last decade and more, among the many cooperating partners Prof. LI Qiuling and Prof. YANG Huilin of Renmin University of China form a wonderful pair. Those who know them understand that their personalities, academic interests and habits differ quite a lot. But because of this platform provided by ISCS they get together on occasions and become complementary to each other. It is well-known that Prof. Yang is a great literate. But not many may have known that Prof. Li, an expert in western philosophy, is also a great poet.

In the first half of 2007 when Prof. Li stayed at ISCS as visiting scholar, we talk about the controversy of Sino-Christian theology developed for more than a decade. I suddenly felt that it could be a time to compose something left for later generations to consider. Thus I invited Prof. Li and Prof. Yang to write couplets for ISCS to put at the front gate and front door. Both were very pleased to do so. As the year 2010 is the 15th anniversary of ISCS and the 80th anniversary of Tao Fong Shan, their couplets seem to elaborate the vision of Sino-Christian theology. The meanings of their couplets are explained as follows:


The Logos reveals to thousands of people; the people praise the Logos; Chinese is no exception
(道示萬民 民民頌道 豈獨無漢語).
The Pneuma enlightens millions of families; the families are immersed in the Pneuma; theology is thereby produced
(風啓兆戶 戶戶沐風 更兼有神學)
(At the front gate)
This is composed by Prof. Li Qiuling.

Exposition:
  In Chinese characters the beginning and the end of the couplet include "Logos and Pneuma" and "Sino-Christian theology".
  "Thousands", "millions", "people" and "families" point to "many" in quantity. On the one hand it shows that Sino-Christian theology is one but indispensable part of many kinds of theological traditions. And on the other hand we also expect Sino-Christian theology may inspire the Chinese academics for deeper thought and research.


The Chinese form of writing could express Jesus’ words
(漢隸魏碑解得斯人語)
The Chinese way of thinking would transmit Sino-Christian theology
(神思妙悟成就萬世學)
(At the front door of the building)
This is composed by Prof. Yang Huilin.

Exposition:
  In Chinese characters the beginning and the end of the couplet include "Sino-Christian theology".
  The ancient forms of Chinese writing (漢隸, 魏碑) represent the Chinese words and refer to cultural context and dialogical character of Sino-Christian theology.
  The styles of Chinese academic thinking (神思, 妙悟) point to the two dimensions of Sino-Christian theology: reflection and contemplation. We hope that they may help to develop theology in the soil in China.

  Apart from the above vision, we hope that Sino-Christian theology also inherit the foundation laid in the past, cooperating with other humanities disciplines and developing its frontiers like biblical studies, sociology of religion, public theology and so on. I believe that if we work in one heart, then Sino-Christian theology would last forever.