John Ross (missionary)
Encyclopedia
John Ross was a Scottish
Protestant missionary
to Northeast China
who established Dongguan Church
in Shenyang
. He is also known for translating the first Korean
Bible.
. In 1872 he was sent by the Scottish United Presbyterian Mission
to Northeast China
, known at that time as Manchuria
. John Ross, called in , went first to Yingkou
, then moved to Mukden (the present-day Shenyang
) and established a church there in 1889. This church was called Dongguan Church
(East Gate Church) because it was built just outside of East Gate, as Christian churches were not allowed within the city wall. It was rebuilt after the Boxer Rebellion
, and is now still used as a Protestant church.
While in China, John Ross met traders from Korea one day, and decided to make a Korean translation of the New Testament
, which was completed in 1887 and brought to Korea. This was the first Korean version In 1892 he was visited from Korea by James Scarth Gale
. Ross returned to Scotland in 1910, but continued to help the Scotland-China Society. There is a plaque commemorating John Ross on the sea front at Balintore in Easter Ross.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
Protestant missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Northeast China
Northeast China
Northeast China, historically known in English as Manchuria, is a geographical region of China, consisting of the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The region is sometimes called the Three Northeast Provinces...
who established Dongguan Church
Dongguan Church
Donguang Church , located in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, is one of the largest and oldest Protestant churches in Northeast China. It is also known as the cradle of Christianity of the Koreans in China and in the Korean Peninsula.-General:...
in Shenyang
Shenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
. He is also known for translating the first Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
Bible.
Life
John Ross received his education at Glasgow University and Theological Hall, EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. In 1872 he was sent by the Scottish United Presbyterian Mission
Scottish United Presbyterian Mission
Scottish United Presbyterian Mission was a Scottish Presbyterian missionary society that was involved in sending workers to countries such as China during the late Qing Dynasty.-Scottish United Presbyterian Mission work in China:...
to Northeast China
Northeast China
Northeast China, historically known in English as Manchuria, is a geographical region of China, consisting of the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The region is sometimes called the Three Northeast Provinces...
, known at that time as Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
. John Ross, called in , went first to Yingkou
Yingkou
Yingkou is located in the northwestern portion of the Liaodong Peninsula, and on the left bank of the Daliao River, which enters the sea in the city. To the west is the Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Gulf, and the city thus looks across to Jinzhou and Huludao...
, then moved to Mukden (the present-day Shenyang
Shenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
) and established a church there in 1889. This church was called Dongguan Church
Dongguan Church
Donguang Church , located in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, is one of the largest and oldest Protestant churches in Northeast China. It is also known as the cradle of Christianity of the Koreans in China and in the Korean Peninsula.-General:...
(East Gate Church) because it was built just outside of East Gate, as Christian churches were not allowed within the city wall. It was rebuilt after the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, and is now still used as a Protestant church.
While in China, John Ross met traders from Korea one day, and decided to make a Korean translation of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, which was completed in 1887 and brought to Korea. This was the first Korean version In 1892 he was visited from Korea by James Scarth Gale
James Scarth Gale
James S. Gale was a Canadian Presbyterian missionary, educator and Bible translator in Korea.-Life:James Scarth Gale was born 31 January 1863 in Alma, Ontario, Canada. He married twice:...
. Ross returned to Scotland in 1910, but continued to help the Scotland-China Society. There is a plaque commemorating John Ross on the sea front at Balintore in Easter Ross.
See also
- Christianity in ChinaChristianity in ChinaChristianity in China is a growing minority religion that comprises Protestants , Catholics , and a small number of Orthodox Christians. Although its lineage in China is not as ancient as the institutional religions of Taoism and Mahayana Buddhism, and the social system and ideology of...
- Christianity in KoreaChristianity in KoreaThe practice of Christianity in Korea revolves around two of its largest branches, Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.1 million members respectively. Roman Catholicism was first introduced during the late Joseon Dynasty period...
- Korean Bible translation
- Scottish United Presbyterian MissionScottish United Presbyterian MissionScottish United Presbyterian Mission was a Scottish Presbyterian missionary society that was involved in sending workers to countries such as China during the late Qing Dynasty.-Scottish United Presbyterian Mission work in China:...