List of Chinese Bible translations explained
This is a list of Bible translations into Chinese.
Bible translations into Chinese began with translations made by the Church of the East under the Tang dynasty into Old Chinese. However, no surviving manuscripts exist, and the only surviving evidence of this is the Nestorian Stele.
The next instance of Bible translations into Chinese languages subsists in unpublished manuscripts by individual Roman Catholic priests in the sixteenth century and individual Protestant missionaries in the early nineteenth century. The first complete translation to be published was that of Joshua Marshman in 1813, followed by that of Robert Morrison in 1823. A group of Protestant missionaries in Hong Kong in 1843 started a collaborative translation. The New Testament of their so-called "Delegates Version" was published in 1850 and the Old Testament in 1853. A translation of the Old Testament by Karl Gutzlaff, first published in 1840, was widely distributed and was used by the leaders of the Taiping Rebellion as the basis of their theological study.
The second half of the century saw the publication of Chinese Bibles in regional languages using romanization rather than Chinese characters, the first works printed in the regional languages. The Classical Chinese of the Delegates Version could not be understood when read aloud, and towards the end of the century the national missionary body started a revision which used vernacular Chinese. The resulting Union Version, published in 1919, became the standard translation for Protestants and was adapted and published in different forms, including Braille. A Chinese New Version was published in 1992 and a Revised Chinese Union Version in the early twenty-first century.
The Studium Biblicum Version, now the standard Chinese Bible for Catholics, was started in the 1930s and published in 1968. Starting in the 1850s, there have been three Russian Orthodox translations.
Classical Chinese
The following lists translations in Classical Chinese:
- New Testament by Archimandrite Guri (Karpov) (新遺詔聖經), 1864
- New Testament by Bishop Innokenty (Figourovsky), 1910
- New Testament and Paraphrase of Psalms (John C. H. Wu and preface written by Pope Pius XII), 1946
Mandarin Chinese
The following lists translations in the Northern Mandarin, Southern Mandarin, Western Mandarin and Hankou dialects of Mandarin Chinese:
Northern Mandarin
- New Testament of Robert Morrison (; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin:) 1813
- Old Testament (Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky), 1875 Internet Archive
- New Testament (Peking Committee), 1870
- New Testament of Griffith John, 1887
- Romanized Vernacular Version New Testament, 1889
- Portions of New Testament for the Blind
- Chinese Union Version, 1919 United Bible Societies (HK), Amity Printing Company (PRC)
- Studium Biblicum Version, Scotus Chinese Version, 1968 Amity Printing Company (PRC)
- Today's Chinese Version, 1975, 1979 United Bible Societies (HK), Amity Printing Company (PRC)
- New Chinese Version, Worldwide Bible Society 1992
- Chinese Living Bible New Testament translation of the International Bible Society 1998
- Pastoral Bible (Chinese) 1999 Amity Printing Company (PRC)
- New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, 2001. Available in simplified characters, traditional characters, and simplified with Pinyin.
- Chinese Standard Bible, New Testament, Global Bible Initiative and Holman Bible Publishers 2011
- Chinese NET Bible, 2011–2012
- Contemporary Chinese Version (CCV), The New Testament, Chinese Bible International 2010
- Chinese New Living Translation Chinese Bible International 2012
- Contemporary Chinese Version (CCV), The New Pentateuch, Chinese Bible International 2014
- Worldwide Chinese Bible Worldwide Bible Society 2023
Southern Mandarin
Hankou dialect
- Book of Mark, 1921 using the Wangchao phonetic system.[1]
Wu Chinese
The following lists translations in the Suzhou, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Jinhua, Wenzhou, and Taizhou (Zhejiang) dialects of Wu Chinese:
Suzhou dialect
Shanghai dialect
Character colloquial versions
- Isaiah-Daniel, 1886
- New Testament, 1870
Romanized vernacular versions
Ningbo dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
Hangzhou dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
- New Testament (parts), 1877 by the English Bible Society.
- Gospel of John, 1879 by the Anglican Missionary G. E. Moule
- Gospel of Matthew, 1880 by the English Bible Society.
Jinhua dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
Wenzhou dialect
- Matthew-Acts, 1890
- The Four Gospels and Acts, in Wenchow was published in 1894 under the title, literally, with the entire book in the Wenzhou dialect.[2]
Taizhou dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
- New Testament, . Taizhou, 1897[3]
Northern Min
The following lists translations in the Jian'ou and Jianyang dialects of Northern Min:
Jian'ou dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
- Gospel of Mark, 1898 by the English Bible Society.
- Gospel of Matthew, 1900 by the Methodist Episcopal Mission Press. Translated by Hugh S. and Minnie Phillips.[4]
Jianyang dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
- Gospel of Mark, 1898 by the English Bible Society.
- Gospel of Matthew, 1900 by the Methodist Episcopal Mission Press. Translated by Hugh S. and Minnie Phillips of the American Bible Society.
Eastern Min
The following lists translations in the Fuzhou dialect of Eastern Min:
Fuzhou dialect
Character colloquial versions
Romanized vernacular versions
Southern Min
The following lists translations in the Amoy, Shantou, Teochew, and Hainan Junjiahua dialects of Southern Min:
Amoy dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
- Old Testament, 1852–1884
- New Testament, about 1853-1873
- Gospel of Matthew, for Blind, 1888
Shantou dialect
Character colloquial versions
- Genesis, 1879
- Ruth, 1875
- Matthew–1 Corinthians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians–Titus, Hebrews, 1 2 3 John, 1880–1884
Romanized vernacular versions
- Genesis, 1888
- Jonah, 1888
- Gospel of Matthew, 1889
- Gospel of Mark, 1890
- Gospel of Luke, 1876
- Acts, 1889
- James, 1888
- . . 1892. (Printed for the British and Foreign Bible Society by Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow)[7]
Teochew dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
- . . 1898. (Printed for the British and Foreign Bible Society at the English Presbyterian Mission Press, Swatow)
- New Testament, 1915 by English Presbyterian Missionary societies.
Hainan Junjiahua
Romanized vernacular versions
- Gospel of Matthew, 1891
- Gospel of John, 1893
Xinghua (Puxian) Min
The following lists translations in Xinghua (Puxian) Min:Romanized vernacular versions
- Gospel of John, 1892 by the American Bible Society.
- Gospel of Mark, 1893
- Gospel of Matthew, 1894
- Acts, 1894
- Gospel of Luke, 1895
Gan Chinese
The following lists translations in the Shaowu and Jianning dialects of Gan Chinese:
Shaowu dialect
Romanized vernacular versions
- Book of James, 1891 by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
Jianning dialect
- Gospel of Matthew, 1896 by the American Bible Society.
- Gospel of John, 1897 by the Bible Society of Great Britain in London.
Hakka
The following lists translations in the Tingzhou, Wujingfu Hakka, Swatow Hakka, and Taiwan Siyen Hakka dialects:
Character colloquial versions
- Genesis and Exodus, 1886
- Psalms, 1890
- New Testament, 1883
- Old Testament and New Testament, 1930
Romanized vernacular versions
- , 1860 by Rudolf Lechler
- New Testament, 1860–1883
- New Testament (Bible Society in Taiwan), 1993 (with the Psalms); Proverbs 1995.[8]
Tingzhou dialect
- Gospel of Matthew (Romanised), 1919
Wujingfu Hakka dialect
Swatow Hakka dialect
Taiwan Siyen Hakka dialect
Yue Chinese (Cantonese)
The following lists translations in the Guangzhou, Lianzhou, and Yangcheng dialects of Yue Chinese:
Guangzhou dialect (Cantonese)
Translations into Cantonese include:
Character colloquial versions
Romanized vernacular versions
- Gosepel of Luke, 1867
- Gospel of Mark, after 1890
Lianzhou dialect
- Gospel of Matthew, 1904 by the American Bible Society. Translated by the missionary Eleanor Chesnut.
- Gospel of Mark, 1905
- Gospel of Luke, 1905
- Gospel of John, 1905
Yangcheng dialect
- Gospel of Matthew, 1862 by the American Presbyterian Church. Translated by Charles F. Preston.
- Gospel of John, 1862
- Gospel of Luke, 1867 by the English Bible Society. Translated by Wilhelm Lauis.
Notable translations
- Robert Morrison. . Canton, 1813. New Testament.[9]
- , 1822
- , 1823–1824
- Lassar-Marshman Version (1822)
- Morrison-Milne Version (1823–1824)
- Delegates Version (or, 1854)
- Archimandrite Gury's New Testament (1864) and Psalms (1879)[10] [11]
- Chinese Union Version (和合本), 1904–1919
- Chinese Union Version (1919 and, 1934)
- Studium Biblicum Version (思高譯本), 1935–1968
- New Testament and paraphrase of Psalms by John C. Wu (and), 1946[12] [13]
- Studium Biblicum Version (思高譯本, 1968)
- Lü Zhenzhong's version of the Bible (呂振中譯本, 1970)
- Chinese Living Bible (當代聖經, 1974)
- Today's Chinese Version (現代中文譯本), 1979
- New Chinese Version (聖經新譯本), 1993
- Pastoral Bible (Chinese), 1991–1999
- New World Translation (聖經新世界譯本 漢語版), 2001
- Recovery Version (聖經恢復本), 2003
- Chinese Contemporary Bible (2010)[14]
- Chinese Standard Bible (2011)[15]
- Chinese NET Bible NET聖經（中譯本）, 2011–2012
- Contemporary Chinese Version (CCV), The New Testament,, 2010
- Chinese New Living Translation (CNLT),, 2012
- Contemporary Chinese Version (CCV), The Pentateuch,, 2014
- The New Testament in English and Mandarin, 1904.[16]
- The New Testament in English and Mandarin, American Bible Society. 1885[17]
References
Notes and References
- An Encyclopaedia of Translation, David E. Pollard, p.67
- Book: Chaò-chî Yi-sû Chī-tuh Sang Iah Sing Shī: Sz̀ fuh-iang tà sź-du ae-djüe fa üe-tsiu t'û . Dà-ìang sing-shï whaỳi yiáng-ge . 1894 .
- Book: Ngô-he kyiu-cü yia-su kyi-toh-keh sing-iah shü: Te-tsiu tuwa; di-nyi-tʻao ing . 1897 . Da-ing Peng-koh teh nga-koh sing-shü we . zh.
- http://chinese.fudan.edu.cn/phoneticslab/theses/shj.htm 《圣经》方言译本书目考录
- Web site: 珍本聖經數位典藏 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200803100510/http://bible.fhl.net/new/ob.php?book=61&version=&page=1 . 2020-08-03 . 2023-06-29 . fhl.net.
- Book: Séng Gĭng: Sĭng Gô Iók ciòng cṳ̆: Enǵ gi. . 1908 . Dâi-Ĭng Lièng Nguôi-Guók Séng-Cṳ̆ Huôi . Heḱ-Ciŭ Tū-Kiŏng . Hathi Trust.
- Book: 'Kiʻu-tsʻu iâ-sou ki-tok kâi sin-ieh tshuân-tsu chien-kʻng Mʻa-thʻai k̈ʻau Sʻai-thû.' . 1892 . Tãi Eng-kok lãi gūa Siàn-tsṳ-hũe Ìn .
- Web site: 本土聖經 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223190626/http://www.biblesociety-tw.org/native.htm . 2023-02-23 . 2023-06-29 . www.biblesociety-tw.org.
- Book: Testamentum Novum, Sinice . 1813 . zh.
- Web site: Orthodox/New Testament - 耶穌台灣 . 2023-06-29 . jesus.tw.
- Web site: Orthodox/Psalter - 耶穌台灣 . 2023-06-29 . jesus.tw.
- Web site: New Testament - 耶穌台灣 . 2023-06-29 . jesus.tw.
- Web site: Psalms - 耶穌台灣 . 2023-06-29 . jesus.tw.
- Web site: Chinese Contemporary Bible . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110122081124/http://www.biblica.com/bibles/ccb . 2011-01-22 . 2023-06-29 . Biblica.
- Web site: 2012-08-31 . Chinese Standard Bible (CSB): A New Chinese Bible Translation from Asia Bible Society . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120831125304/http://www.chinesestandardbible.com/index.html . 2012-08-31 . 2023-06-29 . Chinese Standard Bible.
- Book: The New Testament in English and Mandarin. 1904. Fukuin. Tokyo.
- Book: The New Testament in English and Mandarin. 1885. American Bible Society. American Presbyterian Mission Press. Shanghai.
