Publishers note--This volume intends to tackle two problems. The first is the historical framework of imperialism - until now widely applied by Western and Chinese scholars as an approach to the Christian evangelization movement in China. The theological aspect of the missionary action is seldom taken into account, nor is religion treated as an authentic human experience. In this volume two authors try to place the position of the Christian mission in its broader context. Scott Somers reflects on the changing image of the Japanese occupation in Taiwan, based on Protestant missionary sources; Koen De Ridder discusses the early diplomatic contacts between China and Belgium and the position of the Belgian missionaries. A second problem dealt with is that of the native Christians. While Jessie Lutz attempts to sketch a profile of the Chinese Protestant evangelizers, Jean-Paul Wiest focuses his attention on the Roman Catholics among the Chinese Hakka minority. Gary Tiedemann explains the material, spiritual and political incentives for conversion among the inhabitants of North China, paying special attention to the socio-political profile of the converts. In the contribution of Ann Heylen we return to Taiwan, where we are offered a better understanding of the Protestant contribution to the study of the Min language. Finally, Karel Steenbrink describes the changing religious affiliation of assimilated Chinese in Indonesia during the period 1900-1942.

Contents: Introduction / Ku Wei-ying and Koen De Ridder -- Missionaries, opium and imperialism in the Western perceptions of the Japanese colonial empire in Taiwan / Scott Sommers -- The first diplomatic contacts between Belgium and China: its background and consequences for politics, trade and mission activity / Koen De Ridder -- A profile of Chinese protestant evangelists in the mid-nineteenth century / Jessie G. Lutz -- Was the Christian God partial to the Hakka people? / J.-P.Wiest -- Conversion patterns in North China. Sociological profiles of Chinese Christians, 1860-1912 / R.G. Tiedemann -- Missionary Linguistics on Taiwan. Romanizing Taiwanese: codification and standardization of dictionaries in Southern Min (1837-1923) / Ann Heylen -- The religious quest of the Chinese diaspora of Southeast Asia ca 1900-1942 / Karel Steenbrink.

Contents: Introduction / Koen De Ridder -- Conflict, Confusion and Control: Some Observations on Missionary Cases / Ku Wei-ying -- Body and Soul. Professional Health Care in the Catholic Missions in China between 1920 and 1940 / Dries Vanysacker -- A Strategist of Missionary Development in Henan: Bishop Joseph Noé Tacconi (1873-1942) / Angelo S. Lazzarotto -- The Missionary Cases of Taiwan in the Nineteenth Century / Shih Li-lan -- Congo in Gansu (1898-1906): "Missionary versus Explorer/Exploiter" / Koen De Ridder -- Quelques échos des prêtres chinois dans les missions de Scheut / Françoise Aubin.

Publishers note -- 'Sounds of Footsteps in Empty Valleys' (konggu zuyin) is a Chinese expression for persons and things that are not easily met. Western missionaries working in the desolate backwaters of pre-modern China fit this description. In this book scholars from different backgrounds discuss and define various aspects, special characteristics and long-range aims of the Christian apostolate in late Qing and early republican China. The topics merge from church-state relationship, mission administration and social work to the formation, role and feelings of indigenous priests. Among the articles collected in this book are 'Conflict, Confusion and Control. Some Observations on Missionary Cases' by Prof. Dr. Ku Wei-ying (National Taiwan University), 'Body and Soul. Professional Health Care in the Catholic Missions in China between 1920 and 1940' by Dr. Dries Vanysacker (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and 'Quelques échos des prêtres chinois dans les missions de Scheut' by Prof. Dr. Françoise Aubin (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique). By the publication of this book we hope to convince the reader that the development of the Catholic Church in China is an exceptionally interesting and important subject. Yet we also acknowledge that its study is still an 'empty valley' which waits to be filled with the 'sound of footsteps' from a new generation of scholars.