Christianity and Social Reconstruction: Revisiting Y. T. Wu’s Intellectual Legacy in Modern China

Y. T. Wu (Wu Yaozong, 1893–1979) was a prominent Christian figure in twentieth-century China. His most significant contribution was to the Three-self Patriotic Movement of Protestant Churches during the 1950s, which also rendered him a controversial figure among overseas Christians. Situating Wu within the broader context of modern China, this article contends that he belonged to the generation shaped by the May Fourth and New Culture Movements, and that his Christian thought was characterized by a strong sense of social responsibility from its inception. The Great Depression (1929–1933) and the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan in the 1930s prompted Wu to shift toward socialism, a position he articulated in relation to Christianity and social reconstruction. In the 1940s, Wu participated in the Chinese democratic movement, emphasizing Christianity’s role in the development of the New China. Social reconstruction actually constitutes a significant dimension of Christianity in 20th-century China. While closely related to indigenization, it highlights social concerns and engagement. An examination of Wu’s intellectual legacy prior to the 1950s clarifies this dominant theme within Christianity in Modern China. Revisiting Wu’s intellectual legacy from this perspective may broaden contemporary discussions of indigenization and contextualization while also addressing critiques rooted in subsequent political events.