On October 25, 2017, the academic symposium “Christianity and Modern Chinese Healthcare” was successfully convened at the Lehua New Building of Shanghai University. This event was jointly organized by the Center for Christian Studies and China Research in Los Angeles, USA; the journal Chinese Christian Studies; and the Center for Religious Studies and Chinese Society at Shanghai University. Over 40 scholars and experts from more than 30 universities and academic institutions participated, including the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Tsinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shandong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Fukuoka Women's University (Japan), National Chengchi University (Taiwan), the National Museum of China, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Hebei University, Liaoning University, Inner Mongolia University, and Yunnan University.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Associate Professor Xiao Qinghe from Shanghai University's Department of History. Professor Zhang Yong'an, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Shanghai University, and Professor Tao Feiya from the Department of History delivered welcome addresses to the visiting scholars. Dr. Li Ling, Director General of the Center for Christian Studies and Chinese Studies in Los Angeles, USA, reflected on the significance of Christianity in modern Chinese healthcare and expressed anticipation for the conference. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Connie Shemo, Professor at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and Fulbright Scholar at Shanghai University's Center for Religion and Chinese Society Research. The session was chaired by Associate Professor Liu Yi from Shanghai University's Department of History. In her presentation, Professor Shemo systematically explored the relationship between Christianity and women's medical education in China, as well as Christianity's contributions to the development of modern Chinese medicine. She clarified conceptual confusions between Western medicine and modern medicine, introduced the context of women's medical education in China, and emphasized that this education arose in response to demands from Chinese believers and Chinese individuals involved in missionary work—not merely as a proactive cultural export from the United States. Shifting focus to Christianity's relationship with modern Chinese medicine, Professor Shemo emphasized that the introduction of Western modern medicine was not a simple, unidirectional transfer of therapeutic methods. Medical missionary work can be viewed as a pathway for “Western” medical concepts to enter China.
The conference received over 30 papers, which were presented and discussed across six sessions. Papers primarily addressed topics including missionary and Western physician medical activities, medical missions, medical services and architecture at church-affiliated universities, regional studies of Christian medical endeavors, church hospitals, and Christian medical policies and their impacts. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on issues raised in the papers.
The closing ceremony commenced with remarks by Research Fellow Yuan Zhaohui from the Institute of World Religions at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He highlighted Christianity's pivotal role in advancing modern healthcare in China, acknowledged scholars' efforts in this field, and encouraged continued research. Dr. Li Ling, Director General of the Christian and China Research Center in Los Angeles, USA, provided a systematic summary of the conference, encouraging scholars to continue pioneering work in religious studies and outlining research topics for the coming year. Subsequently, Associate Professor Liu Yi from the History Department of Shanghai University summarized the conference's achievements and areas for improvement. Finally, Associate Researcher Yu Qiang from the Cultural Research Institute of the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences declared the conference successfully concluded. (Contributed by Huang Nana)