On a Chinese Screen · Chapter
XXXVII: The Seventh Day Adventist explained
The chapter introduces a Seventh Day Adventist missionary traveling up the Yangtze River.
What happens
The chapter introduces a Seventh Day Adventist missionary traveling up the Yangtze River. He is a large, determined-looking man in a tight blue suit with an American flag lapel pin. He shows no interest in the scenery or local culture, studies Chinese mechanically, and reads outdated newspapers. He dismisses all local religions as devil worship, lacks knowledge of Chinese history or philosophy, and treats his mission as a business proposition focused on organization and membership growth. He is upright but lacks passion, viewing the Chinese as simple and inferior, yet is good-humored and willing to help as long as his authority is not challenged.
Themes in this chapter
Cultural Clash and Misunderstanding
The missionary dismisses Chinese religions as devil worship, shows no interest in local history or art, and views the Chinese as simple and inferior, highlighting a profound cultural disconnect.
Hypocrisy and Moral Compromise
The missionary treats his evangelical work as a mere business proposition, lacking passion or a true calling, and resents having to conform to Chinese customs despite being a guest in the country.
Futility of Western Superiority
The missionary's sense of superiority is undercut by his ignorance of Chinese culture and his mechanical approach to his mission, suggesting the emptiness of such attitudes.
Characters to notice
- The Stranger
The Seventh Day Adventist missionary, a large man in a blue suit with an American flag, traveling up the Yangtze for the first time, indifferent to his surroundings.
Key passages
“He was a big man, and his bones were well covered. He gave you the impression that he had put on flesh since he bought his clothes, for they seemed somewhat tight for him.”
He was a large man whose clothes appeared too small, as if he had gained weight after purchasing them.
Describes the missionary's physical appearance and ill-fitting attire.
“He had no eye for the waste of turbulent waters that was spread before him, nor for the colours, tragic or tender, which sunrise and sunset lent the scene.”
He paid no attention to the dramatic river landscape or the beautiful colors of dawn and dusk.
Highlights the missionary's indifference to the natural beauty around him.
“He looked upon the whole matter as a business proposition. The secret of success lay in the precious word organization.”
He treated his missionary work like a business, believing that success depended solely on good organization.
Reveals his pragmatic, unspiritual approach to evangelism.