Among Yaks, Monasteries, and Memories
A journey into the Tibetan grasslands of Gannan brings Hugh Battye into the rhythms of nomadic family life, local religious practice, and an unexpected memory of an earlier Christian presence in the region.
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Stamps and Negotiations
Fieldwork among the Bonan in Gansu begins with stamps, permissions, and a search for somewhere to stay, revealing along the way how differently a researcher and his hosts can understand hospitality, access, and an “authentic” experience.
China in the Plural
Drawing on fifteen years in mainland China, Hugh Battye reflects on the very different worlds he encountered—and on what can disappear when we speak of “China” as though it were a single cultural experience.
Traveling to China
If you’ve been thinking about visiting China and wondering if you should go, I say DO IT!
When the Spring Festival Meets Lent
How can the joy and festivity of the New Year blend with the sorrow and self-denial of Lent?
On Patience, Peace, and an Ordinary Afternoon
In a world trained to look for conflict and clarity, choosing to notice patience and harmony may itself be an act of faith.
Lunar New Year Prayer Calendar
Wherever Spring Festival is celebrated, Chinese communities are present. This worldwide cultural mosaic is more than an expression of ethnic identity. It can also become a spiritual map—guiding communities rooted in tradition toward a living encounter with the truth of the gospel.
Horses in Chinese Culture and the Bible
The qualities often celebrated through the horse in Chinese culture—strength, perseverance, diligence, endurance—may rightly be received as genuine gifts of common grace. And yet Scripture insists on a boundary we forget at our peril: the horse cannot save.
Confucian Culture and Christian Faith
No culture or political ideology can be equated with Christian truth. Jesus’s words—“My kingdom is not of this world”—remain a vital reminder for the church today.
Restoring Our True Face: From Cultural Survival to Christlike Peacemaking
Changing Normal is a book that I have revisited often. Re-reading the chapters is like confiding in a friend committed to help me persevere in the same direction for the sake of love.
Cultural Harmony and Gospel Fidelity
Chinese house churches must deliberate on how to be genuinely Chinese and truly Christian. Both the concepts that are overemphasized cause distortion. It takes constant navigating to be “in the culture but not of it.” Authentic Chinese Christianity will result from keeping both ideas in healthy tension as Chinese house churches negotiate between indigenizing and acting as pilgrim communities.
The Double Ninth Festival
Celebrated annually on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the Double Ninth Festival (重陽節/重阳节) falls on October 11 in 2024. From a Christian perspective on traditional Chinese festivals, it provides an opportunity to reflect on biblical values like wisdom, longevity, and honoring elders, blending cultural heritage with faith.