The Discovery of Genesis: How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language [Paperback]

C.H. Kang (Author), Ethel R. Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1979

This linguistic analysis of the Chinese language suggests the ancient Chinese were well aware of the God of Abraham. Readers will discover the possibility that the Chinese were a remnant of the Tower of Babel dispersion. The authors start with the observance of some astonishing points of correspondence between certain characters in the Chinese language and elements of the Genesis account of man's early beginnings. They go on to analyze dozens of the ideographic pictures that make up words in the Chinese language. The evidence they compile supports the thesis that the ancient picture writing of the Chinese language embodies memories of man's earliest days. The characters when broken down into component parts, reflect elements of the story of God and man recorded in the early chapters of Genesis. Man and woman, the garden, the institution of marriage, the temptaton and fall, death, Noah's flood, the tower of Babel - they are all there in the tiny drawings and strokes that make up the Chinese characters.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Concordia Publishing House (August 1, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0570037921
• ISBN-13: 978-0570037927
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

116 of 125 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-worth cautious consideration., February 23, 2000

By 

David Marshall - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Discovery of Genesis: How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language (Paperback)

I frequently speak on Christianity and Chinese culture, and am often asked about this book. I think the authors have put together a very interesting set of evidence, showing that a Christian message can be found in many of the most significant Chinese characters. Whether you think the inventors of the Chinese language did this on purpose, the Holy Spirit guided their choices, or that these analogies are coincidental, anyone who is interested in Chinese culture and Christianity will I think find this book fascinating. The strongest objection to Christianity among Chinese and Japanese has always been "Christianity is a foreign religion." Even if the authors are only letting their imaginations run wild, it seems to me they are running in a productive direction. But I think most readers will feel the evidence shows there is something more to their argument than that.

While I reccommend this book to anyone interested in Chinese culture, I have three criticisms. First, the human mind has an amazing ability to find patterns. If the authors were to take a slightly more critical approach to their own ability to imagine, I would feel more free to recommend this book to critical thinkers. Second, some of the characters they analyze are a stretch. Some skeptical readers might be put off by the bad arguments and overlook the good ones.

My main objection, though, is to the author's historical framework. I doubt the Chinese were consciously trying to encode the Genesis record in their language. This for four reasons. First, I don't think you can link the Chinese and the Jews that closely historically or genetically. Second, redemptive analogies can be found in many culures. (Polynesian, Japanese, and American, African, and New Guinea tribes.) They are not always related to Genesis. Third, many Chinese characters, like the words for "come" and the old word for "world," show meanings related not to Genesis but to the death of Jesus on the cross. And nobody thinks the ancient Chinese had a copy of the New Testament. And fourth, when Paul went to Athens and preached the "unknown God," he didn't need to link him historically to Jehovah to show his audience that the God he spoke of was not a "foreign God." Neither do we. I think the book should be read and passed on, but with caution. But I've heard the authors themselves have been more cautious in recent editions.

I strongly disagree with the reader below who called this book "a bunch of crock" and said the God the ancient Chinese worshiped was not the Christian God. In fact, the concept of God in ancient China (the books of Poetry and History, for examples) described a God who was "parent" of mankind, wholly good, loves mankind, rewards the good and punishes evil, is far above all other gods, and has never been worshiped with an idol. Even non-Christians, like Chen Jingpan, admit, "From the very ancient days of Chinese history, down through the time of Confucius to the present, we have records about the Chinese belief in one supreme God, the ruler over heaven and earth."

I've recently been editing final drafts of a book, due in July, called Jesus and the Religions of Man. It includes a chapter called "The Non-History of God," showing the universal and changeless character of the concept of Creator. I'd be happy to e-mail a copy of that chapter to Jing Wang if he contacts me.

Author, True Son of Heaven: How Jesus Fulfills the Chinese Culture ([e-mail])

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Written Chinese characters correlate with Genesis., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Discovery of Genesis: How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language (Paperback)

This book is an intriguing look at the thought behind the characters of written Chinese. China's ancient pictographic writing has survived nearly unchanged for at least 3000 years. It is the contention of the authors that the written symbols of Chinese "bear witness to the original beliefs of the Chinese, handed down by oral tradition. The record contained by many specific characters carries such a close similarity to the Hebrew Genesis that it would seem only logical to believe that both civiliations must have access to the same common historical knowledge."

This book is accessible to a person with no prior knowlege of Chinese writing. The characters under discussion are explained step by step and also printed large size in the margins, so that the various elements may be seen.

There are many striking points. For example the Chinese character for "to covet" has the woman symbol combined with two trees. Simularly, "to warn" is God combined with two trees. The character for a boat combines vessel with person and the number 8. (There were 8 persons in Noah's ark).

I found it fascinating and thought provoking. It is a peek at ancient Chinese thought that is not available to us by any other means.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hit With Readers In People's Republic of China, January 5, 2002

By 

Jon Covey (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Discovery of Genesis: How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language (Paperback)

The best test for the accuracy of this book was to have native Chinese speakers read it. They devoured the book and begged to keep it. We've ordered extra copies for our next visit to China.

Important events recorded in Genesis were archived in the ancient pictograms of the Chinese language. The worldwide flood of Genesis, the creation of man in the Garden of Eden, and other events are discussed in light of written Chinese. The information in this book gives unexpected support that the events recorded in Genesis are true, historical records.