John Ross (missionary)
John Ross (1842-1915), (his Chinese name: Chinese: 罗约翰) was a Scottish Protestant missionary to Northeast China who established Dongguan Church in Shenyang. He is also known for translating the first Korean Bible.
Life
John Ross was born at Rarichie in Easter Ross where Gaelic was his native language. He received his education at Fearn School, Glasgow University and Theological Hall, Edinburgh.[1] In 1872 he was sent by the Scottish United Presbyterian Mission (Chinese: 苏格兰长老会差会) to Northeast China, known at that time as Manchuria. John Ross, called in Chinese: 罗约翰, went first to Yingkou,[2] then moved to Mukden (the present-day Shenyang) and established a church there in 1889. This church was called Dongguan Church (East Gate Church) because it was built just outside of East Gate, as Christian churches were not allowed within the city wall. It was rebuilt after the Boxer Rebellion, and is now still used as a Protestant church. He also started a mission in Fushun.
While in China, John Ross met traders from Korea one day, and decided to make a Korean translation of the New Testament, which was completed in 1887 and brought to Korea. This was the first Korean version[3] In 1892 he was visited from Korea by James Scarth Gale.
Ross returned to Scotland in 1910, but continued to help the Scotland-China Society. He died in Edinburgh and is buried there mid-way along the east side of the main north-south path in Newington Cemetery. There is a plaque commemorating John Ross on the sea front at Balintore in Easter Ross.
In 1877, John Gilbert Baker named Iris rossii in his honour.[4] Ray Desmond (Editor).[5]
Works
- Corean primer: being lessons in Corean on all ordinary subjects, transliterated on the principles of the "Mandarin primer", by the same author (1877)
- The Manchus, or The reigning dynasty of China: their rise and progress (1891)
- History of Corea, Ancient and Modern; with Description of Manners and Customs, Language and Geography (1891)
See also
- Christianity in China
- Christianity in Korea
- Korean Bible translation
- Scottish United Presbyterian Mission
References
- ^ Who's who in the Far East. Hong Kong: The China Mail. June 1906. p. 279.
- ^ Dugald Christie, "Ten Years in Manchuria" (1893) and "Thirty Years in Mukden" (1914)
- ^ John Ross (1842-1915), Scottish Bresbyterian Missionary in Manchuria
- ^ "Thema: Die Planzengattung Iris ... (Gelesen 5316 mal)". orchideenkultur.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ Of British And Irish Botantists And Horticulturalists Including Plant collectors, Flower Painters and Garden Designers (1994)&pg=PA595 thmPzIltAV8C, p. 595, at Google Books
External links
- Father of the Korean Church
- Ross and Bible women in the early Protestant mission of northern Korea and Eastern China
- Shenyang Dingguan Christian Church (The Baidu Encyclopedia) (in Chinese)
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