Contemporary Christian linguists have become seriously interested in Chinese writing. There are several reasons for this.
The fact is that, according to estimates, Chinese writing was invented approximately 200 years after the construction of the Tower of Babel (more than 4,200 years ago, about 100 years after the World Flood but before the birth of Abraham). One can come to a logical conclusion – since this is so, then it certainly had to leave an imprint on Chinese culture. That’s exactly so.
Hieroglyphs are not letters with corresponding sounds (as in European languages), but rather illustrations, which, in turn, have undergone many modifications over time. But if you dissect one hieroglyph, you can clearly see that it contains interesting messages.
For example, the word “boat” consists of such parts as “vessel”, the number “eight” and “people” (eight souls were saved in Noah’s Ark during the Flood); the word “desire” contains the words “two trees” and “women” (two trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden, and the first woman eats the fruit from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil); and “create” includes such words as “speak”, “dust”, “life” and “walk”, which speaks of how God created man from the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath of life (see illustrations below). And these are just a few examples.
Based on this, missionaries in China began to use their own writing to convey the message of salvation. The Chinese are so accustomed to these forms that they do not think about their components. Something similar happens in English. For example, ironically the word “bigot” may come from the German “bei Gott” or the English “by God,” and it originally referred to someone who was a spiritual hypocrite. “Goodbye” (also “goodby,” “good bye,” or “good-bye”), comes from the older English term “godbwye,” which is a contraction of “God be with ye.” Old English gōdspel, from gōd ‘good’ + spel ‘news, a story’. And now we have the word Gospel. Saying these words, we don’t even think about their origin. The same thing happens with the Chinese language.
Moreover, according to ancient historical evidence and Confucius himself, the Chinese from the earliest times, more than 4 thousand years ago, worshiped the One God Shang-Di, which means “Ruler of Heaven,” offering a sacrifice of a bull once a year. Emperors used to do it and evidence of this is one of the landmarks in Beijing, the capital of China – the Temple of Heaven in the central district of Dongcheng (see the photo).
Be that as it may, this infers that after the Flood, Noah and his sons passed on to their descendants the practice of worshiping the One God and making sacrifices, which in turn was reflected in Chinese culture. According to their myths, it was Noah (Nuua or Nukua) who became the progenitor of the Chinese nation after the Great Flood.
No matter that skeptics claim that the Bible allegedly sneaked the legends and myths of the peoples of the world, yet historical, archaeological, and linguistic data indicate the opposite – namely, that the biblical events really took place. The scattered peoples, having adopted these stories from their own ancestors, over time either added or diminished something. And the fact that today almost all nations and tribes have similar “myths” and “legends” is the result of an oral tradition passed on from the children of Shem, Ham, and Japheth to their descendants, among whom are you and me.
The traces of God and His truth are confirmed over and over again. And this reminds us of the words of the Apostle Paul who says: “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth through unrighteousness. For what may be known about God is clear to them since God has shown it to them. The invisible things about Him—His eternal power and Godhead—have been clearly seen since the creation of the world and are understood by the things that are made, so that they are without excuse. Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him or give thanks to Him as God, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, birds, four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves. They turned the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 1:18-25)
Such discoveries and research testify of God’s faithfulness and accuse many of their unbelief.
God is true, and man is deceitful. May His name be glorified in all things!
Max Volkov in Christ
