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

Rating:
Summary: Good at first look
Review: A friend of mine brought me this book, hoping to convert me to Christianity. I must admit that the book started off very interesting but the authors seemed to be carried away in their attempt to prove the intrcate link between Chinese ancient beliefs and Christianity.

A few obvious mistakes were made: first the Chinese characters have undergone much evolution into its current form. Secondly, there was a poor attempt to match the Chinese mythical creator Nu Wa to Noah - one was a woman and the other a man.

Take a simple example, the authors tried to convince us that the idea of the Garden of Eden was hidden in the Chinese character for 'planting field' (a character with a square and a '+' inside the square). The authors interpreted the '+' sign as the four rivers that ran through Eden. The authors may want to know that '+' or 'x' were signs for god in many ancient religions. Even without this knowledge, knwoing that the Chiense characters were actually pictogram, it is not hard to conclude that the inspiration for the word 'planting field' came from the actual segmentation of the fields for cultivation.

Nu Wa was in no way associated with saving animals from the Flood, nor did she build any ark. How the authors were able to link these two characters was indeed an amazing feat!

On the whole, it was a poor and failed attempt to convince the Chinese that they were once part of the big family of monotheist religion that worship the same God as the Jews and Christians.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and reasonable theory
Review: As a student of Chinese language for many years I found this book's interpretation of Chinese written characters very interesting. The use of Chinese written language to understand the thoughts and beleifs of the anciet people is very exciting. I was abit offended by the statement in the introduction when Taoism and Buddhism were referred to as "cults". If the author understood either of these relegions I do not feel such a statement would be made.

I think that this book is worthwhile and an interesting read overall for anyone with an interest in things Chinese.

Rating:
Summary: Historic Context
Review: Hold on there, dudes. Etymology of Chinese characters does NOT prove that they independently developed a prehistory based on Adam & Eve and the Great Flood. The Chinese alphabet evolved much later than Sumerian. Historians already recognize that trade brought not only the idea of writing from Sumer to other cultures but also their prehistory. All we can accurately say is that Sumerian writing and prehistory influenced the development of Chinese writing. That is not the same thing as saying that China preserved its own memory of the same events. Please do read the book, but with a healthy context rather than a wild eyed, unsubstantiated and unsupportable conclusion.

Rating:
Summary: Very interesting, but read it with an open mind!
Review: I came across C. H. Kang and Ethel Nelson's, 'The Discovery of Genesis : How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language' this fall when I was in Singapore learning Chinese. The authors put forth many interesting claims, although I found some of them rather flimsy. In all honesty it is a very well written book that has helped me to better appreciate the Chinese language. As such, I would highly recommend, 'The Discovery of Genesis' to anyone interested in learning more about the Chinese language, and also about biblical mysteries!

Rating:
Summary: One of the most amazing books I've ever read
Review: I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is amazing and astonishing. It should be carried by every Christian book store. Yes, the truths of Genesis have been preserved in the Chinese pictographic writing.

A few of the examples, if considered in isolation, could be challenged as wishful thinking. But when all the examples are considered together, the case becomes overwhelming and irrefutable. The history recorded in Genesis is true world history, not Hebrew myth. The bottom line is that the Word of God is trustworthy and reliable.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most amazing books I've ever read
Review: I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is amazing and astonishing. It should be carried by every Christian book store. Yes, the truths of Genesis have been preserved in the Chinese pictographic writing.

A few of the examples, if considered in isolation, could be challenged as wishful thinking. But when all the examples are considered together, the case becomes overwhelming and irrefutable. The history recorded in Genesis is true world history, not Hebrew myth. The bottom line is that the Word of God is trustworthy and reliable.

Rating:
Summary: Well-worth cautious consideration.
Review: 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])

Rating:
Summary: There Is More to This Than You Think.
Review: I have read this book for the second time after 10 years. Coming from an Asian culture, read and studied in english. Then coming to know Christ and reading the Bible. There are too many connections to disregard this subject. The simplest strokes in the chinese writing offer so much insight. I have personally found more fascinating "CHINESE CONNECTIONS". I am glad that a "Foreigner" could see into this so well. I just obtained the "Genesis and the Mystery Confucius Couldn't Solve". I could not wait to find more "connections" and put in a review of that book. I welcome any discussion by E-mail. and author contact.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting Etymological Insight!
Review: I read it three times in the first week (9/96)! This is powerful and persuasive information -- clearly and concisely conveyed. Many are convinced and even the most skeptical are intrigued. Native speakers and writers of the Chinese language readily recognize the import and impact of this work. I am presently living and working in China among the great Chinese people. You need ZERO previous exposure to the language. Another piece of evidence among an already considerable accumulation that points to the existence of God and the accuracy of the Bible.

Rating:
Summary: A miracle!
Review: I read this and my blindness was cured!