Mohism as Confucianism Critique: Examining the Multifaceted Relationship of Christianity and Confucianism in China.

The article focuses on how 19th-century Christian missionaries in China strategically employed Mohist philosophy, particularly the concept of "jian'ai" (Equal and Universal Love), to critique and undermine Confucianism while promoting Christianity. Missionaries like Joseph Edkins and James Legge highlighted Mohism's opposition to Confucian values such as ancestral worship and Confucian benevolence ("ren"), portraying Mohist universal love as analogous to Christian agape love. This approach also addressed contentious issues like ancestor worship by advocating Mohist frugal burial practices as alternatives compatible with Christian teachings. The commentary underscores the significance of these interactions for understanding the complex religious and cultural dynamics between Christianity and Confucianism in 19th-century China and suggests that future research should adopt comparative and interdisciplinary methods to further explore these themes.