如何更好地在華夏文明中傳播福音,讓人們更好地認識和接納基督信仰?這是從利瑪竇開始直至今日,無數在華傳教士和基督徒們都在思考,並為之不斷努力的主題。禮儀之爭對在華教會的發展影響很大。雖然在教廷的最終介入之後,這場爭論趨於沈寂,但並沒有完全消失。本文討論了十九世紀中葉傳教士們有關可否使用中國古籍中的「天」、「上帝」詞彙而產生的爭論及其主張與目的。雙方的觀點並無對與錯,而只是體現出他們對本地教會的責任與愛心。筆者特別分析了遣使會的孟振聲主教和巴黎外方傳教會的方若望主教關於此問題的對話,反思他們在華福傳工程中的關注點,考察其神學本地化與傳教方法的意義。

How can the Gospel be better spread in China so that the Chinese people can better understand and accept Christianity? This is a question that countless missionaries and Christians in China have pondered and worked on since Matteo Ricci. The “Chinese Rite Controversy” had a significant impact on the development of the Church in China. Although the dispute eventually subsided after the intervention of the Holy See, it did not disappear completely. This article discusses the arguments and objectives of missionaries in the mid-19^th century regarding the use of Chinese classical terms Tian and Shangdi to refer to God. There was no right or wrong in the views of the two sides, but only a manifestation of their responsibility and love for the local church. This paper specifically analyzes the dialogue between the Lazarist Bishop Joseph-Martial Mouly and Bishop Emmanuel-Jean-Francois Verrolles of the Missions étrangers de Paris (MEP) on this issue, reflecting their concerns in the mission in China and examining the significance of their theology of inculturation and missionary strategy.