Thee Quaker Podcast Quakers in China
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Jul 3, 2024 
This discussion features Patrick Lozada, teaching Quaker engagement with China, Andrew Taylor, who researches surviving Quaker documents, and Polly Ashmore, who studied British missionaries in Sichuan. They delve into the complex legacy of Quakers in China, contrasting their evangelical and educational approaches amid political upheaval. The impact of colonialism on their humanitarian efforts is examined, along with reflections on how to renew Quaker concern for China today, celebrating their rich cultural history and the resilience of the people.
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Early Quaker China Engagement
- Quakers attempted early missionary voyages to China but were refused passage by ship masters in the 1660s.
- Later, Quaker merchants engaged in trade, including a notable peaceful intervention prior to the First Opium War.
Quakers and Colonialism Paradox
- Quaker missionary work in China was enabled by military colonialism despite their pacifist values.
- Many Quaker missionaries wrestled with their association to colonial aggression despite their nonviolent stance.
Distinct Quaker Missions in China
- Two distinct Quaker missions in China used different approaches: evangelical American Friends used a phonetic name, while liberal British Friends used a semantic name meaning "common friendship."
- These naming choices created confusion and highlight diverse Quaker identities within China.