The essential contributions of Armenians to the translation of the Bible into Chinese and Uyghur

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Jesuit missionaries made early attempts to translate portions of the Bible into Chinese. However, the credit for the first complete Chinese translation of the Bible goes to Hovhannes Ghazarian. Another Armenian, Johannes Avetaranian, is recognized as the first translator of the New Testament into the Uyghur Language, as documented in the Andin Armenian Journey Chronicles.

Hovhannes Ghazarian, also known as Johannes Lassar, was born and educated in Macau and later became a member of the Armenian Church. In 1813, he was sent to Malacca (now part of Malaysia) with the task of establishing a printing press and translating the Bible into Chinese.

The translation process lasted nine years and was completed in 1822. The translated text was published in a four-volume set encompassing both the Old and New Testaments. It was well-received and is regarded as a significant achievement in the history of Chinese Christianity.
In addition to his translation work, Ghazarian established the first Armenian Church in Singapore in 1833, where he served as a priest until his passing in 1856.
Ghazarian’s life was marked by profound curiosity and a passion for learning. Proficient in various languages, including Chinese, which he diligently studied during his time in Macau, he embarked on the translation of the Bible. The magnitude of the task required several years to complete.
The process of translation presented significant challenges due to the stark differences between the Chinese language and the languages familiar to Ghazarian, thereby posing linguistic hurdles. Nonetheless, his persistence and dedication yielded a precise and comprehensible translation.
The publication of the Bible in Chinese represented a significant milestone in the history of Christianity. It opened new avenues for evangelism and fostered unity among Chinese Christians. Ghazarian’s translation gained widespread acclaim for its quality, establishing his position as one of the foremost translators of his time.

As for Johannes Avetaranian (1861-1919), he was initially born into a Muslim family in Erzurum in 1861 but later turned to Christianity after reading the Gospels. He took the Armenian name Johannes (John) Avetaranian (Avetaran means ‘Gospel’) and was baptized in Tiflis (modern-day Tbilisi, Georgia) or in Tabriz, Iran, on 28 February 1885.
Avetaranian, who was the first person from the Mission Union of Sweden to reside in Kashgar in 1892, translated the New Testament into the Uyghur language. His work was significant in furthering the understanding of the Uyghur language and contributed to its study as a pioneer.