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Carstairs Douglas

March 09, 2023

Carstairs Douglas (Chinese: 杜嘉德; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tō͘ Ka-tek) (born 27 December 1830 in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire; died 26 July 1877 in Xiamen, China) was a Scottish missionary, remembered chiefly for his writings concerning the Southern Min language of Fujian, in particular his Chinese–English Dictionary of the Vernacular or Spoken Language of Amoy.

Carstairs Douglas
Missionary and Linguist
Born27 December 1830
Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died26 July 1877(1877-07-26) (aged 46)
Xiamen, Fujian, China (Qing dynasty)
NationalityScottish
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
University of Edinburgh
TitleLL.D.
Parent(s)Rev. Robert Douglas
Janet Monteath

Early life

Castairs Douglas was born a son of the manse in Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire, Scotland,[1] the youngest or second-youngest of seven children.[2][3] His father Rev Robert Douglas, was the parish minister, and his elder brother Robert[4] was also closely involved in the church. His brother George also joined the church and served as Moderator of the General Assembly to the Free Church of Scotland 1894/95/[5]

Douglas studied at the University of Glasgow from 1845 until 1851, gaining an MA degree, and was later awarded the LL.D. by his alma mater in recognition of his scholarly achievements. Going on to study Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, Douglas professed a keen interest in missionary work. He was ordained in February 1855 and set sail for China a month later.[6]

Mission to Amoy (Xiamen)

As one of the treaty ports opened to Westerners in 1842, Xiamen (then known in the West as Amoy) was one of the few places in China where missionaries could go about their work relatively unmolested. During his tenure Douglas was responsible for increasing the single church in Xiamen to a congregation of twenty-five churches, composed mostly of Chinese members.[1] Contemporaries of Douglas were heavily involved in producing material concerned with the local language, including Elihu Doty who wrote the Anglo-Chinese Manual with Romanized Colloquial in the Amoy Dialect and John Van Nest Talmage, author of the Ê-Mn̂g Im ê Jī-tián (Dictionary of the Amoy Speech).[7] While stationed in Xiamen, Douglas, alongside fellow Scottish medical missionary H. L. Mackenzie, visited Formosa (modern-day Taiwan) and was influential in the decision by the English Presbyterian Mission to send missionaries to the island.[1][8] In his last significant position Douglas was elected joint Chairman of the Shanghai Missionary Conference of 1877, a gathering of 150 or so missionaries employed in the China field.[9]

Published works

Amoy–English Dictionary

During twenty-two years as a Presbyterian missionary in Xiamen Douglas amassed a wealth of information on the Southern Min language spoken in the area, eventually compiling his Chinese–English Dictionary of the Vernacular or Spoken Language of Amoy (1873), which was the first comprehensive Southern Min–English dictionary and indeed the first dictionary of "living" Southern Min in any language;[10] it remains an important work in the understanding of the language.[11] The dictionary used an early version of the Peh-oe-ji romanisation to represent the sounds of Southern Min, with pronunciations from both the Zhangzhou and Quanzhou dialects of Southern Min, along with literary readings for many of the entries.[12]

Douglas felt that in regards to his work...

...[t]he most serious defect is the want of the Chinese character. ... I cherish the hope of publishing a Key or Sequel in two or three years, giving the characters so far as they can be found.[13]

Douglas' hope was ended by his early death, although fifty years after the initial publication of his dictionary just such an appendix was added, by the Reverend Thomas Barclay, a missionary stationed in Tainan, Qing-era Taiwan who had himself much benefited from the volume.[14]

Death and memorial

Douglas died of cholera[15] on 26 July 1877 at the age of 46 in his adopted home of Xiamen and was buried on Gulangyu. He is memorialised in a stained-glass window in St. Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy which was dedicated by his brother Robert Douglas, an elder of the kirk.[16]

Family

Douglas's nephew (son of his brother Robert) was the eminent hygienist Prof Carstairs Cumming Douglas, named in his memory.

References

  1. ^ a b c Anderson, Gerald H. (1998). Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. ISBN 9780028646046.
  2. ^ Scott 1920.
  3. ^ "RootsWeb". Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  4. ^ "Carstairs Cumming Douglas". glasgowwestaddress.co.uk.
  5. ^ Ewing, William Annals of the Free Church
  6. ^ "Carstairs Douglas: The Amoy Mission (1840–1951)". Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  7. ^ Cheung, David (2004). Christianity in Modern China. Brill. p. 18. ISBN 978-90-04-13143-9.
  8. ^ A. Hamish Ion (21 September 2009). The Cross and the Rising Sun: The British Protestant Missionary Movement in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, 1865–1945. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-88920-761-5
  9. ^ Giderot, N.J. (2002). The Victorian Translation of China. University of California Press. p. 215. ISBN 978-0-520-21552-8.
  10. ^ Ang Ui-jin (1985). 臺灣河佬語聲調研究 (in Chinese). Taipei: 自立. p. 197. ISBN 957-596-035-1.
  11. ^ . Archived from the original on 24 February 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  12. ^ Douglas 1873
  13. ^ Douglas 1873, p. viii
  14. ^ Barclay, Thomas (1923). Supplement to Dictionary of the vernacular or spoken language of Amoy. Shanghai: The Commercial press, limited. hdl:2027/mdp.39015051950106.
  15. ^ "The Sunday Magazine for Family Reading". 1878. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ^ . Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2008.

Bibliography

  • Douglas, Carstairs (1869). A Reply to the charges brought against Protestant Missions in China ... With a preface [by D. Matheson]. London.
  • Band, Edward (1948). Working his purpose out : the history of the English Presbyterian Mission, 1847-1947. Presbyterian Church of England. OCLC 7700717.
  • Douglas, Carstairs (1873). Chinese–English dictionary of the vernacular or spoken language of Amoy (1st ed.). London: Trübner. hdl:2027/mdp.39015083430507. OCLC 4820970.
  • Douglas, Carstairs (1899) [1873]. Chinese-English dictionary of the vernacular or spoken language of Amoy (2nd ed.). London: Presbyterian Church of England. OCLC 5516636. OL 25126855M.
  • Douglas, Carstairs; Barclay, Thomas (1990) [1923]. Chinese–English Dictionary of the Vernacular or Spoken Language of Amoy. Taipei: SMC Publishing. ISBN 9579482322. OCLC 670105622.
  • Douglas, John M. (1878). Memorials of Rev. Carstairs Douglas. Amoy Mission to China. LCCN 21006465. OCLC 40746248. OL 24150785M.
  • Scott, Hew (1920). Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation. Vol. 3. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. pp. 150-151.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links

  • Works by or about Carstairs Douglas at Internet Archive
  • Carstairs Douglas Online Memorial

March 09, 2023
carstairs, douglas, chinese, 杜嘉德, born, december, 1830, kilbarchan, renfrewshire, died, july, 1877, xiamen, china, scottish, missionary, remembered, chiefly, writings, concerning, southern, language, fujian, particular, chinese, english, dictionary, vernacular. Carstairs Douglas Chinese 杜嘉德 Pe h ōe ji Tō Ka tek born 27 December 1830 in Kilbarchan Renfrewshire died 26 July 1877 in Xiamen China was a Scottish missionary remembered chiefly for his writings concerning the Southern Min language of Fujian in particular his Chinese English Dictionary of the Vernacular or Spoken Language of Amoy Carstairs DouglasMissionary and LinguistBorn27 December 1830Kilbarchan Renfrewshire ScotlandDied26 July 1877 1877 07 26 aged 46 Xiamen Fujian China Qing dynasty NationalityScottishAlma materUniversity of GlasgowUniversity of EdinburghTitleLL D Parent s Rev Robert DouglasJanet Monteath Contents 1 Early life 2 Mission to Amoy Xiamen 3 Published works 3 1 Amoy English Dictionary 4 Death and memorial 5 Family 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksEarly life EditCastairs Douglas was born a son of the manse in Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire Scotland 1 the youngest or second youngest of seven children 2 3 His father Rev Robert Douglas was the parish minister and his elder brother Robert 4 was also closely involved in the church His brother George also joined the church and served as Moderator of the General Assembly to the Free Church of Scotland 1894 95 5 Douglas studied at the University of Glasgow from 1845 until 1851 gaining an MA degree and was later awarded the LL D by his alma mater in recognition of his scholarly achievements Going on to study Divinity at the University of Edinburgh Douglas professed a keen interest in missionary work He was ordained in February 1855 and set sail for China a month later 6 Mission to Amoy Xiamen EditAs one of the treaty ports opened to Westerners in 1842 Xiamen then known in the West as Amoy was one of the few places in China where missionaries could go about their work relatively unmolested During his tenure Douglas was responsible for increasing the single church in Xiamen to a congregation of twenty five churches composed mostly of Chinese members 1 Contemporaries of Douglas were heavily involved in producing material concerned with the local language including Elihu Doty who wrote the Anglo Chinese Manual with Romanized Colloquial in the Amoy Dialect and John Van Nest Talmage author of the E Mn g Im e Ji tian Dictionary of the Amoy Speech 7 While stationed in Xiamen Douglas alongside fellow Scottish medical missionary H L Mackenzie visited Formosa modern day Taiwan and was influential in the decision by the English Presbyterian Mission to send missionaries to the island 1 8 In his last significant position Douglas was elected joint Chairman of the Shanghai Missionary Conference of 1877 a gathering of 150 or so missionaries employed in the China field 9 Published works EditAmoy English Dictionary Edit During twenty two years as a Presbyterian missionary in Xiamen Douglas amassed a wealth of information on the Southern Min language spoken in the area eventually compiling his Chinese English Dictionary of the Vernacular or Spoken Language of Amoy 1873 which was the first comprehensive Southern Min English dictionary and indeed the first dictionary of living Southern Min in any language 10 it remains an important work in the understanding of the language 11 The dictionary used an early version of the Peh oe ji romanisation to represent the sounds of Southern Min with pronunciations from both the Zhangzhou and Quanzhou dialects of Southern Min along with literary readings for many of the entries 12 Douglas felt that in regards to his work t he most serious defect is the want of the Chinese character I cherish the hope of publishing a Key or Sequel in two or three years giving the characters so far as they can be found 13 Douglas hope was ended by his early death although fifty years after the initial publication of his dictionary just such an appendix was added by the Reverend Thomas Barclay a missionary stationed in Tainan Qing era Taiwan who had himself much benefited from the volume 14 Death and memorial EditDouglas died of cholera 15 on 26 July 1877 at the age of 46 in his adopted home of Xiamen and was buried on Gulangyu He is memorialised in a stained glass window in St Bryce Kirk Kirkcaldy which was dedicated by his brother Robert Douglas an elder of the kirk 16 Family EditDouglas s nephew son of his brother Robert was the eminent hygienist Prof Carstairs Cumming Douglas named in his memory References Edit a b c Anderson Gerald H 1998 Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions Wm B Eerdmans Publishing Co ISBN 9780028646046 Scott 1920 RootsWeb Retrieved 1 July 2008 Carstairs Cumming Douglas glasgowwestaddress co uk Ewing William Annals of the Free Church Carstairs Douglas The Amoy Mission 1840 1951 Retrieved 1 July 2008 Cheung David 2004 Christianity in Modern China Brill p 18 ISBN 978 90 04 13143 9 A Hamish Ion 21 September 2009 The Cross and the Rising Sun The British Protestant Missionary Movement in Japan Korea and Taiwan 1865 1945 Wilfrid Laurier Univ Press p 19 ISBN 978 0 88920 761 5 Giderot N J 2002 The Victorian Translation of China University of California Press p 215 ISBN 978 0 520 21552 8 Ang Ui jin 1985 臺灣河佬語聲調研究 in Chinese Taipei 自立 p 197 ISBN 957 596 035 1 Taipei Language Institute Dictionary Page Archived from the original on 24 February 2007 Retrieved 1 July 2008 Douglas 1873 Douglas 1873 p viii Barclay Thomas 1923 Supplement to Dictionary of the vernacular or spoken language of Amoy Shanghai The Commercial press limited hdl 2027 mdp 39015051950106 The Sunday Magazine for Family Reading 1878 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help St Bryce Kirk Kirkcaldy Archived from the original on 8 October 2007 Retrieved 27 June 2008 Bibliography EditDouglas Carstairs 1869 A Reply to the charges brought against Protestant Missions in China With a preface by D Matheson London Band Edward 1948 Working his purpose out the history of the English Presbyterian Mission 1847 1947 Presbyterian Church of England OCLC 7700717 Douglas Carstairs 1873 Chinese English dictionary of the vernacular or spoken language of Amoy 1st ed London Trubner hdl 2027 mdp 39015083430507 OCLC 4820970 Douglas Carstairs 1899 1873 Chinese English dictionary of the vernacular or spoken language of Amoy 2nd ed London Presbyterian Church of England OCLC 5516636 OL 25126855M Douglas Carstairs Barclay Thomas 1990 1923 Chinese English Dictionary of the Vernacular or Spoken Language of Amoy Taipei SMC Publishing ISBN 9579482322 OCLC 670105622 Douglas John M 1878 Memorials of Rev Carstairs Douglas Amoy Mission to China LCCN 21006465 OCLC 40746248 OL 24150785M Scott Hew 1920 Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation Vol 3 Edinburgh Oliver and Boyd pp 150 151 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain External links EditWorks by or about Carstairs Douglas at Internet Archive Preface to his dictionary Carstairs Douglas Online Memorial Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carstairs Douglas amp oldid 1066088438, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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