Chinese Union Version (Traditional)

The Chinese Union Version (和合本, Héhéběn), in its traditional character edition, is arguably the most influential biblical translation in the history of Chinese Christianity. Published in its complete form in 1919, after nearly three decades of collaborative work that began in 1890, it was the result of an interdenominational effort involving Protestant missionaries from various denominations and Chinese scholars, with the aim of producing a single translation that could be adopted by the entire Chinese-speaking Protestant community.

Methodologically, the Chinese Union Version was translated from the original Hebrew and Greek texts, with reference to authorized English versions such as the English Revised Version. The translators faced the monumental challenge of creating a translation in vernacular Chinese (baihua) at a time when this form of the language was still in the process of literary standardization, in contrast to traditional Classical Chinese (wenyan). The choice of baihua was visionary and contributed significantly to the development of modern Chinese prose.

The historical context of the publication coincides with the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth Movement of 1919, periods of profound cultural and linguistic transformation in China. The CUV not only served as the standard Bible for Chinese Protestants for over a century, but also exerted broader cultural influence, contributing to the formation of modern written Chinese. Its dignified language, rhythm, and expressions became both religious and literary references for generations of Chinese readers.

The Chinese Union Version in traditional characters is in the public domain in many jurisdictions due to its age, allowing for its widespread reproduction and distribution. This version remains the standard translation among Chinese-speaking Christian communities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and the diaspora, keeping alive a centuries-old tradition of biblical reading and study.