Gravestone rubbing of Rev. Robert Morrison , 1843-10-08
Scope and Contents
This is a rubbing in Chinese writing on the west end of Robert Morrison’s grave. According to the inscription, the stele was created in commemoration of Rev. Morrison’s work on the compilation of the first Chinese-English, English-Chinese dictionary, A Dictionary of the Chinese Language, in Three Parts, as well as other publications to help the westerners in learning Chinese. Some basic information about Rev. Morrison’s life, such as his date of birth and death, is also included.
- Types of documents
- Monumental inscription
Dates
- 1843-10-08
Biography
- Full name
- Morrison, Robert
- Birth date
- January 5, 1782
Rev. Robert Morrison was a forerunner of the missionary work in China. Employed by the East India Company gave him the legitimacy of remaining in Macau and Canton. He focused mainly on translation and published a translated collection of Chinese literature and a grammar book of the Chinese language to assist other westerners, especially missionaries who wanted to learn Chinese. With the assistance of Rev. William Milne, he completed the translation of the whole Bible into Chinese.
Life and major works
- 1782
- Born in Morpeth, England
- 1803
- Went to London to study at Hoxton Academy
- 1804
- London Missionary Society appointed him as missionary
- 1807
- Sailed for China, going via the United States, arriving in Canton
- 1809
- East India Company employed him as a translator
- Married Mary Morton
- 1815-1821
- Published the Chinese periodical, Chinese Monthly Magazine with Rev. William Milne
- 1815-1822
- Published A Dictionary of the Chinese Language, in Three Parts. 6 volumes. Macao: East India Company’s Press
- 1817-1822
- Published the English periodical, Indo-Chinese Gleaner with Rev. William Milne
- 1818
- Established the Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca, later called Ying Wa College and moved to Hong Kong
- 1820
- His wife, Mary Morton, died in Macau
- 1825
- Married Elizabeth Armstrong
- 1834
- Died in Canton and was buried alongside his first wife, Mary, and infant son, James, at the Protestant cemetery in Macau
Extent
1 Items ; 10” x 23” on 13.5” x 31.5” mounting
Language of Materials
Chinese
Sources Used
- Starr, J. B. (1998). The Legacy of Robert Morrison. International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 22(2), 73–76. https://doi.org/10.1177/239693939802200208
- Ride, M., Mellor, B., & Project Muse, distributor. (1996). An East India Company cemetery Protestant burials in Macao (Book collections on Project MUSE). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
Repository Details
Part of the HKBU Special Collections Repository
Special Collections & Archives
AML 405, L4, Au Shue Hung Memorial Library,
Hong Kong Baptist University
34 Renfrew Road, Kowloon Tong
(852) 3411-5937
libarc@hkbu.edu.hk