Mark Chuanhang Shan

Mark Chuanhang Shan (单传航), originally from Xinjiang, China, a resident in the USA, has authored several books on Central Asia-Xinjiang studies and Chinese Christianity. Five of his research articles were previously published in the Africanus Journal, including “The Kingdom of God in Yurts: Christianity among Mongols in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries” (3: 2 [Nov. 2011]:29-41), “Critical Analysis of the Chinese Translation of Logos in the Gospel of John” (4: 2 [Nov. 2012]: 8-20), “The Scythians of Colossians 3:11: Their Origin and Their Legacy in Xinjiang, China Today” (5: 2 [Nov. 2013]:18-36) , “Silk Road Christianity in Tarim and Turpan Basin Prior to AD 640 When Tang China Took Over Kocho Kingdom”(13: 2 [Nov. 2021]: 26-45), and “A Brief Introduction to the History of Christianity among the Ancient Uyghurs” (16: 1 [Apr. 2024]: 25-32).

He has also published works in Chinese only, such as The Development and Mutation of Ancient Uyghur Manichaeism—And an analysis of why academe mistakenly thought the Kocho Uyghurs were Buddhists (Boston: Chinese Christian Academic Association, 2019), History of Christianity in Xinjiang, China—With a Brief History of Xinjiang (Boston: Chinese Christian Academic Association, 2009). In his earlier years, using the pen name Hsiao-guang, he also published The Future Direction of the Church in China (Beijing: A House Church Network, 2007), and Breaking Through the Darkness in Spiritual World (Taiwan: China Ministry International, 1999, 6th printing in 2000).

Mark Shan has a PhD degree in Theology with Missiology from North-West University (2025), an MA degree in Religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2006), and an STM degree in philosophy, theology and ethics (2007) from Boston University. He runs the Boston Chinese Academic Institute and its YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@beaBoston), where the channel supports Christian faith in the form of academics to a growing Chinese audience.