Keuh Agong
Encyclopedia
Keuh Agong or Kew Ah Gung, Kew A-Gang, Wat Ngong, Wat Angong or simply Agong (1785 – 1867) was a Chinese Protestant Christian
evangelist
and author from Guangzhou
, Guangdong
Province .
from the beginning of the Society’s work in China. Traveling to Malacca
in 1815 to operate the printing press, there, he was influenced by William Milne to become a Christian, however, it was his fellow-countryman Liang Fa
who finally convinced him to follow Christ.
Agong was baptized by Robert Morrison (the first Protestant missionary to China) at Macau
about 1830. After his baptism, he was opposed by his wife, who was devoted to idols. The same year he itinerated about 250 miles across China, accompanied by Liang Fa, teaching and distributing Christian tracts, which they had written and printed themselves. Heading southwest, they followed the route of one of the public examiners
, and passing on from one district to another, they had free access to the young literati, among whom they distributed upwards of 7000 tracts
on Christian subjects.
In 1831 Agong was commissioned as a “Native Assistant” by the London Missionary Society. He was taught in the art of lithography
by John Robert Morrison
, and printed tracts in Macau, distributing them among his family and acquaintances. He was opposed and held in contempt by many fellow Chinese, but he remained determined to persevere in missionary efforts, to the great joy of the elder Morrison.
A warrant was issued in 1835 for his arrest after it was made known to the authorities that he was associating with foreigners. But, since he had advance warning, he fled to the English ships at Lintin Island, and was able to return to Malacca
in 1836. Meanwhile, his son, Ahe, was arrested outside Robert Morrison’s house and detained for some time.
James Legge
brought Agong with him to Hong Kong
when the Anglo-Chinese College
was moved there. Agong began work at the Medical Missionary Society
’s House, where he preached and instructed the patients. As of 1867, he remained at this location, continuing to work to bring the Gospel
message to China.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and author from Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
Province .
Career
Agong was a printer for the London Missionary SocietyLondon Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
from the beginning of the Society’s work in China. Traveling to Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
in 1815 to operate the printing press, there, he was influenced by William Milne to become a Christian, however, it was his fellow-countryman Liang Fa
Liang Fa
Liang Fa was the first Chinese Protestant minister and evangelist. He was ordained by Robert Morrison, the first Protestant missionary to China....
who finally convinced him to follow Christ.
Agong was baptized by Robert Morrison (the first Protestant missionary to China) at Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
about 1830. After his baptism, he was opposed by his wife, who was devoted to idols. The same year he itinerated about 250 miles across China, accompanied by Liang Fa, teaching and distributing Christian tracts, which they had written and printed themselves. Heading southwest, they followed the route of one of the public examiners
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
, and passing on from one district to another, they had free access to the young literati, among whom they distributed upwards of 7000 tracts
Tract (literature)
A tract is a literary work, and in current usage, usually religious in nature. The notion of what constitutes a tract has changed over time. By the early part of the 21st century, these meant small pamphlets used for religious and political purposes, though far more often the former. They are...
on Christian subjects.
In 1831 Agong was commissioned as a “Native Assistant” by the London Missionary Society. He was taught in the art of lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
by John Robert Morrison
John Robert Morrison
John Robert Morrison was the second son from Robert Morrison's first marriage with Mary Morton. He was a translator, diplomat and missionary in China and the Far East, most closely associated with Canton City and Hong Kong...
, and printed tracts in Macau, distributing them among his family and acquaintances. He was opposed and held in contempt by many fellow Chinese, but he remained determined to persevere in missionary efforts, to the great joy of the elder Morrison.
A warrant was issued in 1835 for his arrest after it was made known to the authorities that he was associating with foreigners. But, since he had advance warning, he fled to the English ships at Lintin Island, and was able to return to Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
in 1836. Meanwhile, his son, Ahe, was arrested outside Robert Morrison’s house and detained for some time.
James Legge
James Legge
James Legge was a noted Scottish sinologist, a Scottish Congregationalist, representative of the London Missionary Society in Malacca and Hong Kong , and first professor of Chinese at Oxford University...
brought Agong with him to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
when the Anglo-Chinese College
Anglo-Chinese College
Anglo-Chinese College may refer to:* Ying Wa College, Hong Kong * Anglo-Chinese College , Fuzhou, China...
was moved there. Agong began work at the Medical Missionary Society
Medical Missionary Society of China
The Medical Missionary Society in China was a Protestant medical missionary society established in Canton, China, in 1838. The first work of the society was to support the ophthalmic hospital in Canton run by Dr. Peter Parker, a medical missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign...
’s House, where he preached and instructed the patients. As of 1867, he remained at this location, continuing to work to bring the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
message to China.
Author of “Picture Tracts”
- A Collection of Scriptures on the Being and Perfections of the great Creator, in opposition to Idols (1833)
- The Beatitudes (1833)
- Paul’s Speech on Mars Hill (1833)