关键词: 《圣经》, 南京官话译本, 太平天国, 百万新约计划, 语体文

Abstract: In the vernacular writing in the late Qing dynasty, the Mandarin versions of the Bible, which was presided over by the Protestant missionaries, have important significance: the use of the Mandarin versions in their actual missionary work can not only reflect their understanding of the “vernacular” during this period, but also show the actual breadth of use, cultural reputation, and social status of the vernacular in the 19^th century. This paper, whose main research object is the first Mandarin version of the New Testament in the late Qing dynasty, is based on the original archives of the British and Foreign Bible Society. It describes the origins of the Nanking Mandarin version, then explores the relationship among Mandarin, classical Chinese, and dialects at that time. Furthermore, the process of “Mandarin” being gradually recognized as “the common language” in the history of the Bible's translation into Chinese in the 19^th century can help us to have a full and more comprehensive understanding of the language reform in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China.

Key words: the Bible, Nanking Mandarin version, Taiping Rebellion, the Million Testament, colloquial language