Karl Friedrich August Gutzlaff

Place: Pyritz

Born: 1803

Death: 1851

Biography:

Karl Friedrich August Gützlaff, also known as Charles Gutzlaff, was a German Lutheran missionary to the Far East. Born in Pyritz, Germany in 1803 and died in Hong Kong in 1851, Gützlaff was one of the first Protestant missionaries in China, notable as one of the first Protestant missionaries in Bangkok, Thailand (1828) and in Korea (1832). He was also the first Lutheran missionary to China.

Early Life and Missionary Work

Gützlaff was apprenticed to a saddler in Stettin, but was able to secure admission to Pädagogium in Halle. The Netherlands Missionary Society sent him to Java in 1826, where he learned Chinese. Gutzlaff left the society in 1828 and went first to Singapore, then to Bangkok with Jacob Tomlin of the London Missionary Society, where he worked on a translation of the Bible into Thai.

Artistic Contributions

Gützlaff wrote widely read books and served as interpreter for British diplomatic missions during the First Opium War. He was one of the first Protestant missionaries in China to wear Chinese clothing. His Journal of Three Voyages along the Coast of China is a historical document that captures the essence of early 19th-century maritime exploration. Some notable artworks related to Gützlaff's missionary work can be found at Wikioo.org, including his Journal of Three Voyages along the Coast of China. Additionally, the National Maritime Museum of Korea and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art have collections related to Gützlaff's work.

Legacy

Gützlaff's legacy can be seen in his contributions to the field of missionary work and his efforts to introduce Christianity to China. He was elected as a member to the American Philosophical Society in 1839. His work has been recognized by various institutions, including the Wikioo.org and Wikipedia. Some of his notable achievements include:

• Being one of the first Protestant missionaries in China
• Translating the Bible into Chinese
• Writing widely read books on missionary work and Chinese culture
• Serving as interpreter for British diplomatic missions during the First Opium War

Gützlaff's contributions to the field of missionary work and his efforts to introduce Christianity to China have had a lasting impact. His legacy can be seen in the various institutions and artworks that continue to recognize his work, including Wikioo.org and Wikipedia.