Journal of East Asian Cultures

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026)
Articles

Chinese Christians in Hungary

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  • Szandra Ésik
Szandra Ésik
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
Bio
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38144/TKT.2026.2.4

Published 2026-07-02

Keywords

  • Christianity,
  • Chinese Christians,
  • Chinese migration,
  • Chinese immigrants in Hungary,
  • religious policy,
  • migration studies,
  • Chinese communities,
  • fieldwork
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Ésik, S. (2026). Chinese Christians in Hungary. Journal of East Asian Cultures, 18(2), 143–166. https://doi.org/10.38144/TKT.2026.2.4

Copyright (c) 2026 Szandra Ésik

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Abstract

This study examines the religious life of Christian Chinese immigrants living in Hungary—a topic that has so far received limited attention in migration research. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and fifteen semi-structured in-depth interviews, it analyzes church organization, community life, and individual experiences of faith. To better understand both the Hungarian context and individual cases, the study reflects on contemporary China’s religious policy and on factors that may hinder the spread of Christianity, demonstrating how political and historical legacies shape believers’ lives abroad. The findings reveal dynamic yet fragmented congregations influenced by pastoral changes, theological debates, and pragmatic decisions regarding membership. Through the analysis of personal testimonies, the study identifies certain patterns that both confirm and challenge the results of relevant research conducted in other countries, thereby contributing to the international discourse on Chinese Christian communities.

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