Studium Biblicum Version (Catholic) (YUHSBV)

Overview

The Studium Biblicum Version (思高聖經, Sīgāo Shèngjīng) is the predominant Chinese-language Catholic Bible, and the version recognized by the Catholic Church as the authoritative Chinese Catholic Scripture. [1] This edition presents the text for Cantonese (Yue Chinese) readers. The translation was the life work of Blessed Gabriele Allegra, O.F.M. (1907-1976), an Italian Franciscan friar who began translating the Bible into Chinese in 1935 and completed the work over the course of more than three decades. [2] The complete one-volume Bible was published on Christmas Day 1968 in Hong Kong. [1]

Translation History

Gabriele Allegra began the translation as a personal effort in 1935, working from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. [2] The project was interrupted by World War II, during which part of the finished manuscripts were lost. [1] In 1945, Allegra established the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum Sinense (思高聖經學會) in Beijing, gathering a team of Franciscan friars and Chinese collaborators to continue the work. [2] As civil war threatened China, the team relocated to Hong Kong in 1948, where they continued translating on the mountainside of Hong Kong Island. [3] The translation was completed in 1961 and published on Christmas Day 1968, coinciding with the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. [1]

The Chinese name "Sigao" (思高) is a transliteration of John Duns Scotus, the 13th-century Franciscan theologian whom Allegra admired. [1] The translators prioritized three criteria in order: faithfulness to the original texts, fluency, and elegant expression. [3] Allegra was beatified by the Catholic Church in 2012 in recognition of his lifelong dedication to making Scripture accessible in Chinese. [2]

Language and People

Yue Chinese (ISO 639-3: yue) is spoken by approximately 73,100,000 people in southern China, Hong Kong, Macau, and diaspora communities worldwide. [Glottolog: yuec1235]

The Studium Biblicum Version uses standard modern written Chinese, though some of its phrasing reflects Cantonese usage patterns that may appear less natural in Mandarin. [1] It remains the standard Bible for Chinese-speaking Catholics across all dialect groups.

References