How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language

This is a book I’ve had on my shelf since, goodness, college perhaps? I had always put off reading it in hopes that I’d one day understand the Chinese language better, but my hesitation was unfounded. One need not be familiar with Chinese to understand or appreciate this book, though even a lower-intermediate knowledge of the language (as I have) is sufficient to catch some of the deeper nuances—and some of the more outrageous claims.

I don’t mean to suggest that this book is anything but solidly eye-opening, but I do need to acknowledge from the outset that some of its claims are a bit far-fetched. I’ll only name a few examples in this review, because I wouldn’t want to dissuade anyone from reading it. Instead, I hope to whet your appetite. It’s a worthy read, and it may open a few doors for you to share the Gospel with your Chinese friends via a China-Genesis connection they never knew existed.

The Gist

In this book, the co-authors dissect a number of Chinese characters to show that within the smaller, pictorial elements (known as radicals) of some characters is a story that mirrors the details of events found in Genesis 1-11. They dissect mostly Traditional characters, it seems, with some ancient and some Simplified examples thrown in as well.

A number of the examples they give are so obviously tied to Genesis that one would have to be blind or willfully ignorant to ignore the connection. Similarly, as just mentioned, they include a bunch of other examples that require a great stretch of the imagination.

I’ll start with the positive:

船

The above word chuán means “boat” and is made up of three radicals: vessel + 8 + mouth/person. The link between this character and the story of the Ark in Genesis 6 cannot be ignored. (95)

造

The above word zào means “make; build; create” and is made up of for radicals: dust + motion + mouth/person + walking. Once again, the story of the creation of Man from the dust of the ground from Genesis 1 is so obvious that it would require willful ignorance to miss. (41)

靈

This old character líng means “spirit,” generally referring to all kinds of spirits and the spiritual realm. But it’s radicals can mean: Heaven + water + three mouths/persons + magic. While this one is more of a stretch, it’s does harken back to the image described in Genesis 1:2 of the Spirit of God moving across the waters of the deep. (37)

婪

This archaic word lán means ”to covet” or “greedily desire” and is clearly made up of the radical meaning: forest (or 2 trees) + woman. That seems to be a direct reference to Eve’s temptation in Genesis 3. (57)

楚

Likewise this character chǔ can mean “sorrow” or “pain” and is made up of similar radicals: trees + piece. It’s as if taking a piece of the trees brought sorrow and pain, as we see also in Genesis 3! (70)

義

One of the more famous examples is the Traditional form of yì which means righteousness and is made up of two radicals: sheep + me. Literally, the sheep over me, as if an animal sacrifice could cover me and make me righteous. This couldn’t refer to Jesus of it predates Him, but it fits well with the Old Testament sacrifices that began with the very first sin. (83)

As for some of the more ridiculous claims:

安

The authors claim that ān, which means “peace,” refers to Adam finally finding joy because he has a wife in his home, since the radicals literally mean: roof + woman. That’s a stretch, because I think any man is happy when he brings his woman home! Why must this refer to Adam? (48)

二

The character èr means “two” and the authors get some real mileage out of this, claiming more often than necessary that whenever “two people” are seen as radicals, it’s a secret reference either to Adam and Eve or Cain and Abel.

八

The character bā meaning “eight” is used in much the same way. The authors stretch logic a bit whenever “eight mouths” or “eight people” are seen as radicals in characters, it must be a refrence to Naoh’a ark.

The Book’s Benefits

As a not-very-faithful student of Chinese, I’ve always found it difficult to understand how anyone could ever read Chinese handwriting—or especially Chinese cursive! But the authors deal with the issue in a very straightforward way, differentiating five possible ways to write Chinese: Seal, Square, Grass, Printer’s, and Cursive (32). Thus, the secret to learning to read handwriting is to know that not all handwritings are different! They might all appear like chicken scratch at first (to the untrained eye), but—unlike with the thousands of possible ways to write our 26 letters in English based solely upon personality and upbringing—individualism in Chinese writing is rare.

Chinese characters have a strict way in which they must be written, called “stroke order.” This order is hammered into school children, and uniformity is expected. Clarity is also expected when it comes to handwriting, and even when someone writes with great speed, the stroke order determines the writer’s motions, which then informs the reader. “Bad handwriting” is a pretty huge no-no, from what I’ve witnessed. Only after years of training is someone allowed to break the mold and express himself artistically through calligraphy—be even then, stroke order matters, and even the wildest squiggles can be understand by pretty much anyone familiar with the language. It’s really quite wild.

Beyond this benefit (which I took as most profound), the book is also an education in the main, foundational doctrines of the early chapters of Genesis. Without the existence of a Creator, a deceiver, sin, and rebellion, we have no real need for the Gospel. The Good News of Jesus’ salvation requires the bad news of needing it! Thus, the stories hidden within these character (whether obvious or not) can be excellent conversation starters, especially for those Chinese intellectuals who love discussing such things.

If you have an unbeliever like this in your life, perhaps consider working through the 10 Chapters of this book together in a fun, small-group-style setting. Leave the discussion open for debate, and allow the seeds of Scripture to be planted.  Your job isn’t to save anyone, but if you can plant the Gospel or water it, you can trust God to give the increase!

Conclusion

I truly enjoyed this book and think it could serve as a great tool in your relationships with Chinese folks. Heck, it could even make a great gift (so check out those links by the picture above). They can’t replace the Bible, but the stories hidden in many of these Chinese characters can have power to give an unbeliever pause. When wonder and doubt enter the minds of intellectuals and atheists, look out! That’s a wonderful opening for the Holy Spirit to do His work!

©2025 E.T.