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'''The Code of the Spirit''' (Simplified: 密码教; Traditional: 密碼教; Hanyu pinyin: mìmǎjiào; literally "religion code") is a term for a [[China|Chinese]] religious movement from the 1970s and 1980s. It was an effort to spread [[Christianity]] using familiar elements.
'''The Code of the Spirit''' (Simplified: 密码教; Traditional: 密碼教; Hanyu pinyin: mìmǎjiào; literally "religion code") is a term for a [[China|Chinese]] religious movement from the 1970s and 1980s. It was an effort to spread [[Christianity]] using familiar elements.
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==Origin==
It is not known when the Code of the Spirit was invented; however, the term was first used in the late 70s. It was used by groups of native Chinese who converted to Christianity in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. There is no official version of the Code, as it is more a way of teaching.
It is not known when the Code of the Spirit was invented; however, the term was first used in the late 70s. It was used by groups of native Chinese who converted to Christianity in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. There is no official version of the Code, as it is more a way of teaching.
The concept of ''mimajiao'' was teaching Christianity by attaching people and events from the [[Bible]] to people and events from Chinese stories. Usually, this was done with literature - [[Water Margin]] and [[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]] were commonly used. Sometimes, works of philosophy were used instead. Parables would be compared to parts of the [[Analects]] or the [[Dao De Jing]]. This had two purposes: It allowed the teachers to keep their lessons secret, and it made the material easier for the students to understand. It was similar in some ways to [[santeria]], except that there was no mixing of the religions.
The concept of ''mimajiao'' was teaching Christianity by attaching people and events from the [[Bible]] to people and events from Chinese stories. Usually, this was done with literature - [[Water Margin]] and [[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]] were commonly used. Sometimes, works of philosophy were used instead. Parables would be compared to parts of the [[Analects]] or the [[Dao De Jing]]. This had two purposes: It allowed the teachers to keep their lessons secret, and it made the material easier for the students to understand. It was similar in some ways to [[santeria]], except that there was no mixing of the religions.
==Lessons==
''Mimajiao'' lessons were usually held in small family-owned restaurants or shops. The teachers advertised them as historical lessons in newspapers and fliers. The first few lessons were readings and discussion with no religious content. In later lessons, the teacher started by connecting one or two characters in the story to Christian figures. He then told a variant on the story, combining the original story and the religious lesson.
''Mimajiao'' lessons were usually held in small family-owned restaurants or shops. The teachers advertised them as historical lessons in newspapers and fliers. The first few lessons were readings and discussion with no religious content. In later lessons, the teacher started by connecting one or two characters in the story to Christian figures. He then told a variant on the story, combining the original story and the religious lesson.
==History==
The Code of the Spirit was most widespread in the 1980s. Because there was no central organization, exact numbers are not known. However, there was at least one chapter in every provincial city.
The Code of the Spirit was most widespread in the 1980s. Because there was no central organization, exact numbers are not known. However, there was at least one chapter in every provincial city.