Armenian-Chinese relations
by Nil V. Agopoff

From the second century there was already a business with Armenians living in China. (* 1) As opposed to after the Armenian historian Moses of Khoren is the prominent family who was home Mamikonian Chinese family and this gave the greatest generals of medieval Armenia and constables.

Armenian communities in China dates from the Mongol period inthe where thousands of Armenian prisoners had been transferred to Samarkand, but also in northern China. From there, Armenians went to the Sea of ​​Japan. Thus we know from a letter written from 1326 to Pope Clement by a Catholic religious Andreas Perugia. (* 2)

Before 1307, we had built in Canton a large beautiful Armenian church (* 3) and the Armenian chronicler of the Middle Ages, Hethum, recounts several stories about China. With the Mongol conquests common during the Middle Ages, the Armenian communities of losing out in China like the rest of country.

From the seventeenth century, a new period begins for the Armenians in China. In a letter sent to Rome at the time of Canton, it is mentioned that lived in the big city of China Southern Christian families, including three British, one Danish and thirty Armenian economy in which their role was important. (* 4)

The map of China appears naturally in the first world map printed in Armenian in 1695 Amsterdam

On the occasion of the commercial treaty between the Honourable East India Company of London and the Armenians of India who owned a merchant fleet, it is authorized in 1688 to Armenian Khoja Panos Kalandar to trade the same duties with China. (* 5)

The eminent Armenian historian of Venice, Santa Alichan, we reported that the Europeans were wearing the garb of Armenia in order to travel in China. (* 6) In the second half of the eighteenth century, the Armenian-Chinese relations became important point that “the country of China” was in the list of Armenian communities settled by the Catholicos Simeon Erévantsi and developed a book on China to be printed at Trieste. (* 7)

In the early nineteenth century, Armenians are mainly from India but also from Nor Jugha of Zankézour and Karabagh. They moved to Mukden, Harbin (Manchuria), Tchantchoun, Dairen, Shanghai. . Wealthy Armenian merchants of China sent significant funds to Armenia and Nakhichevan Nor (near Rostov) as Mnatsakan Ghassapian, Hovhannes Mathéossian and others. (*

In the early twentieth century, the most numerous of Armenians lived in Harbin, where they had their apostolic church and its own constitution. They owned the factories. In 1930, there was the Association “Arziv,” a local youth association and women. The Armenians had close relations with the Russian community of this Chinese metropolis. The doctor Stephan Moughdéssian had a great reputation in the capital of Manchukuo. (* 9) Thereafter the Armenian community has suffered greatly from Japanese occupation.

In 1937, the Armenian population of Shanghai were 200 people who later go up to 600 people. There was an “Armenian House” with a private bank and a youth association. The Armenian people had different origins: merchants, professionals, engineers, etc.. In southern China, in the great city of Guangzhou, some Armenians founded factories.

Finally, we should mention the Chinese translation of the Gospels which was undertaken by Hovhannes Ghazérian, born and educated in Canton, a professor of Chinese in the British community in Canton. The Gospel was printed in Chinese Serampoor and this translation can be considered one of the best. (* 10)

Source: Global Armenian Heritage (translated from French using google translate)