Canaan Hymns

Canaan Hymns
Released	Continuous since 1990
No. of Hymns	1,810 as of July 2017[update]

Canaan Hymns or Songs of Canaan (Chinese: 迦南诗选; pinyin: Jiānán Shīxuǎn^[1][2]) is a collection of Chinese hymns composed by Lü Xiaomin, beginning in 1990.^[3][4] Lü Xiaomin is a daughter of peasants of the Hui minority born in 1970,^[5] who converted to Christianity.^[3] Lü's theological background is in Pentecostalism and the local churches movement, and the hymns reflect themes of Christology, pneumatology and eschatology against the backdrop of Chinese political realities.

Canaan hymns are one of the most successful underground Christian publication in China. They are used by many Protestant churches in the country. Both Chinese house churches and churches of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement use them, despite the latter having criticized the hymns through its official channels. The Chinese government has targeted censorship efforts on the distributors of the hymnal. Overseas Chinese communities and Taiwanese churches use the hymnal, too.

Even people with little education can learn the hymns, which are short and musically simple, usually rhymed, and resemble Chinese folk songs. This has contributed to their popularity. The hymns can also be sung without instruments. Their Chinese elements and Confucian undertones make them more acceptable than foreign hymnals to Chinese worshipers. There is a strong emphasis on the communal aspects of the Christian church. Some hymns are patriotic.

As of July 2017^[update], there are 1,810 Canaan hymns.^[6]