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China

Blind Chang

Those who know the Christian story in China know that Christians were put to death in China at the beginning of this century. Robert Backhouse (Christian Martyrs 1996) tells us (p. 244) that thirty thousand Chinese Christians were killed by the Boxers; he goes on to say, "in 1900, one-hundred and thirty five missionaries and fifty three missionary children were killed in China". This did not eliminate Christian witness in that land and Christian witnesses in China have grown throughout the century despite persecution under the Communists who remain in control as the end of the century approaches.

Robert Backhouse includes a Boxer Placard from April 1900 and I include it to show the occult involvement of the Boxers and the various reasons they alleged for proceeding against the Christians.

A Boxer Placard (translation of a placard posted in West City Peking)

In a certain street in Peking some worshippers of the I-ho ch’uan (Boxers) at midnight suddenly saw a spirit descend in their midst. The spirit was silent for a long time, and the entire congregation fell upon their knees and prayed. Then a terrible voice was heard saying:

I am none other than the Great Yu Ti (God of the unseen world) come down in person. Well knowing that ye are all of devout mind, I have just now descended to make known to you that these are times of trouble in the world, and that it is impossible to set aside the decrees of fate. Disturbances are to be dreaded from the foreign devils; everywhere they are starting Missions, erecting telegraphs, and building railway. They do not believe in the sacred doctrine, and they speak evil of the gods. Their sins are numberless as the hairs of the head.

So soon as the practice of the I-ho ch’uan has been brought to perfection then shall the devils meet their doom. The will of heaven is that the telegraph wires be first cut, then the railways torn up, and then shall the foreign devils be decapitated. In that day shall the hour of their calamities come. The time for rain to fall is yet afar off, and all on account of the devils.

I hereby make known these commands to all your righteous folk, that ye may strive with one accord to exterminate all foreign devils, and so turn aside the wrath of heaven, This shall be accounted unto you for well doing; and on the day when it is done the wind and rain shall be according to your desire.

Therefore I expressly command you make this known in every place. This I saw with my own eyes, and therefore I make bold to take my pen and write what happened. They who believe it shall have merit; they who do not believe it shall have guilt. The wrath of the spirit was because of the destruction of the Temple of Yu Ti. He sees that the men of the I-ho ch’uan are devout worshippers, and pray to him

If my tidings are false, may I be destroyed by the five thunderbolts. 4^th moon, 1^st day (29^th April 1900).

From M Broomhall, Martyred Missionaries of China Inland Mission (China Inland Mission, 1901), pp. 304-5 as quoted in Christians Martyrs Compiled by Robert Backhouse.