THE CHINESE JEWS
By, Oliver Bainbridge
THE
Chinese history affirms the city of Kaifengfu to have been the metropolis
of the province and the seat of the empire during a long succession
of monarchs, till it was at length overflowed and covered with sand
by a great inundation. It is situated in a large fertile plain, about
5 or 6 miles from the Yellow River, and its low situation occasioned
its ruin in 1642, when it was closely besieged by the rebel Li Chung,
at the head of 100,000 men. The general who was sent to relieve it
conceived the fatal design of drowning the besieging army by breaking
the great bank which had been reared at a vast cost to preserve the
country from being overflowed by the Great Yellow River. His project
succeeded, indeed, but proved the ruin and destruction, not only of
the noble capital but of three hundred thousand inhabitants, by the
violence and rapidity of the inundation.
Some fifty years after this dreadful catastrophe a Jesuit missionary,
going upon some occasion into the province of Honan, found a considerable
Synagogue in the city of Kaifengfu. He soon became acquainted with
some of its learned chiefs, who introduced him into their Synagogue
and showed him one of the Parchments or rolls of the Pentateuch written
in Hebrew, together with the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings,
some of the prophets, and others containing their liturgy and commentaries
they owned. They had lost some of the sacred books and some of their
targums or paraphrases. This loss was caused by a violent overflowing
of the great river, which had laid the capital wholly under the water
and had damaged their Torah, or roll of the Pentateuch, and upon which
they ordered twelve new copies to be taken from it. Today I find no
synagogue, owing to another overflowing of the Yellow River -- "China's
Sorrow" -- but in its place a dirty pond and a stone erected
on the site bearing the following strange inscription: "A monument
in memory of the Great Ching Ching Cenoby. Oh Wu Lo Hau, the creator
of this religion and grandson of the nineteenth generation of Punku,
the principal ruler of the Mythical Era, was born in 146th year of
the Chow dynasty (976 B.C.). He proved himself to be very wise, prudent,
and merciful. He understood the mysteries of creation and the ideas
of creation and could trace the troubled source of religion. The religious
elements were not to believe in any idolatrous representation and
not to flatter the ghost and fairy, and so many people were at liberty
to serve his religion as Cenobites in a manner that was as free as
running water. The successor of Oh Wu Lo Hau was called La, and was
born in the 613th year of the Chow dynasty. His conscience and benevolence
were noted by ever one as he traveled to the La-na Mountains for the
purpose of informing them regarding the Scripture. He restricted himself
to fruits and vegetables instead of meat and bathed and fasted for
forty days and nights. He attended to his duty with the utmost simplicity
and sometimes even forgot to eat or sleep, but never ceased to pray
with a sincere heart to his God, for he had obtained a book containing
many sections. In this book there were strange things that could not
be easily explained -- in short, it indicate that the good was affected
by those who became good, and the evil by those who did not bear in
mind the warning. The successor of La was called Lo Tze Loh, and received
from his predecessor the proper doctrine and explained the four words
-- "ching" (clear), "chew" (pure), "li"
(ceremonial), and "pai" to worship with a bow). The word
"ching" means to "direct your heart singly to one religion".
The word "chew" means "not to be confused by any other
secular ideas." The word "Ii" means "to stand
on ceremony." and the word "pai" "to worship with
a bow." With these instructions, the Cenobites were to teach
one another in the future.
During the beginning of the Sung Dynasty (96 A. D.)
there was a missionary surnamed "Li," who was accompanied
by a crowd of Cenobites, and arrived in China with a lot of western
cloth, which they presented to the Emperor of the Sung Dynasty and
became citizen of the country. Subsequently one of the grandsons of
these people, called "Mu Sy Ta Pan," was appointed to do
the preaching, and another, called "Jen Tu La," began to
build a cenoby. It was destroyed after that and had to be rebuilt
southeast of Tu Chai, in the 16th year of the Yuen dynasty (1280 A.
D.)
The Emperor Tai-Tsu, of the Ming dynasty (1368 A.
D.), gave the Cenobites descended from Li a piece of land for their
building, because he could well understand their Scriptures, which
persuaded the people to good instead of evil.
In the year of "Wung Lo" (1403 A.D.) the
Cenoby was rebuilt, and was long afterwards destroyed by, water, and
the ruined scene that exists now proves this little bit of narrative.
.
The vast community referred to in the inscription
has dwindled down to 8 families, numbering in all about fifty persons,
who have in a great measure forgotten their characteristic observances
through frequent vicissitudes and varied conditions of life.
I reached the main gate of the city of Kaifengfu
(the ancient capital of the Middle Kingdom) one night about ten thirty,
with not too favorable an impression of Chinese carts or the shaggy
little Chinese pony, which had a great habit of tearing off at every
opportunity. The soldiers belabored the massive gate most industriously
for about twenty minutes, when a small trap-door opened and the gate-keeper
hurled epithets at us that volcanic and picturesque. But his sattron-colored
palm had been covered with a few coins, his ruffled nature became
as smooth as a sheet of polished silver, and we entered the ancient
capital of the Middle Kingdom. For two miles we had to pick our way
through narrow, stinking, slushy streets, packed with men, boys, horses.
goats, sheep, dogs, cats. and donkeys, sleeping in all over the place,
while the changing of the night watchman's irons and the piercing
wail of ragged, starving. filthy beggars carried one for the moment
to the land of "tell thousand curses." What an unspeakable
joy to reach the residence of Mr. C. W. Shields, the district inspector
of China posts, who received me with the courtesy of a prince. We
had scarcely spoken a dozen words when the magistrate's secretary,
called for my card.
main gate of the city of Kaifengfu
Next morning, before I was out of bed, another dignitary
wanted to copy my passport, and informed me that it would be well
to call at the at the Foreign Office. This I did, and found the officials
polite and much interested in the object of my visit to their city,
particularly his Excellency Chang Shu Shen, with whom I paid a visit
to the imperial palace, one of the greatest curiosities in the whole
empire and situated in the very heart of the city---a prodigious group
of edifices, vast courts, gardens, kiosks, and palms, surrounded with
a stately wall of considerable compass. It contains all the spacious
and stately apartments of the Emperor and his family, and afforded
a safe retreat for the Dowager Empress during the occupation of Peking
by the foreign troops. The city gates, pagodas, arches, towers, castles.
banks, and other public buildings display a magnificence that must
have been truly grand prior to the sad havoc wrought by the flooding
of the Yellow River. A number of new, ricketylooking pieces of printed
yellow and vermilion rice paper, pasted on the doors of every house
and shop. I discovered were Prayers against the evil influences of
the foreign devil that had just arrived, and it was with considerable
difficulty that I managed to get through the tremendous crowds, gathered
in the streets to hear the foreign devil speak and curse him as he
passed.
During
the first three I located all temples and mosques likely to afford
me any data, and on the fourth morning visited the ruinous site, which
gave no, evidence of the magnificent synagogue that once stood there
or the wealth of its community, save for a weather-beaten commemorative
stone that told the strove of these people. While I was photographing
and rubbing this stone, thousands of Chinese gathered around, and
they came to the erroneous conclusion that I was a Jewish rabbi come
to succor Chinese Jews, which the Mohammedan portion did not particularly
relish, owing to the fact that a great many of the Jewish community
had merged into Mohammedanism through persecution and distress. The
Chinese always referred to the Jews as the "sect which pulls
the sinews" and as the "Mohammedans with blue bonnets,"
because they wear blue bonnets as well as take off their shoes during
all religious ceremonies.
One
handsome, intelligent Chinese Jew came forward and introduced himself,
inquiring very diligently the reason of my taking the photograph and
rubbing of the stone that spoke of the grandeur of his ancestors and
their synagogue. I told him that I wished to inform the Westerners,
who feel the deepest interest in the Jews, because our Christian religion
has come from a Semitic race. The long line of noble men to whom the
Jewish nation has given birth, from the time of its founder, Abraham,
and the fearless testimony which since the days of captivity it has
borne to the lofty truth that there is one God, and none other, must
ever give to the scattered people a Iarge place in our veneration
and love. Only it must be not blind, but a pure and true, veneration.
born of a careful study of all they have been and all they have done.
I persuaded him to come to the house, and he unfolded the following
remarkable story:
"My elder brother -- I am not yet forty years old, but I have
thought and talked much with my friends about our ancestors, who were
rich and numerous and who worshiped in a fine synagogue, built on
the land presented to them bv the Emperor Tai-tsti. This synagogue,
you know, has been swept away by 'China's Sorrow' [the Yellow River].
Our ancestors came to this land from the northwest nearly three thousand
years ago, and had with them a roll of the law that was very ancient
and in a language that we do not understand today, because we have
no teachers. The beautiful synagogue had a number of courts, and in
the center of the first there was a large, noble arch, dedicated to
the Creator, Preserver, and Father of all men. The second comprised
sacred trees, and the houses of the good men who cared for the buildings.
The third had many trees, and on its walls tablets in memory of our
great Chao [a Jewish mandarin judge, who rebuilt the synagogue on
one occasion] and other holy men. It was very large and contained
the Hall of Ancestors, the brazen vases of flowers and the censors,
in honor of Abraham and others. The nerves and sinews were extracted
from the animals slain for food in this court.
The synagogue itself was small, but exceedingly beautiful,
and in the center was the throne of Moses, a wonderfully carved chair,
covered with embroidered silk, upon which they placed the sacred book
while it was read. Above the throne, in letters of gold, were wise
and good words our ancestors brought from afar: 'Hear, 0 Israel: The
Lord our God is one God, Blessed be the name of the Glory of his Kingdom
forever and ever,' and in another part of the synagogue, 'Blessed
be the Lord forever; the Lord is God of gods and the Lord; a great
God, strong and terrible.' Near the arch on which these last words
were written our ancestors always washed their hands except the chief
rabbi who entered the 'House of Heaven' [a little square room, which
none but the rabbi can enter during the time of prayer]. In the 'House
of Heaven' the rolls of the law were kept in silken curtains, and
on the western wall the Ten Commandments were written in large golden
letters.
"Our ancestors suffered many hardships. for
the Chinese officials objected, and with force, to their slaughtering
animals for themselves. Even today they object to our circumcision,
which they denounce as a barbarous and cruel practice. Our lot is
truly sad, thrown as we are amidst enemies', unsupported and slowly
overwhelmed by our surroundings. We are a pitiful remnant of the past,
and there seems to be no morrow for us -- the dawn is dark with tears."
I asked him if they had any scrolls today., but learned that the majority
had been destroyed at different times; but they did manage to preserve
two, one of which they sold to a missionary because they were starving,
and the other was blown to heaven in the following manner: One day
a foreigner visited the city and asked to see the sacred scroll; but
when they opened the ark they found it quite damp and laid it upon
the grass to dry. A wind came, and it disappeared into the unknown.
The probability is that the foreigner by some trickery secured the
scroll, and led them to believe that the wind had carried it off.
Early in the following morning eight of the Jews (the whole male community)
called and gave me much valuable information regarding the Mohammedans
and Confucians, who had stolen many things from the jewish ruins,
including the ark of the Sepher Torah, and Jewish tiles bearing sacred
inscriptions. This made me desirous of locating and, if possible,
securing them. After much difficulty and tipping I persuaded my visitors
to be photographed, and then accompanied by Mr. Shields, My Hu (my
interpreter), and two soldiers, I visited mosque after mosque, which
excited and annoyed the Mohammedans, who mistook me for a Jewish rabbi
in disguise.
The
fourth proved to be the one I wanted, for in a small room I saw the
ark on a table, and made toward it, when the crowd objected and pushed
me out, emphasizing their disapproval in no uncertain manner. The
soldiers were helpless, but I had a strong suspicion that they were
at heart with the mob. The climax came when I clambered on the roof
of the mosque and began to examine the tiles, for thousands of Chinese
surrounded the mosque, yelling out, "Kick the devil's stomach!"'
"'Batter his devil's brain on the stones!" "Kill the
Jew!" "Choke the sinew-puller!" "Tear the foreign
devil's entrails out!" and other diabolical things too numerous
and too disgusting to mention. The majority were armed with bricks,
clubs, or knives and were mad with rage. Every second I thought would
be my last, for the fury of the Chinese mob beggars all description.
A happy thought flashed through my mind and, quick as lightning, I
pulled out my folding camera and turned it toward them, thinking to
photograph the murderous beasts before they butchered me. The shock
was tremendous; they dropped their bricks, knives, and clubs, and
crushed and jammed one another in their rush from the "devil's
glass." My friend, interpreter, and soldiers very discreetly
banged and fastened the doors after them, and the interpreter explained
to the Mohammedan priests that I was not a Jew, but a British traveler,
and only wanted to see these things. They said if I would promise
that in the event of the Jewish synagogue being rebuilt their mosque
would not be interfered with, the people would be pacified and permit
me to see the ark and examine the tiles. They are much afraid their
mosque will be destroyed if the synagogue is rebuilt, in order to
get tiles which they have stolen. I promised everything they asked.
The ark (an old cylindrical case) is purely Jewish,
but the missing scroll they informed me could not be seen, for it
was in a secret place. That evening, about eight o'clock, four boxes
of sweets, cakes, and two baskets of tea were sent to me by the priests,
with the kind greetings of the people, who had decided to present
their "elder brother" with the ark, which they did the next
morning. When the Chinese make a present they expect something equally
valuable in return, so I sent a few dollars to each priest which proved
to be a lucky move, for I experienced no more trouble during my stay.
The Confucians are more kindly disposed toward the
Jews than the Mohammadedans (who always pull their gowns to one side
if they meet a Jew, which in China is a vile insult); and so on visiting
their temples I had no difficulty -- in fact, one priest accompanied
me to a small temple in the southeast corner of the city, where they
have what is left of four large marble pillars, taken from the Jewish
ruins in the early part of the sixth century. It is interesting to
note in Chinese history that at this time the Empress Dowager Ling
attended by the imperial consorts, ladies of the palace, princesses,
and others of high degree, ascended a lofty hill and abolished the
various corrupt systems of religious worship, except that of the foreigner
who prayed toward the west.
The broken pillars found in the Confucian temple
prove that the synagogue was a place of considerable size and beauty.
It did not resemble the great structures of Europe, on which untold
wealth -has been expended in obtaining tile highest architectural
art; neither does it remind one of the modesty of the form of supplication.
This unique feature, as well as the fact of the chief covering his
face with a gauze when reading the laws, points to the antiquity of
the hidden tribe, who are but one of the many tentacles torn from
the main body of Jerusalem. A short distance from this temple I found
an old, long, narrow stone in the side of an empty mud hut, which
bore traces of an inscription dealing with a "Foreign heaven
chapel," in which the foreigners that "pluck the sinews"
fast and weep together. I sent for two of the most intelligent Jews,
who were not aware of its existence or location, and I enjoyed their
unmistakable surprise.
On the second visit of the Jews to my house I expressed
a desire to see their wives and daughters, and learned very promptly),
that it would be impossible, as the other Chinese women would say
"bad things" (the Chinese are undoubtedly the most evil-minded
people on earth) and make their lives even harder to bear, but if
I wanted to take a photograph (this was suggested with pecuniary anticipation's),
I might come to an appointed place in a closed cart with a peep-hole,
and instruct my interpreter as to how the photograph was to be taken.
I embraced the opportunity and made an appointment for the following
day, and secured fine pictures of the Jewish women and children, who
had never looked into the devil's glass before. That evening my "elder
brother" called again, and one old man asked me to present a
petition (which he handed to me) to the jews of the West, so that
they would fully understand their wretched condition and help them
before they are lost in the "everlasting darkness." The
moment has arrived for immediate action, not only by the Jews. but
but all the Christian bodies for when we take into consideration the
very significant fact that the whole Christian world is indebted to
the Jews for their religion, is the basis of Christianity, and for
the careful preservation of the books of the Old Testament, it would
only be a slight recognition of the world's indebtedness to the Jews
if this appeal from the center of China receives the consideration
it so richly merits.
The National Geographic
VOL. XVIII, No. 10 WASHINGTON OCTOBER, I907
© 2001-2003 All
Holy Land Wines.com - all rights reserved!
