Eric's Beijing Diary

Flew back to Beijing on Monday, then left the next evening (last night) for Nanjing. This morning, I went to see mauseleum of Sun Yat-sen. I don't know what Sun Yat-sen would have thought of this elaborate memorial. Perhaps it would have gone against his populist sentiments. Then again, maybe he would be glad to see that there is some kind of recognition for a life of frustration. The Chinese people seem to really like their leaders once they're dead. Sun Yat-sen has become a powerful symbol of China. But for all the hoopla surrounding the "father of Modern China," he was never actually in charge of anything during his life. He was having breakfast at a cafe in Denver, Colorado when he read in the paper about the revolt against the Qing Dynasty that history credits him with leading. He did lead it, actually. Just as soon as he could get back to China. But it might be more accurate to say that it led itself, and he walked in front. He was the first president of China, but only for a couple months, and that was by prior agreement with General Yuan Shikai, who had worked for the Emress, and really saw himself as the next emperor.

Sun Yat-sen is a symbol, but a very powerful symbol. The reason is that he is regarded highly both here and in Taiwan, because his death preceded the split between the KMT and the Communist Party, and because he symbolized overthrow of the Imperical System, even if he did not have the military clout to rule. Sun Yat-sen was not really a Communist, but he wasn't an anti-communist, either. He tended to view Marx positively, but was also strongly influenced by Christianity, and was really sort of a self-made eclectic.

The mauseleum is built on a hill at the apex of a series of pavilions. When you get to the top, you enter the final pavilion and then a round room where his sarcophagus lies. The sign says, "no pictures," but as soon as I entered the room, a jillion cell phones came out, as well as video cameras. People were taking pictures right and left. I took one picture, then tried to take another from a slightly better angle as we were leaving, but the PLA guard put his hand in front of my camera. I don't blame him, I guess.

George Whitefield, Canaan, Elizabeth, Eloi, Luke and James
One of the places I have wanted to visit since I came to China is the Nanjing Seminary. Spring Festival is not the best time to visit a seminary, or any institution of higher learning, for that matter. When I got to the campus, it was deserted, except for five students who had not gone home for the vacation, and one who returned early. I told them that I wanted to have dinner with them. We talked about what to have, and decided on shuan yang rou (boiled mutton), one of my favorite meals. I thought we would be going to a restaurant, but don't you suppose they went to decided to cook it themselves. It was good, too.

But far better for me than the meal was the chance to talk with these very special young people about the church in China. Luke asked me what I thought about Sunday School. I told him that on my first trip to China in 2001, I had understood, both from folks I had talked to, and from what I had read in the official government policy, that teaching religion to youngsters under 16 years old was forbidden, but that this did not seem to be an issue any longer. He told me that in Henan Province where he is from, there are very few Sunday Schools, simply because they don't have teachers.

Nanjing Seminary is the most well known seminary in China, but it is very small. One hundred sixty-six students. That could change, though, since there are currently plans to build a new campus, and that usually means accomodating more students. Officially it dates from 1952, but it has been around much longer than that. Right now, though, it is basically regarded as the national seminary for the Three Self Patriotic Movement and the China Christian Council.

I told the students about my visit to Kaifang to see the Kaifang Jews. They told me about a Messianic Jewess who had come to the seminary from Kaifeng, and is now studying at Hebrew University in Israel. These young people were very friendly, and unpretentious. I don't know how much you can conclude from such a small group, but if the rest of the students are anything like the ones I met, I have high hopes for the future of the church in China.

Labels: Nanjing