1900 - Dou Weicheng

June 13, 1900

Dou Weicheng

Pinggu, Beijing

Dou Weicheng was a young man of 24 years when the Boxer troubles started in 1900. He was described as a genial and pleasant man, who loved God but who was not considered an intellectually strong student. Dou spent some years at the Presbyterian School, but was no closer to passing the examinations, so he accepted appointment as a Bible colporteur with the American Bible Society. He travelled widely around China selling Bibles and Scripture portions to people and sharing Christ with individuals who showed an interest in the gospel. It was said of Dou,

“On foot, or on the back of donkey or mule, his saddlebags full of copies of the Scriptures, Testaments, and portions, he had travelled up and down, back and forth, in the eastern region between Beijing and the sea, selling many thousands of the gospels and other books, and preaching on the market-places the unsearchable riches of Christ.”[I]

Dou was in the nation’s capital on June 13, 1900, when the Boxer carnage began in full earnest. Dou’s immediate thoughts were not for his own safety, but for the well-being of the Presbyterian believers in the north of the city, who were probably unaware of what was happening. He rushed across the city and warned the Christians, many of who were able to escape into the mountains before the Boxers arrived. Not satisfied with this, Dou then set his sights on rescuing the Christians living in a cluster of villages east of the city. He raced in that direction as fast as he could, to a distance of 50 miles (81 km) away from Beijing, warning believers all along the road to flee. Many reached the safety of the mountains, where they hid in caves until the storm passed.

Dou was finally captured by the Boxers and taken to Pinggu, a county in the eastern part of today’s Beijing Municipality. He was asked if he was a Christian, and replied, “‘I am,’ and immediately began to preach Jesus. They beat him over the head, but he continued to preach. They cut out his tongue, but he still mumbled of Jesus. They disembowelled him, but to his last breath he preached Jesus and prayed for his murderers.”[II]

An eyewitness later provided more details of Dou’s martyrdom. Just before he was killed he told his persecutors, “Men, you may kill my body, but you can not harm my soul. It will return to God. I shall see you at the day of judgement. I urge you to repent of your sins.”[III]

Many Chinese believers owed their lives to the courage and love of Dou Weicheng. He is remembered fondly as a brother who paid with his life so that others could go free.