1900 - Chen Dayong & Family

June 5, 1900

Chen Dayong & Family

Yanqing, Beijing

Chen Dayong.

Chen Dayong was born a short distance from the southeast gate of Beijing. Growing up, he was described as “a plump, short, round-faced, good-natured, honest boy, who enjoyed a good conscience and two meals a day. He was fond of a joke but also fond of his books.”[I] One day a missionary passed through Chen’s village. Dayong came running out of his house to see the ‘big-nose,’ and was intrigued by the books he was selling, with titles such as Entrance to Virtue and Knowledge, Glad Tidings, and Evidences of Christianity. Chen bought a book. Just a few days later its contents had made an impact on him that he attended the Sunday church service of the London Missionary Society. He told the church leaders he was deeply interested in learning more about Christianity, and returned home that day armed with more material for his soul to devour.

At the time Chen was engaged to a girl who had been chosen by his parents. His parents and future in-laws were not impressed with his new interest in Christianity, but Chen was undeterred by their opposition. Some months later he believed and was baptized. His angry mother brought the date of his wedding forward in the hope it would distract him from this new ‘doctrine of devils’. Chen announced he would only marry the girl if it were in a Christian ceremony. His mother was furious and his father disowned him.

Happily married but penniless, Chen and his new bride needed an income. The Methodist Mission in Beijing offered him work as a gatekeeper, which he eagerly accepted. Not only did it afford him the opportunity to share his faith with people on the street, he was also able to continue his study of the Bible. His wife soon made a profession of faith and although she never learned to read, she matured into a strong Christian. Years later, Chen’s elderly father took his place as gatekeeper of the mission. The man who had disowned his son now came back a broken man, begging him for help. Chen was only too glad to do so.

Chen Dayong, his wife, and two of their ten children.

Chen Dayong and his wife had four sons and six daughters, all of whom grew up as committed Christians. When the Boxer violence broke out in 1900 Chen was preaching in a small town outside the Great Wall. The local Christians urged him to flee into the mountains, where they would help conceal him from the murderers. “No,” Chen replied. “I will not leave until all the members of my flock are first hid away.”

On June 5th, Chen, his wife, and youngest son daughter travelled to the town of Yanqing, about 50 miles (81 km) northwest of Beijing. The Christians told him all the places Chen and his family could hide in the mountains. Assisted by the chapel gatekeeper, they were on the way to their hiding place when a man saw them and immediately rushed back to the town and told the Boxers a group of Christians was escaping into the mountains. The Boxers quickly rode out and overtook the Chen family. They first stripped them of all their possessions. Then Chen’s daughter, who was nicknamed Apple,

Chen Weifan, the fourth son of Chen Dayong, was martyred with his parents and sister.

Some months later the Chen’s third son travelled to Yanqing and recovered the remains of his family members to give them a proper burial. It might seem natural for this son to have feelings of revenge at the ruthless murder of his parents and siblings, but he had already forgiven those who had committed the dastardly acts. The local authorities asked him if they should track down the murderers and inflict on them the same punishment, but he told them it was not necessary. They asked if he wanted to apply for compensation for the property his family lost, and again he replied “no.” The only request he made was, “I should like to go and preach the Gospel to the people who murdered my parents.”



I Headland, Chinese Heroes, 10. Also see Bentley, Illustrious Chinese Christians.
II Headland, Chinese Heroes, 27-28.