1900 - Yang Nianzeng

July 1900

Qian’an, Hebei

Having attended the Christian school at Qian’an from an early age, Yang Nianzeng was an outstanding youth. Immediately after graduating he became a teacher. His students were deeply impressed by Yang’s knowledge and spiritual wisdom, for he was passionate about Jesus Christ.

Some years later he married, and his wife gave birth to a son, who grew up to also be a fine Christian. As soon as he was old enough, Yang’s son attended Beijing University. At the end of the school year in 1900 he returned to his hometown in Qian’an, where his proud father and mother warmly welcomed him. One of the first things they talked about was what they should do if the Boxers came to Qian’an, for already there were many rumours abounding that the rebels were closing in on the city and would massacre every Christian.

Just a few days later the Boxers swept into Qian’an, brandishing their long swords and breathing out murderous threats. They came to the Yang household and took away Pastor Yang Nianzeng and his son. Yang Nianzeng’s reputation as a passionate church leader had reached the ears of the Boxers, and in their mind he was the ‘big fish’ they wanted to catch. The people of Qian’an came out and pleaded with the Boxers to let Yang go free, explaining that he was a good man who had helped their children and done nobody any harm. The Boxer’s replied:

“We will not kill you both, but one of you must die to propitiate the gods and atone for the sins you have committed. ‘Since I have received the greatest grace,’ said the father, ‘I should be the one to die; moreover, to lay down one’s life in the service of the Master is the greatest glory that is vouchsafed to man; I gladly receive the sentence, that my son may live.”[1]

Yang Nianzeng was dragged away and decapitated, and his headless corpse given to his son, who placed it inside a makeshift coffin and carried it home for burial. The villagers, however, refused to allow the coffin in, claiming the gods would vent their wrath if they permitted the body to come through the village gate.

Yang Nianzeng was in heaven with Jesus, his final act in this life being to emulate the sacrificial death of his Saviour, who died so that others may go free.