A “stub” is a story in process, containing only a limited amount of information on the subject. Stubs provide useful information, but are too short to provide complete coverage of a subject. In the course of researching stories for inclusion in the BDCC, writers oftentimes come across other potential subjects and note down any information they find. These brief but incomplete biographical sketches are now being included in the BDCC database.

We are including stubs both to make the BDCC database more comprehensive in its breadth, as well as to provide a starting point for further research and writing on these subjects. There are only a small number of stubs so far but we will continually be adding more in the coming weeks and months. A complete listing of stubs can always be found on the stubs page.

We eagerly welcome our readers to contribute any information they may have on these potential subjects, or better yet, adopt one as a writing and research project for developing into a complete story for inclusion, with acknowledgment, on the BDCC website.

If you are interested in writing a story, please notify us first by sending an email to editor@ bdcconline.net in order to avoid potential duplication of work. Contributors should reference the “Guidelines for Researchers and Writers” on the “Contribute” section of the website to learn about the types of information that should be included in a complete story.

Carol Lee Hamrin, Editor, with Stacey Bieler

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China had a budding civil society one hundred years ago, the foundation for today’s rebirth of civic norms and institutions. Like today, an earlier wave of globalization brought rapid economic development and social change. This collection of lively personal portraits showcases the lives of ten outstanding Chinese citizens who helped their country make social and cultural progress from 1870-1940, despite hard times of war and revolution.

Most were educated abroad and creatively applied their Western knowledge and experience to solve problems facing the nation. These men and women were pioneers in a wide range of modern professions and thus many are known by name in China for their public accomplishments. Yet few people know how their family backgrounds or personal traumas or faith commitments shaped their character.

These social and cultural reformers served others out of their Christian convictions, which gave them a sense of vocation and a spirit of altruism. They lived out the command of Jesus in the book of Matthew to do good deeds as “the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” They offered “light” to others in dark times, and served as “salt” to preserve a society under enormous stress from economic dislocation and corrupt power politics typical of early industrial capitalism world-wide.

China could build on this earlier legacy in reconstructing civil society in the contemporary global era. These stories can also enhance international understanding of world Christianity, and provide models for young professionals inside and outside the church.

The outstanding scholars who contributed to this volume recover the “lost stories” through in-depth research and interviews that illuminate what motivated their subjects. The authors include interesting anecdotes, quotations and photographs to make their subjects come alive. Research notes and a timeline at the end of the volume provide sources and the historical context.

From the Table of Contents

1. Rong Hong, the first “returned student” from America who fought against the coolie trade

2. Tang Guo’an, the first president of Tsinghua University, and an important actor in stopping the opium trade

3. Shi Meiyu founded a hospital and developed the nursing profession.

4. Fan Zimei, a pioneering editor and writer for the YMCA

5. Ding Shujing, the first Chinese woman to head the YWCA in China

6. Mei Yiqi, President of Tsinghua University in Beijing and of Southwest United University

7. Lin Qiaozhi, an early graduate of Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) and one of the nation’s leading obstetricians

8. Wei Zhuomin, President of Central China University in Wuhan from 1929-1952; a philosopher and an early proponent of “World Christianity.”

9. Wu Yifang, China’s first woman university president; the only woman in China’s delegation at the founding of the U.N.

10. Yan Yangchu, a Yale graduate who pioneered mass rural literacy training.

In particular, please try out the various new ways in which you may find stories. They now can be sorted by name, organizational affiliation, locale, time period, and author. This new layout will allow you to collect and organize materials in a variety of ways that will greatly enhance your understanding of the marvelous mosaic of Chinese Christian history.

We have added new stories, and plan to increase these constantly, as well as to expand and replace existing entries, so check the site often and subscribe to our Atom feeds for fresh information about the people who have helped to build today’s Chinese church.

Very soon, the Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity will be bi-lingual, having both English and Chinese pages.

Furthermore, the Chinese stories will be in both simplified and traditional characters, depending upon your preference.

As one of the contributors to the English section, I should say that researching and writing these stories has been one of the most enjoyable activities in which I have ever engaged. What a privilege it is to spend one’s time in the company of such marvelous men and women!

May I also invite you to join us in this effort to share with others the mighty works of God among the Chinese? We need qualified researchers and writers to expand the range of the BDCC and make it an even richer repository of information about Chinese Christianity.