The Undaunted Women of Nanking: The Wartime Diaries of Minnie Vautrin and Tsen Shui-fang

268 Pages·2010·20.768 MB·English

by  Hua-ling Hu, Lian-hong Zhang

D
Also included are biographical sketches of the “These diaries are crucial documents of courage and mercy in the H uring the infamous “Rape of Nanking,”
u
two women, a note on the diaries, and infor- face of appalling human brutality.” a a brutal military occupation of Nan-
n
mation about the aftermath of the tragedy,  —Kasahara Tokushi, author of One Hundred d king, China, that began in December 1937,
Z
as well as maps and photos—some of which it is estimated that Japanese soldiers killed
Days in the Nanjing Refugee Zone h
a
appear in print here for the first time. n between 200,000 and 300,000 Chinese and
g
raped between 20,000 and 80,000 women. In
“The diaries stand as timeless testimonials to the horrors of war, and
Hua-ling Hu has taught Chinese language, response to the atrocities, a group of western-
especially the price women pay, echoed in Vautrin’s repeated lament
literature, and history at both Chinese and ers organized the International Committee
‘Someday I would like the women of Japan to know some of these
American universities, including the Univer- for the Nanking Safety Zone and attempted
sad, sad stories.’”
sity of Colorado–Boulder, where she received to shelter refugees. Among these humanitar-
The
a doctorate in history. She is the author of —Ivy Lee, founding president, Chinese Th T ian heroes was Minnie Vautrin, an American
five books, among them American Goddess at American Political Action Committee e W h Undaunted Women of missionary and acting president of Ginling
e
the Rape of Nanking: The Courage of Minnie art U NANKING College. She and Tsen Shui-fang, her Chi-
Vautrin. She was awarded the Chinese Liter- “This book is a significant contribution to the study of the Nanjing im n nese assistant and a trained nurse, turned the
ary and Arts Medal of Honor for the Chinese- Massacre. It will help researchers and the general public to better e D da college into a refugee camp, which protected
language edition of her biography of Minnie understand what really happened during those terrible dark days.” ia u more than 10,000 women and children during
Vautrin.  —Sun Zhai-awnedi ,D aueltihboerra otifo Tno o Vn etrhifey N Hainstjoinryg: MReassesaarccrhe ries of nte p twhoem heenig whte roef etxhhea oursdteeda l.m Eevnetnal ltyh oaundgh p bhyostih-
Zhang Lian-hong is a professor of history M d The Wartime Diaries of cally from caring for so many, they kept de-
and chairman of the Center for Studies on inn W tailed diaries during the massacre.
the Nanjing Massacre of Nanjing Normal “sThouerscee sv aplruoavbidlei nacgc voiuvnidt sw init nthesesi rt ore tshpee cttriavgei cla Rnagpuea goefs N araen pkrinimg.a”r y ie V om Minnie Vautrin and The Undaunted Women of Nanking jux-
University, as well as associate chairman of au e taposes the two women’s wartime diaries
the Modern Chinese Historical Society of —Joyce Lebra, author of Women in Changing Japan tri n Tsen Sphui-fang day-by-day from December 8, 1937, through
   n
Kiangsu Province and Nanjing Historical a o March 1, 1938. Both diaries provide vital eye-
“This book offers a rare glimpse into the inner worlds of two n f
Society. He is coauthor or coeditor of seven d witness accounts of the Rape of Nanking and
books published in Chinese. remarkable women during the dark moments of wartime violence Ts N Edited and translated by are unique in their focus on the Ginling refu-
e a
against civilians in Nanjing. The juxtaposition of the diary of Tsen n S n gee camp and the sufferings of women and
Shui-fang with that of the American Minnie Vautrin presents a hu k Hua-ling Hu and Zhang Lian-hong children. Tsen Shui-fang’s diary is the only
i i
wealth of opportunities to explore critical issues such as women and -f n known daily account by a Chinese national
an g
war, national identity, and humanitarianism in early twentieth- g written during the crisis and not retrospec-
century East Asia.” tively. As such, it records a unique perspec-
tive: that of a woman grappling with feelings
 —Daqing Yang, author of Technology of Empire:
of anger, sorrow, and compassion as she wit-
Telecommunications and Japanese Imperialism
nesses the atrocities being committed in her
war-torn country. Tsen Shui-fang’s diary has
never before been published in English, and
this is its first translation.
Editors Hua-ling Hu and Zhang Lian-
Cover illustrations: Portraits of Minnie Vautrin and Tsen southern illinois university press $29.95 usd
Shui-fang and photo of refugee students courtesy of Mrs. 1915 university press drive isbn 0-8093-2963-8 US hong have added many informative annota-
ESemcomnad LHyoisnto; rpihcaolt oA orcf hTivseens ’os fh Nanadnwjinrigti,n Cg hbiyn aC; hpihnoat’so of mail code 6806 isbn 978-0-8093-2963-2 niveouth tions to the diary entries from sources includ-
re ing the proceedings of the Tokyo War Crimes
VEmaumtrain L’sy hoann.dwriting by Dr. Chia-lun Hu, courtesy Mrs. cwawrwb.osniudparelses,. ciolm 62901 sity Presrn Illino TRraibael ’os fd 1i9a4ry6,, aVnadu otrtihne’sr choisrtroerspicoanl ddeonccuem, Jeonhtsn.
sis
Printed in the United States of America Jacket design by Mary Rohrer
HuZhang cvr mech.indd 1 4/6/10 2:42 PM
D
Also included are biographical sketches of the “These diaries are crucial documents of courage and mercy in the H uring the infamous “Rape of Nanking,”
u
two women, a note on the diaries, and infor- face of appalling human brutality.” a a brutal military occupation of Nan-
n
mation about the aftermath of the tragedy,  —Kasahara Tokushi, author of One Hundred d king, China, that began in December 1937,
Z
as well as maps and photos—some of which it is estimated that Japanese soldiers killed
Days in the Nanjing Refugee Zone h
a
appear in print here for the first time. n between 200,000 and 300,000 Chinese and
g
raped between 20,000 and 80,000 women. In
“The diaries stand as timeless testimonials to the horrors of war, and
Hua-ling Hu has taught Chinese language, response to the atrocities, a group of western-
especially the price women pay, echoed in Vautrin’s repeated lament
literature, and history at both Chinese and ers organized the International Committee
‘Someday I would like the women of Japan to know some of these
American universities, including the Univer- for the Nanking Safety Zone and attempted
sad, sad stories.’”
sity of Colorado–Boulder, where she received to shelter refugees. Among these humanitar-
The
a doctorate in history. She is the author of —Ivy Lee, founding president, Chinese Th T ian heroes was Minnie Vautrin, an American
five books, among them American Goddess at American Political Action Committee e W h Undaunted Women of missionary and acting president of Ginling
e
the Rape of Nanking: The Courage of Minnie art U NANKING College. She and Tsen Shui-fang, her Chi-
Vautrin. She was awarded the Chinese Liter- “This book is a significant contribution to the study of the Nanjing im n nese assistant and a trained nurse, turned the
ary and Arts Medal of Honor for the Chinese- Massacre. It will help researchers and the general public to better e D da college into a refugee camp, which protected
language edition of her biography of Minnie understand what really happened during those terrible dark days.” ia u more than 10,000 women and children during
Vautrin.  —Sun Zhai-awnedi ,D aueltihboerra otifo Tno o Vn etrhifey N Hainstjoinryg: MReassesaarccrhe ries of nte p twhoem heenig whte roef etxhhea oursdteeda l.m Eevnetnal ltyh oaundgh p bhyostih-
Zhang Lian-hong is a professor of history M d The Wartime Diaries of cally from caring for so many, they kept de-
and chairman of the Center for Studies on inn W tailed diaries during the massacre.
the Nanjing Massacre of Nanjing Normal “sThouerscee sv aplruoavbidlei nacgc voiuvnidt sw init nthesesi rt ore tshpee cttriavgei cla Rnagpuea goefs N araen pkrinimg.a”r y ie V om Minnie Vautrin and The Undaunted Women of Nanking jux-
University, as well as associate chairman of au e taposes the two women’s wartime diaries
the Modern Chinese Historical Society of —Joyce Lebra, author of Women in Changing Japan tri n Tsen Sphui-fang day-by-day from December 8, 1937, through
   n
Kiangsu Province and Nanjing Historical a o March 1, 1938. Both diaries provide vital eye-
“This book offers a rare glimpse into the inner worlds of two n f
Society. He is coauthor or coeditor of seven d witness accounts of the Rape of Nanking and
books published in Chinese. remarkable women during the dark moments of wartime violence Ts N Edited and translated by are unique in their focus on the Ginling refu-
e a
against civilians in Nanjing. The juxtaposition of the diary of Tsen n S n gee camp and the sufferings of women and
Shui-fang with that of the American Minnie Vautrin presents a hu k Hua-ling Hu and Zhang Lian-hong children. Tsen Shui-fang’s diary is the only
i i
wealth of opportunities to explore critical issues such as women and -f n known daily account by a Chinese national
an g
war, national identity, and humanitarianism in early twentieth- g written during the crisis and not retrospec-
century East Asia.” tively. As such, it records a unique perspec-
tive: that of a woman grappling with feelings
 —Daqing Yang, author of Technology of Empire:
of anger, sorrow, and compassion as she wit-
Telecommunications and Japanese Imperialism
nesses the atrocities being committed in her
war-torn country. Tsen Shui-fang’s diary has
never before been published in English, and
this is its first translation.
Editors Hua-ling Hu and Zhang Lian-
Cover illustrations: Portraits of Minnie Vautrin and Tsen southern illinois university press $29.95 usd
Shui-fang and photo of refugee students courtesy of Mrs. 1915 university press drive isbn 0-8093-2963-8 US hong have added many informative annota-
ESemcomnad LHyoisnto; rpihcaolt oA orcf hTivseens ’os fh Nanadnwjinrigti,n Cg hbiyn aC; hpihnoat’so of mail code 6806 isbn 978-0-8093-2963-2 niveouth tions to the diary entries from sources includ-
re ing the proceedings of the Tokyo War Crimes
VEmaumtrain L’sy hoann.dwriting by Dr. Chia-lun Hu, courtesy Mrs. cwawrwb.osniudparelses,. ciolm 62901 sity Presrn Illino TRraibael ’os fd 1i9a4ry6,, aVnadu otrtihne’sr choisrtroerspicoanl ddeonccuem, Jeonhtsn.
sis
Printed in the United States of America Jacket design by Mary Rohrer
HuZhang cvr mech.indd 1 4/7/10 9:14 AM
The Undaunted Women of Nanking
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The
Undaunted Women of
NANKING
(cid:2)
The Wartime Diaries of
Minnie Vautrin and
Tsen Shui-fang
(cid:2)
Edited and Translated by
Hua-ling Hu and Zhang Lian-hong
Southern Illinois University Press
Carbondale and Edwardsville
(cid:43)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:22) (cid:23)(cid:18)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)
Copyright © 2010 by the Board of Trustees,
Southern Illinois University
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
13 12 11 10 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Vautrin, Minnie, 1886–1941.
The undaunted women of Nanking : the wartime diaries of Minnie Vautrin
and Tsen Shui-fang / edited and translated by Hua-ling Hu, Zhang Lian-hong.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8093-2963-2 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8093-2963-8 (alk. paper)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8093-8561-4 (ebook)
ISBN-10: 0-8093-8561-9 (ebook)
1. Vautrin, Minnie, 1886–1941—Diaries. 2. Tsen, Shui-fang, 1875–1969—
Diaries. 3. Nanking Massacre, Nanjing, Jiangsu Sheng, China, 1937—
Personal narratives. 4. Sino-Japanese War, 1937–1945—China—Nanjing
(Jiangsu Sheng) 5. Women missionaries—China—Diaries. 6. Ginling College
(Nanjing, Jiangsu Sheng, China)—Officials and employees—Biography.
7. Sino-Japanese War, 1937–1945—Personal narratives. 8. Sino-Japanese War,
1937–1945—Atrocities. 9. Nanjing (Jiangsu Sheng, China)—Biography.
10. Nanjing (Jiangsu Sheng, China)—History, Military—20th century.
I. Tsen, Shui-fang, 1875–1969. II. Hu, Hualing. III. Zhang, Lian-hong. IV. Title.
DS797.56.N365V38 2010
951.04'2—dc22 2009037023
Printed on recycled paper.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of Ameri-
can National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for
Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. ∞
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C (cid:2)
ONTENTS
List of Illustrations vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Biographical Sketches: Minnie Vautrin and Tsen Shui-fang 5
A Note on the Two Diaries 14
JUXTAPOSITION —EXCERPTS FROM THE TWO DIARIES,
DECEMBER 8, 1937, TO MARCH 1, 1938
1. Receiving Refugees at Ginling College under
Intensifying Bombardment 23
2. Japanese Occupation of Nanking—Soldiers’
Rampage, Residents’ Terror 35
3. Observing Holidays in a Time of Horror and
the Refugees’ “Goddess of Mercy” 63
4. Registration of Women and the Return of
American and European Diplomats 80
5. Life and Problems inside the Ginling Camp 98
6. The Japanese Demand to Close Refugee
Camps and Vautrin’s Defiance 121
7. Slowly Restoring Law and Order but Soldiers
Keep Searching for HWA GU-NIANG 141
Aftermath 166
v
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CONTENTS
Appendix: Reports by Minnie Vautrin on the Rape
of Nanking from Her Correspondence
A Review of the First Month: December 13, 1937–January 13, 1938 173
As a Refugee Camp: January 14–March 31, 1938 188
Notes 201
Selected Bibliography 221
Index 229
vi
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I (cid:2)
LLUSTRATIONS
Maps
following page x
Japan’s Invasion of China, 1931–37
China, 1937–38
Nanking, 1937–38
Nanking Safety Zone, 1937–38
Ginling College, 1937–38
Plates
following page 62
Central Building and 500 Dormitory of Ginling College in 1930s
Arts Building
Interior of the College Library Building
The three-member Emergency Committee of Ginling’s refugee camp
Minnie Vautrin in junior high school
Vautrin’s last portrait
Tsen Shui-fang in her early fifties
Tsen in her eighties
Two leaves from Tsen’s handwritten Chinese diary
Pages from one of Vautrin’s handwritten family letters
Vautrin and workers at the Red Cross rice kitchen serving refugees
Staff, volunteers, and visitors at Ginling’s refugee camp
Vautrin, Rev. James McCallum, and Dr. Lewis Smythe
vii
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ILLUSTRATIONS
Refugee students at Ginling’s camp
Vautrin with China missionaries, St. Louis, May 1941
The Order of the Jade bestowed on Vautrin in July 1938
Vautrin’s grave in Shepherd, Michigan
Hua-ling Hu and Zhang Lian-hong visit Vautrin’s bronze bust
on the campus of Ginling College, December 2003
viii
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