September 3rd this year marks the 76th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-fascist War. On the eve of the anniversary, I had the honor to visit - in Shandong Province - The Courtyard of the Happy Way and the former site of Wei County (Weihsien) Concentration Camp of western expatriates which is known to the world as the Auschwitz in the East.
When talking about “concentration camps”, many people would think of the genocidal Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland carried out by German fascists against Jews during World War II. The Courtyard of the Happy Way and the concentration camp in the East recorded the inhuman days of imprisoned western expatriates in the dark.
The Courtyard of the Happy Way is located between Yuhe Road and Yuanfei Road in Kuiwen District, Weifang City, Shandong, on the south bank of Yuhe River along with several scattered dark grey European buildings.
During the Japanese invasion of China, 2,008 European and American expatriates were detained here.
According to the records of Weifang City, in 1882, Rev. Robert M. Mateer, M.D. from the Presbyterian Church in the United States, came to Wei County to preach with his wife Asherah (once called Di Zhenzhu). With the assistance of local members, he bought land at the East Gate of the old Wei County (formerly known as Weihsien) to establish The Courtyard of the Happy Way (referred to as the Courtyard below). The Courtyard was made of three parts: church, school, and clinic. At that time, the Courtyard was a Christian service center integrating church, education, and medical treatment in the Changwei area, and it was also one of the activity centers where western missionaries, teachers, businessmen, scholars, and medical workers gathered.
After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Japan retaliated against the United States for restricting the activities of Japanese-Americans in the United States. In March 1942, the Japanese army set up an alien concentration camp in Wei County and imprisoned 2008 European and American expatriates (later, 500 were released by exchanging prisoners of war), including 327 children. The detainees included Raymond J. de Jaegher, the American who served as Chiang Kai-shek’s adviser; Dr. Watson Hayes, Dean of North China Theological Seminary; Dr. De Weisi (original name could not be found, translator’s note), Director of Teaching Affairs of Cheeloo University; Arthur W. Hummel Jr., teacher of The Affiliated Middle School of Fu Jen Catholic University, who later served as American ambassador to China; and Eric Liddel, the famous Scottish 400-meter sprint champion of the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, who later came to China for missionary ministry.
In the concentration camp, the western missionaries suffered along with the Chinese people.
Eric Liddell, the famous British athlete who won the 400-meter gold medal at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games came to China for missionary work. He was detained in the concentration camp of the Courtyard for a long time. In the minds of the children in the camp, the Olympic champion was the embodiment of happiness and light. In addition to organizing children to play various games and sports competitions, he also managed the daily life affairs of his fellow detainees between the two sites. Every morning and evening, he ensured that all people attend the roll call. He organized daily matters such as water, coal, garbage, room cleaning. He also helped children with their homework in the evening.
Less than 200 days before the liberation of the camp, Liddell, the Olympic champion, forever left the world he loved as he could not get timely treatment for a brain tumor. The weather on the day of his funeral was extremely cold, but almost everyone in the camp attended his funeral.
In December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor triggering the Pacific War, and countries such as Britain and the United States declared war on Japan. Thus, all Westerners in China became enemies of Japan. On the second day of the Pearl Harbor incident, Japanese troops came to Chefoo School (also known as China Inland Mission School) and claimed to take over the school. Mary Taylor Previte (the great-granddaughter of Hudson Taylor), who was only 9 years old at that time, became a prisoner. In November 1942, more than 300 teachers and students at Chefoo School were detained in the camp of Yantai Yuhuangding (original name could not be found) Presbyterian Church. In the summer of 1943, they were transferred to the Courtyard camp in Wei County.
Mary Taylor Previte recalled that the teachers led the students to study through games in the camp, and she described the teacher’s behaviors as a “beautiful victory”. In this way, under the condition of severe nutritional deficiency the teachers miraculously managed three graduations. As always, they adhered to the strict standards of the Oxford examination system.
On August 17, 1945, a B24 plane sent by the U.S. military aid headquarters in China arrived over Wei County camp. Seven fully armed U.S. soldiers parachuted from the sky liberating the people there. A few weeks later, Mary Taylor Previte and her brothers and sisters flew to Xi’an to reunite with their parents whom they had not seen for five years.
In A Song of Salvation at Weihsien Prison Camp, Mary wrote more specifically about life in the camp. For instance, on Sunday morning, there was a Catholic Mass Eucharist, and at 11: 00, there was worship from the Anglican Church and the United Church. The evening prayer program was mainly songs and worships. Every Easter, worship and memorial programs began at dawn. The performances in the church were endless all year round. The entertained audiences could temporarily forget those police dogs, iron power grids, smelly toilets, and hunger.
On June 25, 1900, Chen Shuangchen (also known as Chen Xiqing), leader of the Boxer Rebellion of the Wei County division, led his gangs to set the Courtyard on fire, burning 42 buildings and 136 bungalows. The church and other main buildings were burnt into ashes. In 1902, Robert McCheyne Mateer used the boxer refund, the Qing government compensation, and all the funds donated by the American churches to rebuild and expand the Courtyard. During this period, they led people to learn God’s Word while doing medical service and education.
During Japan’s invasion of China, about 2,000 missionaries and western expatriates were detained in the Courtyard. They suffered and even sacrificed together with the Chinese people and survived the most difficult period.
- Translated by Charlie Li
今年的9月3日是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利76周年纪念日。纪念日前夕，笔者有幸来到山东潍县乐道院暨西方侨民集中营——这个被世人称为“东方的奥斯维辛”的地方。
一提到“集中营”，很多人会联想到二战期间德国法西斯对犹太人进行的种族灭绝性的波兰奥斯维辛集中营。潍县乐道院暨西方侨民集中营被世人称为“东方的奥斯维辛”，这里记录着被关押的西方侨民暗无天日的非人道岁月。
乐道院位于山东省潍坊市奎文区虞河路和鸢飞路之间、虞河南岸的，散落着几座深灰色的欧式建筑。
日本侵华战争时，这里曾关押了2008名欧美侨民
据《潍坊市志》记载：1882年，美国基督教长老会派牧师狄乐播偕夫人阿撤拉氏(一说为狄珍珠)，来潍县传教，并在当地教友的协助下，在老潍县东关处买地建立“乐道院”，道院由教堂、学堂、诊所3部分组成。用以传教、办学和开办诊所。当时的乐道院成了昌潍地区集教会、教育和医疗于一体的教会服务中心，也是西方传教士、教师、商人、学者和医务工作者聚会的活动中心之一。
太平洋战争爆发后，日本为报复美国限制日裔美籍人士在美国本土活动，1942年3月，日军在山东潍县设立了外侨集中营，关押了2008名欧美侨民（后来交换战俘释放了500名），其中包括327名儿童。关押人员有曾任蒋介石顾问的美国人雷振远，华北神学院院长赫士博士，齐鲁大学教务长德位思，后来担任美国驻华大使的辅仁大学附中教师恒安石，英国著名奥运会400米短跑冠军，后来来华宣教的埃里克·利迪尔等，都曾被囚禁于此。
集中营里，那些西方传教士和中国老百姓一起受苦
获得1924年巴黎奥运会400米冠军的英国著名运动员埃里克·利迪尔曾来华宣教，后长期被关押在乐道院集中营。在集中营里孩子们的心中，奥运冠军利迪尔是快乐和光明的化身。他除了组织孩子进行各种游戏体育比赛外，还管着两栋楼难友的日常生活事务，每天早晚要保证所有人参加集合点名，还要帮别人打水、搬煤、倒垃圾、清扫房间，晚上再辅导孩子功课。
在离集中营被解放还有不足200天的时候，奥运冠军利迪尔因患脑瘤得不到及时治疗而永远的离开了他热爱的这个世界。尽管当时天气极其寒冷，但集中营里几乎所有人都参加了他的葬礼。
1941年12月，日军偷袭珍珠港引发太平洋战争，英美等国向日本宣战，所有在华西方人因此都成了日本的敌人。珍珠港事件第二天，日军来到芝罘学校并称接管学校，当时年仅9岁的戴爱美成为了一名囚犯。1942年11月，芝罘学校的300多名师生被关押在烟台毓璜顶长老会住宅改建的集中营，1943年夏天，被转移到潍县乐道院集中营。
戴爱美回忆到老师们在集中营中通过游戏带领学生学习，她将老师的行为描述为为“美丽的胜利”。就这样，师生在营养严重缺乏的情况下，却奇迹般的毕业了三届，而且一如既往的坚持了牛津考试的严格标准。
1945年8月17日，美军援华总部派出的一架B24飞机抵达潍县集中营上空，7名全副武装的美军战士跳伞从天而降，解放了这里了人们。几周之后，戴爱美和她的兄弟姐妹们搭乘飞机前往西安和他们五年未见的父母团聚。
在《集中营记 》中，戴爱美更加具体的写到集中营的生活。比如，星期日即礼拜天清晨有天主教的弥撒圣礼，11时有圣公会和联合会堂的崇拜。晚祷的节目则着重歌诗。每届复活节，于晨曦微露时即开始崇拜和纪念节目。教堂里的演出节目终年不辍。欢娱中的观众可以暂忘却那些警犬，铁刺电网，臭厕所，和饥肠辘辘的熬煎。
1900年6月25日，潍县义和团陈双辰(又名陈锡庆)率团民火烧乐道院，烧毁楼房42间，平房136间，教堂等主要建筑化为灰烬。1902年，狄乐播利用“庚子赔款”、清政府赔款以及美国教会捐赠的所有资金重修并扩建了乐道院。在此期间，他们一边做医疗服侍，教育工作一边带领人学习神的话。
在日本侵华时期，大约2000名传教士西方侨民被关押在乐道院，他们与中国老百姓一起受苦，甚至牺牲，熬过那段最艰难的时期。
特写| 珍视和平，愿世界永无集中营——世界反法西斯战争胜利76周年纪念日参观山东潍坊乐道院有感
September 3rd this year marks the 76th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-fascist War. On the eve of the anniversary, I had the honor to visit - in Shandong Province - The Courtyard of the Happy Way and the former site of Wei County (Weihsien) Concentration Camp of western expatriates which is known to the world as the Auschwitz in the East.
When talking about “concentration camps”, many people would think of the genocidal Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland carried out by German fascists against Jews during World War II. The Courtyard of the Happy Way and the concentration camp in the East recorded the inhuman days of imprisoned western expatriates in the dark.
The Courtyard of the Happy Way is located between Yuhe Road and Yuanfei Road in Kuiwen District, Weifang City, Shandong, on the south bank of Yuhe River along with several scattered dark grey European buildings.
During the Japanese invasion of China, 2,008 European and American expatriates were detained here.
According to the records of Weifang City, in 1882, Rev. Robert M. Mateer, M.D. from the Presbyterian Church in the United States, came to Wei County to preach with his wife Asherah (once called Di Zhenzhu). With the assistance of local members, he bought land at the East Gate of the old Wei County (formerly known as Weihsien) to establish The Courtyard of the Happy Way (referred to as the Courtyard below). The Courtyard was made of three parts: church, school, and clinic. At that time, the Courtyard was a Christian service center integrating church, education, and medical treatment in the Changwei area, and it was also one of the activity centers where western missionaries, teachers, businessmen, scholars, and medical workers gathered.
After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Japan retaliated against the United States for restricting the activities of Japanese-Americans in the United States. In March 1942, the Japanese army set up an alien concentration camp in Wei County and imprisoned 2008 European and American expatriates (later, 500 were released by exchanging prisoners of war), including 327 children. The detainees included Raymond J. de Jaegher, the American who served as Chiang Kai-shek’s adviser; Dr. Watson Hayes, Dean of North China Theological Seminary; Dr. De Weisi (original name could not be found, translator’s note), Director of Teaching Affairs of Cheeloo University; Arthur W. Hummel Jr., teacher of The Affiliated Middle School of Fu Jen Catholic University, who later served as American ambassador to China; and Eric Liddel, the famous Scottish 400-meter sprint champion of the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, who later came to China for missionary ministry.
In the concentration camp, the western missionaries suffered along with the Chinese people.
Eric Liddell, the famous British athlete who won the 400-meter gold medal at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games came to China for missionary work. He was detained in the concentration camp of the Courtyard for a long time. In the minds of the children in the camp, the Olympic champion was the embodiment of happiness and light. In addition to organizing children to play various games and sports competitions, he also managed the daily life affairs of his fellow detainees between the two sites. Every morning and evening, he ensured that all people attend the roll call. He organized daily matters such as water, coal, garbage, room cleaning. He also helped children with their homework in the evening.
Less than 200 days before the liberation of the camp, Liddell, the Olympic champion, forever left the world he loved as he could not get timely treatment for a brain tumor. The weather on the day of his funeral was extremely cold, but almost everyone in the camp attended his funeral.
In December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor triggering the Pacific War, and countries such as Britain and the United States declared war on Japan. Thus, all Westerners in China became enemies of Japan. On the second day of the Pearl Harbor incident, Japanese troops came to Chefoo School (also known as China Inland Mission School) and claimed to take over the school. Mary Taylor Previte (the great-granddaughter of Hudson Taylor), who was only 9 years old at that time, became a prisoner. In November 1942, more than 300 teachers and students at Chefoo School were detained in the camp of Yantai Yuhuangding (original name could not be found) Presbyterian Church. In the summer of 1943, they were transferred to the Courtyard camp in Wei County.
Mary Taylor Previte recalled that the teachers led the students to study through games in the camp, and she described the teacher’s behaviors as a “beautiful victory”. In this way, under the condition of severe nutritional deficiency the teachers miraculously managed three graduations. As always, they adhered to the strict standards of the Oxford examination system.
On August 17, 1945, a B24 plane sent by the U.S. military aid headquarters in China arrived over Wei County camp. Seven fully armed U.S. soldiers parachuted from the sky liberating the people there. A few weeks later, Mary Taylor Previte and her brothers and sisters flew to Xi’an to reunite with their parents whom they had not seen for five years.
In A Song of Salvation at Weihsien Prison Camp, Mary wrote more specifically about life in the camp. For instance, on Sunday morning, there was a Catholic Mass Eucharist, and at 11: 00, there was worship from the Anglican Church and the United Church. The evening prayer program was mainly songs and worships. Every Easter, worship and memorial programs began at dawn. The performances in the church were endless all year round. The entertained audiences could temporarily forget those police dogs, iron power grids, smelly toilets, and hunger.
On June 25, 1900, Chen Shuangchen (also known as Chen Xiqing), leader of the Boxer Rebellion of the Wei County division, led his gangs to set the Courtyard on fire, burning 42 buildings and 136 bungalows. The church and other main buildings were burnt into ashes. In 1902, Robert McCheyne Mateer used the boxer refund, the Qing government compensation, and all the funds donated by the American churches to rebuild and expand the Courtyard. During this period, they led people to learn God’s Word while doing medical service and education.
During Japan’s invasion of China, about 2,000 missionaries and western expatriates were detained in the Courtyard. They suffered and even sacrificed together with the Chinese people and survived the most difficult period.
- Translated by Charlie Li
A Visit to Courtyard of the Happy Way in Shangdong
