The red book of Chinese martyrs : testimonies and autobiographical accounts

Preface by Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun Translated by Michael Miller This powerful book presents documents spanning the war between the Communists and Chinese Nationalists in the mid-1940s up to 1983,shortly before the modernization promoted after Mao's death. These arememoirs of those who have experienced in their own flesh how far violenceof a power blinded by ideology can go, a power which, after winningits battle against armed forces, decided to exterminate its "enemies withoutgun", as Mao called intellectuals, believers, and opponents.From the historical perspective these are valuable sources, especially foranyone who wants to learn about the injustices and brutality of Maoism.Only recently have non-specialists had access to autobiographical testimoniesconcerning the laogi, the Chinese forced labor camps. For years ideological baggage encumbering journalism about Chinaseverly limited opportunities for hearing stories of Christian persecutionand martyrdom, however, after decades of propaganda, we are finally seeinga "demythologization" of Mao, a man responsible for crimes equal toor even worse than those of Stalin and Hitler. In this book one can see what a tragedy has befallen the Chinese people,in particular the believers. But all this has not destroyed their faith.Gerolamo Fazzini, a professional journalist, is the co-director of themonthly magazine World and Mission of PIME (Pontifical Institute forForeign Missions), and an editorial writer for the daily newspaper Avvenire.An expert on international topics and religion news, he coordinates theItalian Federation of the Missionary Press which represents about forty missionarypublications. He has reported on various stories in Latin America,Africa, the Middle East and China. Illustrated with 16 pages of photos. "The confessors and martyrs of the Church of China belong toChristianity as a whole, and it is our duty, as well as our right, topresent their testimonies so that they might nourish the faith of Christians throughout the world." From the Preface by Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-Kiun,Bishop of Hong Kong This powerful book presents documents on a span of time that begins with the war between the Communists and Chinese Nationalists in the mid 1940's and continues until 1983, shortly before the phrase of modernization promoted by Deng Xiaoping after the death of Mao. They cover four crucial decades in contemporary Chinese history. These documents are the memoirs of persons who have experienced in their own flesh how far the violence of a power blinded by ideology can go, a power which, after winning its battle against an armed enemy, had decided to exterminate its enemies without gun, as Mao in a famous speech described intellectuals, believers and opponents. From the historical perspective these are contributors of great value, especially for anyone who wants to learn about the injustices and brutality of Maoism. Only in recent years have non-specialists had access to autobiographical testimonies concerning the laogi, the Chinese forced labor camps. But we have a long way to go before we know about that life in as much detail as is available concering the Soviet gulags thanks to Solzhenitsyn. The Red Book of Chinese Martyrs partially fills this gap. It is a gap that originated in precise politico-cultural circumstances which explain why a book of this sort has never until now seen the light of day. The ideological baggage encumbering historiography and journalism on the subject of China has severly limited the opportunities for learning about and publicizing these stories of Christian persecution and martyrdom. The Red Book of Chinese Martyrs intends to be also a denunciation of Maoism and of its crimes. After decades of ideological propaganda, we are finally able to see a demythologization of Mao, who was responsible for crimes equal to or even worse than those of Stalin and Hitler (eighty million dead during the period of the Great Leap Forward, 1958-1961). While reading The Red Book of Chinese Martyrs one cannot help noticing what a tragedy has befallen the Chinese people, in particular the believers. But all this has not destroyed their faith. Therefore Cardinal Zen is able to write in his Preface: The pages that you will read are not primarily pages of suffering and sorrow; they are also and above pages of joy. Illustrated with 16 page of photos.

This powerful book presents documents spanning the war between the Communists and Chinese Nationalists in the mid-1940s up to 1983, shortly before the "modernization" promoted after Mao's death. These are memoirs of those who have experienced in their own flesh how far violence of a power blinded by ideology can go, a power that, after winning its battle against armed forces, decided to exterminate its "enemies without guns", as Mao called intellectuals, believers, and political opponents.

From the historical perspective these are valuable sources, especially for anyone who wants to learn about the injustices and brutality of Maoism. Only recently have non-specialists had access to autobiographical testimonies concerning the laogai, the Chinese forced labor camps.

For years ideological baggage encumbering journalism about China severly limited opportunities for hearing stories of Christian persecution and martyrdom; however, after decades of propaganda, we are finally seeing a "demythologization" of Mao, a man responsible for crimes equal to or even worse than those of Stalin and Hitler.

In this book one can see what a tragedy has befallen the Chinese people, in particular the believers. Yet all this has not destroyed their faith.

Preface A Note on the Text Acknowledgements Introduction The Diary of Father Francis Tan Tiande The Diary of Father John Huang Yongmu The Life of Father Joseph Li Chang The Prison Diary of Gertrude Li Minwen The Via Crucis of the Trappist Monks of Yangjiaping Appendix 1: Chronology of the Catholic Church in China ((1921-2006) Appendix 2: The Structures that Control Chinese Religious Policy Bibliography