The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-07

, century A. D. DR.. Kohler. however, mas
| that there is preponderance OF evidence In
| favor OF an earlier date. NJ Cordier deems
| IL probable that in the tenth century a. ID
! a new colony of Jews came into China.
/ These came by sea. and not by crossing
/ central Asia; they were members OF the
Jewish colony settled in India. Marco
| Polo refers to the powerful commercial ana
| political influence Of the Jews In China IN
| A. d. 1886.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Euro
pean Jews had no knowledge OF the q ststence
Of corcligionsts in China; even Benjamin OF
| Tucela who mentions China, seems to know
nothing about them. II was through Jesuit
missionaries in the seventeenth century that
the first Information reached Europe OF
Jewish community consisting OF about
Ave or six hundred members in kai-Fung-
Foo, the ancient capital Of Honan OF one
at Hangchau-Fo and OF others IN other
Chinese towns Owing TO tho existence
OF an ancient synagogue at kai-FunG-
Foo. which. though rebuilt several times
had preserved the oldest records OF jewish
settlements. the interest OF historians
was centred on the Jews in that place.
The inscriptions in the Chinese Language
found on it's marble tablets dating from
the years 1889, 1879 and 1883, which have
often been translated and published. have
cast igh, upon hitherto unknown chapter
of Jewish history. Abstracts OF these
inscriptions will be found set forth in Mr..
Corder's article. So long as the Jewish
inhabitants Of China continued TO enjoy the
imperial protection, as men Of consequence
In commerce. their Persian brethren sup
paI thar, xxytth tho pf religious
education. The commercial and social
decline Of the Chinese Jews broke on their
connection with the West: and a state Of
ignorance followed When the existence
Of Jews in China became known to their
European coreligionists steps were taken
to communicate with them. In l7eO
Hebrew letter was addressed to them from
London, in which they were implored TO
give information about their origin, their
condition and their needs The answer,
written in Hebrew and Chinese, has disap-
peared. A letter received from them in
1870 by the British Consul at Jerusalem
disclosed the fact of their restitution and
religious decay. This state Of ahairs.
however. had been made known as early
az 1850 by DR., Smith. Bishop OF Victoria.
after inquiries had been prosecuted on
D0Ddu OF tnS LONDON nlSslOn6Ty sSOcIcty.
In order to secure Information about the
Chinese Jews at Kai-Fung- Foo, number
OF missionaries and Jewish merchants
were sent thither. They reported that
few families. Jewish in name only, yet
sharply differentiated from the surround
ing heather and Mohammedans, lived
there in ahject poverty, They could read
no Hebrew. had not had rabbi for Atty
years. intermarried outside the faith, and
preserved only a few ceremonies and names
OF holy days. The expectation Of Messiah
seems to have been entirely lost. The rite
Of circumcision. which appears to have
been observed at the period Of their dis
covery by the Jes,iits in the seventeenth
century. had heen totally discontinued.
In 1900, the community Of Kai-FunR- Foo
numbered lao souls. but were without a
leader. synagogue or any well-defned
system OF education. During the last
three years, however, renewed efforts have
been made by the Society for the Rescue
OF the Chinese Jews looking toward the
restoration Of the Jewish religion at
K'ai-Fung- Foo.