In late April, 2016, I was invited to give a lecture at the Naval and Aeronautical Engineering Institute in Yantai, Shandong Province. The visit to Yantai and the Institute was arranged through a Yantai friend and former student of my Canadian university.
This was part of a larger interest to visit the historic buildings of the Chefoo School to explore what might still survive.
Founded in 1881, the school had 200 children in residence by 1894. It continued to expand and operate in Yantai until forced to close in 1943 under Japanese occupation and hostilities following the bombing of Pearl Harbour. Students and staff were then moved to military protection and confinement for up to two years in the Weihsien (Weifang) Concentration Camp.
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My lecture focused on some of this history and attempted to draw at least some distinctions between the purposes for Taylor’s missionary involvements and the purposes of the colonial powers who attempted to force China open to trade a century and more ago.
My lecture was delivered in English with PowerPoint backup and was well-received and seemingly understood by the students. Thirty minutes of questions and discussion followed my lecture.
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Pictures below start with the gates to the military academy, and continue with photos of my lecture, a presentation to me of a commemorative plaque, and photos of the follow-up dinner. Discussion over dinner included members of the local Foreign Affairs Office and included the idea of opening up the site for more foreign tourists.
Click images for larger format.
The larger story of my visit and historical interest that led to this lecture is told in my blog article:
First published: 2017/07/09
Latest revision: 2021/04/20