1928 A Map of China Prepared for the China Inland Mission
By: Edward Stanford
Date: 1928 (dated) London
Dimensions: 40.5 x 34 inches (103 x 86.5 cm)
A scarce folding map of China published by the China Inland Mission (CIM), showing the locations of all Protestant Missions and the subsequent spread of Christianity throughout the country.
This large folding map of China is dissected into 30 sheets and comes in its original slip case with a decorative label showing the Earth settled into a layer of clouds. The map shows presents of China from Tibet to the coast and Mongolia and Manchuria in the north to Burma, Siam, and French Indo-China in the south. All provinces of the Republic of China are outlined and labeled darker shade of yellow. The map is filled with information detailed in a reference at lower right that includes towns and cities of varying size and relevance, treaty ports, canals, railroads, telegraph stations, a distinct line pattern for the Great Wall of China and of course Stations of Protestant Missions.
History of the China Inland Mission
The China Inland Mission (CIM) was a Christian missionary organization that played a significant role in spreading Christianity in China during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was founded by the British Protestant missionary James Hudson Taylor in 1865 with a primary objective to reach the inland regions of China, which were often inaccessible to Western missionaries at the time.
Taylor's approach was marked by a commitment to cultural adaptation and the wearing of Chinese clothing, which set CIM apart from other missions. The organization also emphasized self-reliance and faith in God's provision, seeking to avoid dependence on external funding. Another distinctive tactic of the China Inland Mission was its reliance on "faith missions," where missionaries trusted in God to provide for their needs rather than relying on a salary from a sending agency. This approach allowed CIM to send a significant number of missionaries to remote areas of China.
Over the years, the China Inland Mission faced various challenges, including political instability, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Chinese Civil War. Despite these difficulties, the organization continued its work, and by the early 20th century, it had established a strong presence in many parts of China. It was a progressive operation, being one of the first to employ women in both entry level and senior positions and had a reputation for improving the state healthcare and education within the communities they served.
The onset of the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, coinciding with the unfolding of World War II, proved catastrophic for the China Inland Mission. As Japanese forces advanced, numerous CIM stations were compelled to shut down, and a considerable number of missionaries and adherents found themselves interned in Japanese prison camps. The final blow to the China Inland mission came with the Communist takeover of China in 1949, that labeled Western missionaries as 'imperialist spies.'
Today, the legacy of the China Inland Mission lives on through OMF International, which continues to engage in missionary work, outreach, and community development in various parts of Asia and beyond.
Condition: Map is in A+ condition, clean with bright colors laid on original linen without any tears or stains. The map comes with its original slip case that is still sturdy with no breaks.
Inventory #12711
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622