Legends of the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng

by Xin Xu

Other authorsBeverly Friend, Ting Cheng (Illustrator), Cheng Ting (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 1995

Status

Available

Call number

T 398.2 XIN

Publication

Ktav Pub Inc (1995), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 140 pages

Description

A collection of legends and stories from the oral tradition of this group of Jews who migrated to China long ago offers a look at their history and unique identity.

Barcode

1584

Awards

Sydney Taylor Book Award (Mass Import -- Pending Differentiation)

Language

User reviews

LibraryThing member keristars
This slim book tells the story of the Jewish people of China, how they got to Kaifeng and established themselves. It builds upon the legends inscribed on stele, with the intention of making them more real and accessible to modern English-language readers. Not only are there stories of the early
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period of the Chinese Jewish people, but there are also stories of more modern times, including examples from the 20th century.

The fact that there were Jewish immigrants to China is not well known, but this book is a nice introduction to them and the blending of their traditions with the Chinese culture. The illustrations are a good visual supplement to the legends - they, too, blend a traditional Chinese art style with Western illustration style.

Despite the interesting subject matter, I was disappointed with the book. I felt that there were too many liberties taken with the legends and they were embellished too much by the writers. I wish they had been presented as they are on the stele, though in translation, of course, so that I could make my own judgments. However, I am not necessarily the target audience, and this book is more suited to casual readers than academics studying folklore.
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ISBN

0881255289 / 9780881255287
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