Hudson Taylor: Into the Heart of the Dragon

James Hudson Taylor, born in Yorkshire, England in 1832, was one of the most active and creative Protestant missionaries to ever move to China, where he spent a total of 51 years of his life and built a huge network of British missionaries to help tend to the populous nation. Filmmaker Gary Wilkinson’s documentary focuses on the highs and lows of Taylor’s work, as he built schools, opened medical clinics, and strenuously preached. Taylor adopted some novel approaches to outreach, including abandoning Western clothing for native Chinese garb, and shaving part of his head while wearing pigtails (customary for local men). China, which was still subject to British imperialism at the time, saw many of its people convert to Christianity, and pronounced Taylor a "devil" for trying to bring more cultural change to an already-occupied country. Stories about Taylor told here include his far-reaching campaign against the opium trade and his own medical training that was central to his vision of serving. The deaths of family members added tragedy to the sacrifices that the Taylors were already making, and historical events—such as a riot in Yangzhou in response to Taylor’s missionary efforts in 1868—brought international criticism. Combining dramatic re-enactments, archival material, and commentary by Taylor scholars, this is recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)