The Lives of Missionaries: “Queen of the Dark Chamber,” – Tsai Su Juan (Christiana Tsai)

 

 

Tsai Su Juan (Christiana Tsai) 1890-1984

The daughter of a vice-governor in Jiangsu province in China, Tsai Su Juan, was well cared for child, growing up in luxury and wealth.  She was yet an unhappy girl, and considered becoming a Buddhist nun, to practice a life of self-denial.

Her fascination with the English language helped her become enrolled in a missionary school, but she was determined only to study and learn, and to close her heart and mind off to the gospel.   When a visiting preacher came and spoke on “Christ, the Light of the world,” she was deeply touched and came to faith in Christ.

Her family was enraged by her conversion, and greatly pressured her to turn from the faith of the “foreign devils,” (A term used to designate white skin color, associated with ghosts) but the inner peace of God flooded her life with inexpressible joy.  Her family resorted to removing her from the school, and mocked her faith, but she grew in reading God’s Word, and prayer,  knowing the love of Christ in a deep way.   After some time, her parents allowed her to return to school.  Upon graduation, she was offered several jobs and positions, but turned all of these down, to return to her home, to reach her family and townsmen for Christ.  God rewarded Christiana’s faith, and 55 members of her family followed the Lord, including her mother, who was set free from opium addiction by the power of Christ.  Together with the American principal, Mary Leaman, Christiana, and her mother, had a thriving gospel ministry in the city and countryside of Jiangxu.

In 1931,  Christiana contracted a radical case of malaria in Shanghai, leaving her bedridden for long periods of time, and she remained confined in a dark and isolated room, because of her sensitivity to light and noise.  From malaria, she suffered middle-ear damage, and could not be exposed to bright daylight. It was here that she continued ministering to people, reaching many for Christ from her darkened room.  From here she also wrote numerous articles that penetrated the hearts of young intellectuals.  Literally thousands of people visited her over the course of many years to hear the Word of God preached and communicated with great conviction. She became widely known as “Queen of the Dark Chamber.”

Great suffering awaited Su Juan, while the Japanese occupied China during WWII, imprisoning many missionaries, including the principal of her school. In weakness, she crawled about on the floor, surviving only on meager portions of bread and fermented, salted, vegetables, but her love for Christ, and the serene peace of her heart, and together with Miss Leaman their preaching led many to believe in the Lord.

After the war, Mary LeamChristiana Tsai - Queen of the Dark Chamber 1 ccmbookroom organ returned to the United States in 1949, and took Su Juan, then 59 years old, to live with her in Pennsylvania.  From there she wrote her autobiography, “Queen of the Dark Chamber,” which was later translated into 50 languages, in which the English version, Billy Graham, wrote a preface recommendation. Su Juan also wrote devotionals on the power of prayer, with her writings challenging and inspiring many to live for Christ and serve Him with deep devotion.  Tsai Su Juan “Christiana” entered into the presence of the Lord, on August 25, 1984.

“My bed is not a prison, but a training school; the Holy Spirit is my mentor, and my visitors are my homework.”

“A sage sees opportunities in difficulties, but a fool finds difficulties in opportunities.” – Tsai Su Juan

 

 

Photos Source:

1. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL9395579M/Queen_of_the_Dark_Chamber

2. http://www.ccmbookroom.org/cgi-bin/front/item.cgi?pid=2644&cid=8&ctl=1BW09Zjkt7c

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: