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1930 · rif. 176834 — Chefoo: Self-help Department Women's Bible School Presbyterian Mission c. 1930. A dainty album of handmade papercuts by Chinese students at the Ai Dao Women's Bible School attached to the American Presbyterian Mission in Chefoo. Throughout the 1930s the school produced various themed papercut collections to raise funds and comparison with other copies of the same title reveals that each was bound in brocade of a unique design. The collection tells the story of seven moral exemplars who all displayed obedience and respectfulness towards their elders even when faced with hardships. The story of Jiang Si is typical: "The mother of this boy demanded fish to eat every day and insisted that all their food be cooked in spring water. This kept the family hard pressed as the son had to waste half of each working day while fishing. His little wife had to make a long trip to get the spring water also. But they did this uncomplainingly till in appreciation of such devotion the fairies gave them a wonderful spring right by their door and in it each day they found two fish!" The education of women became a priority for social reformers in the wake of the May Fourth Movement and schools like Ai Dao were at the forefront of this revolution in education. Landscape octavo 181 x 234 mm ff. 8. Papercut showing a master and his student mounted on title page 7 similar papercuts with captioned glassine guards. Original decorative silk brocade black thread xianzhuang stitching edges untrimmed. Explanatory sheet loosely inserted as issued. Light rubbing explanatory sheet creased and nicked in one corner: a fine copy. unknown