Before we examined the issue of the 13 Kaifeng Torah Scrolls. Who among this group had a literati degree? It seems only one. Chao Yingcheng. However, two of the men, in bold, on this list have a military designation:
Ai Weiyi and family restored one roll
Chao Yunssu restored one roll
Chin Yinghsien and his family
Kao Tenkeui and family restored one roll
Chao Yingcheng restored one roll
Manla Shi Tzu-chun restored one roll
Li Hui and nephew restored one roll
Li Yu-hsiu restored one roll
Kao Tengko restored one roll
Manla Chang Wen-jui and family restored one roll
Manla Ai Ta-sheng, brothers, sons and nephews restored one roll
Ai Weiyi also rebuilt the synagogue kitchen, 1663a
Chao Yingcheng is in the 1663a&b inscription, and in the Memorial Book, 199, 539F (as Moses) and various gazettes.
Kao Tenkeui is also mentioned in the 1663a&b inscription, and is in the Memorial Book, 381, 910H
Li Hui is also in the Memorial Book, 44m (alive?)
Chang Wen-jui, mentioned several times in the Memorial Book, 671GM, 801S, 802S
Both Li Hui and Li Yu-hsiu are on the 1663b list that Leslie discovered in 1969 as "graduates of Hsiang-fu District Military College." What does this mean? I take it these men were military officers, and graduated from this military institute. The military element of the Kaifeng Jews has never been examined. In fact, there is little in English about the exams or requirements for military service in Imperial China. This is an important missing piece for the study of the Kaifeng community as a great many Kaifeng Jews served in the military. This topic awaits a scholar.
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