The Goddess of Mercy of Nanking: Minnie Vautrin's Witness and Courage

How one American woman stood against horror and saved thousands during the Nanking Massacre.

Introduction: A Foreign Woman in a Chinese Hell

In December 1937, as Japanese troops stormed into Nanjing, unleashing one of the most horrific atrocities of the 20th century, a middle-aged American woman named Minnie Vautrin stood at the gates of her campus, arms outstretched, trying to stop soldiers from entering. Her story is one of bravery, heartbreak, and profound humanity.

Who Was Minnie Vautrin?

Born in Illinois in 1886, Minnie Vautrin came to China in 1912 as a Christian missionary. By the 1930s, she was the acting president of Jinling Women's College in Nanjing, an elite institution committed to educating Chinese women. When most foreigners fled before the Japanese invasion, Vautrin chose to stay. Her college would become a makeshift sanctuary for over 10,000 Chinese women and children.