Hair Clippers Owned by Watchman Nee
Hair Clippers Owned by Watchman Nee
OBJ.000432
Object
ca. 1960s
China
N/A
Metal
6 × 4.25 × 3.5 in. (15.2 × 10.8 × 8.9 cm)
Not on View
These hair clippers were owned by Watchman Nee, founder of the largest indigenous Christian church movement in China. In 1952, during the Cultural Revolution, Nee was imprisoned as a reactionary by the Chinese Communist Party. While in captivity, Nee used these hair clippers to cut his own hair, telling his friend You Qi Wu that his head belonged to Jesus, so no one else should touch it.
One day, in 1970, You Qi Wu’s son (age 5) came to visit Baimaoling labor camp, where he and Nee were held. Nee asked Wu’s son who cut his hair. He responded and said his mother, but that she didn’t own any clippers. So Nee gave his hair clippers to Wu’s son, who took them home.
This is one of the only items owned by Nee to survive from his time in prison. He would remain in captivity until his death in 1972. He is considered a martyr for the Christian faith.
Created in the mid-1900s. Acquired by Watchman Nee (1903–1972), Shanghai, China;[1] Gifted in 1970 to the son of You Qi Wu, Shanghai, China;[2] Ownership assumed by You Qi Wu; Donated in 2022 to Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: [1] Date of creation is unknown, as is the date Watchman Nee acquired the clippers. Nee may have acquired the clippers while at Baimaoling labor camp in 1970. This camp was less strict than his previous appointment at Tilanqiao Prison and would explain how he was able to have clippers in his possession. [2] You Qi Wu was Nee’s friend and cellmate. When Wu’s family came to visit, Nee asked his son who cut his hair. The son replied that his mother cut it, but that she didn’t have any clippers. Nee responded by giving the son his clippers. The details of this account were told to a curator of Museum of the Bible by You Qi Wu, who kept the clippers until he donated them to Museum of the Bible.
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