The Undaunted Women of Nanking

A period of relative peace settles over Ginling College in the days following Christmas. Refugees begin to leave the camp, but it remains overcrowded and unsanitary. The stress of protecting the camp takes a physical toll on Minnie.

Two weeks after the invasion, the Japanese army begins its effort to register all refugees in an attempt to identify and capture Chinese soldiers. Refugee numbers at Ginling continue to shrink, but the fires burn on, and bodies fill the streets. Minnie Vautrin and Tsen Shui-fang fear the purpose of the registration of women.

The registration of Chinese civilians continues as the first discussions of a postwar government take place. Japanese soldiers continue to block the entrances of the city and cut off communication. Meanwhile, the refugees at Ginling College do their best to celebrate the New Year.

Religious services are revived in Nanking, just in time for the residents of Ginling College to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Chinese civilians continue to register themselves with the Japanese army, under the impression that it will protect them. Meanwhile, the Chinese government begins bombing the city. Minnie finds comfort in religion, while Shui-fang struggles to see past the ongoing horrors.

Minnie and Shui-fang manage to receive word of some of the horrors that continue to occur outside the safety zone, and they hope that their correspondence will reach its destination. Meanwhile, the residents of Ginling College attempt to recover from illness and exhaustion.

As continued cold weather threatens occupied Nanking, Minnie and Shui-fang rejoice at the arrival of foreign diplomats. However, they are reminded that life has not returned to normalcy.

A tenuous peace settles in the safety zone as more refugees return to their homes, hoping to salvage what they can. Tsen Shui-fang falls ill, and Ginling deals with food shortages.

Ginling College continues its cautious transition into peacetime, but Mrs. Tsen remains ill. We learn more of Minnie’s experience during the Nanking Incident and the impact of the Incident on Ginling.

In the midst of an eerie calm at Ginling, Minnie struggles to cope with and move past the horrors she has witnessed. Meanwhile, Mrs. Tsen recovers from her illness. Church sermons bring fragile hope to the refugees and administrators alike.

The refugees continue to find comfort in church services as the weather worsens. Minnie assists refugee women in attempting to locate their missing husbands and sons. She and Shui-fang have a disagreement, but unexpected mail brings joy.