Chronology

200  B. C.China united under Chin (Qin) Dynasty
1842Treaty of Nanking ends Opium War
1851-1864“Taiping Rebellion”.  Suppressed by Manchu Dynasty with help from  Western Powers
1881Danielle Johannessen and Hans Nesse born near Bergen—Bremnes, Finaas, Norway
1898-1910Hans emigrated to U.S.  Worked as carpenter and Lakes seaman.  School/seminary
1899U.S. proclaims “Open Door” policy towards China
1900“Boxer Rebellion” Anti foreign movement ultimately suppressed by Western Powers
1902Missionary interests buy large tract of land on Kikung mountain as summer retreat
1909“Sister” Danielle accepts Norwegian Missionary Society call to China as a nurse
1909“Reverend” Hans Nesse accepts China call by the Norwegian Luth. Church of America
1911Manchu Dynasty overthrown – “warlord era” begins throughout China
1912Hans and Danielle meet on Kikung after 11 years without contact
1913Hans and Danielle married on Kikung – launch mission work in Suiping, Honan
1914“ASK” American School Kikung (now Jigong) for missionary children established
1915Gerhard Nesse born in Sinyang (now Xinyang) Honan (now Henan)
1917Henry Nesse born in Sinyang
1922Arthur Nesse born in Kioshan, Honan
1926-1927Civil war and anti-foreign movement led to exodus of foreigners from China.  Chiang Kai Shek unifies china under Kuomingtang.  Nesse family travels to U.S. via Siberia and Norway.
1928China renews relations with the West and foreign businesses and missionaries return
1931Japan takes Manchuria from China
1932Danielle dies in Sinyang and is buried on Kikung. Hans and the boys travel to U.S. where Gerhard and Henry remain.  Arthur returns to China and ASK
1937Japan launches campaign to conquer China – continues through end of  WW II -1945
1937-1938Hans with Arthur to U.S. for furlough – Hans returns to China – Arthur stays in U.S.
1941Pearl Harbor — U.S. – Japan hostilities start
1942-1945Hans interned by the Japanese in Wuhan, Hupeh.  Returns to U.S. in 1946
1948Hans returns to China and resumes work in Sinyang
1945-1949Communists defeat Nationalists who retreat to Taiwan
1951Communists disallow foreign missionary programs and Hans leaves to return to U.S. He dies when visiting his home in Norway en-route to the U.S.
1951-1953Communists purge propertied classes (5-10 million reported killed) and redistribute land to the peasants. 
1957-1958“Great Leap Forward” featuring communal farming and industrialization. Widespread starvation throughout China
1966-1969“Cultural Revolution” destroys cultural artifacts and educational infrastructure throughout most of China.
1972Nixon visits China – restoration of cultural, diplomatic and business relations begins to develop again
1976Mao Tse tung and Chou en lai die
1979“Wade Giles” phonetic conventions for the Chinese language replaced by “Pinyin”