1650: Record as in a Dream (如梦录)
Described Kaifeng before 1642 flood
Record as in a Dream, 1984 Edition [Zane Archives]
Record as in a Dream, by an unknown Chinese author — although often attributed to Li Guang-dian (李光壂) — described the panorama of Kaifeng before the 1642 flood. The content is credited to be comprehensive and accurate.
“House of Worship of Sect that Plucks the Sinews”
Record as in a Dream referred to the Kaifeng synagogue as the House of Worship of the Sect that Plucks the Sinews (挑筋教礼拜寺). The book notes that there is a small eye medicine shop on the south side of Earth Street (土街) and that it belonged to the Ai Clan (艾氏). There is also a general pharmacy which belonged to Ai Ying-kui (艾应奎), son of Ai Tian (艾田).
First appearance of Sect that Plucks the Sinews (挑筋教)
The term the Sect that Plucks the Sinews was first coined sometime during the 17th century as a means to refer to the Jews.
This term originated from the kosher practice of removing the sciatic nerve from animals slaughtered for food.
The Kaifeng Jews welcomed this name because it distinguished them from their Muslim neighbours, who also abstained from pork.
Originated from Sect that Totes the Scriptures (挑经教)
When the Jews first arrived in Kaifeng, they toted their Scriptures on carrying poles, and thus the locals referred to them as the Sect that Totes the Scriptures.
Over time, the public observed that they extracted the ligament from the sheep and cattle they slaughtered. Therefore, the term the Han Chinese used to refer to the Jews changed from Tiao Jing Jiao, which means the Sect that Totes the Scriptures, to Tiao Jin Jiao, which implies the Sect that Extracts the Sinews. The pronunciation of the two terms in Chinese is similar, but the meanings are entirely different.