The tall (1.75m/5' 9"), blonde, Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman was inconsistent with Aylward's small stature, dark hair and North London accent. Although she found herself a figure of international interest due to the popularity of the film, and television and media interviews, Aylward was mortified by her depiction in the film and the liberties it took. It drew from the book The Small Woman, by Alan Burgess. The Inn of the Sixth HappinessĪ film based on her life, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, was released in 1958.
There, she founded the Gladys Aylward Orphanage, where she worked until her death in 1970. After rejection by the Communist government and a stay in British administered Hong Kong, she finally settled in Taiwan in 1958. After her mother died, Aylward sought a return to China. Settling in Basingstoke, she gave many lectures on her work. She did not return to Britain until 1949, at which point her life in China was thought to be in great danger from the Communists – the army was actively seeking out missionaries. In 1938, the region was invaded by Japanese forces and Aylward led more than 100 orphans to safety over the mountains, despite being wounded, personally caring for them (and converting many to Christianity). She met with much success in a field that had produced much resistance, including sometimes violence against the inspectors.Īylward became a national of the Republic of China in 1936 and was a revered figure among the people, taking in orphans and adopting several herself, intervening in a volatile prison riot and advocating prison reform, risking her life many times to help those in need. For a time she served as an assistant to the Government of the Republic of China as a "foot inspector" by touring the countryside to enforce the new law against footbinding young Chinese girls.
Lawson not only provided hospitality for travellers, but would also share stories about Jesus, in hopes of spreading nascent Christianity. On her arrival in Yangcheng China, Aylward worked with an older missionary, Jeannie Lawson, to found The Inn of the Eight Happinesses, ( 八福客栈 bāfú kèzhàn in Chinese) the name based on the eight virtues: Love, Virtue, Gentleness, Tolerance, Loyalty, Truth, Beauty and Devotion. She travelled across Japan with the help of the British Consul and took another ship to China. She was detained by the Russians, but managed to evade them with local help and a lift from a Japanese ship.
The perilous trip took her across Siberia with the Trans-Siberian Railway During a time when the Soviet Union and China were in an undeclared War. On 15 October 1930, having worked for Sir Francis Younghusband, Aylward spent her life savings on a train passage to Yangcheng, Shanxi Province, China.
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