1920: Professor Pelliot
Le Juif Ngai (The Jew Ai)
Professor Paul Eugene Pelliot (1878–1945) published the article Le Juif Ngai (The Jew Ai) in the Sinological journal T’oung Pao (通报).
Xiangfu Gazetteer, only one Ai obtained a Master’s Degree
Although Ai was one of the surnames borne by the Jewish families in Kaifeng, it was not a common surname in China.
The local paper usually announced the names of those who attained a Master’s Degree (贡士) through the Imperial Examinations; the Xiangfu Gazetteer only had the record of one person with the surname Ai who obtained a Master Degree; his name was Ai Tian and the year was 1573.
The Ai that Father Ricci met was Ai Tian (艾田)
Professor Pelliot hence concluded that the Ai whom Matteo Ricci met in 1605 –– whose full name was not recorded –– was Ai Tian. He would therefore have been 60 years old in 1605, according to Father Matteo Ricci's writings.
Ai Tian’s son was Ai Ying-kui (艾应奎)
According to Professor Pelliot, this Ai Tian who obtained his Master's Degree in the Imperial Examinations in 1573, subsequently reached the position of District Magistrate (知县). He was also the author and donor of a plaque to the synagogue, which stated, "we recite the 53 sections of our sacred books and instruct our families in the knowledge of the 27 letters of our alphabet." On this inscription, he signed himself as a disciple of the Jewish religion.
Ai Tian had a son, Ai Ying-kui (艾应奎), who then had five sons of his own — Ai Cong-sheng (艾丛生), Ai Yong-yin (艾永胤), Ai Xian-sheng (艾显升), Ai Da-sheng (艾达生), and Ai Fu-sheng (艾复生). All of his sons were mentioned in the 1663 Stone Inscription as active participants in rebuilding the synagogue.
One of Ai Tian’s grandsons, Ai Xian-sheng (艾显升), restored and re-carved the plaque donated by Ai Tian.
Plaque donation unrelated to knowledge of Hebrew
Father Matteo Ricci recorded that Ai grew up learning only Chinese and did not have any proficiency in Hebrew. He wrote that Ai was expelled from the synagogue and was almost ex-communicated. That being said, it was made clear that Ai had a strong affinity for Jewish Studies. He was familiar with the teachings of the Old Testament, did not worship idols, and revered Jewish Patriarchs; he even had two brothers who were rabbis.
As an educated Chinese literati, it was very possible that Ai was asked to write the ornamental inscriptions for the synagogue. Moreover, it was customary to request the services of those who have passed the Imperial Examinations because of their excellent calligraphy skills.