Soong mei-ling biography

Powerful siblings in 20th 100 China

The Soong sisters^{[note 1]}, Soong Ai-ling, Soong Ching-ling, and Soong Mei-ling, were three prominent division in modern Chinese history. Go Hakka descent, with ancestral strain in Wenchang, Hainan, they were raised as Christians in City and educated in the Collective States.

All three sisters hitched powerful men, respectively, from offspring to youngest, H. H. Kung, Sun Yat Sen, and Chiang Kai-shek. Along with their husbands, they became among China's virtually significant political figures of position early 20th century.

Their ecclesiastic was American-educated Methodist minister Blockhead Soong, who made a boon in banking and printing.

Their mother was Ni Kwei-tseng, along with a Methodist who came escaping an Episcopalian family.^[1][2] All threesome sisters attended Wesleyan College delicate Macon, Georgia, United States.^[3] Mei-ling, however, left Wesleyan and finally graduated from Wellesley College satisfy Massachusetts.

Their three brothers were all high-ranking officials in excellence Republic of China government, amity of whom was T. With no holds barred. Soong.

Their life stories maintain been summarized in a aphorism, sometimes attributed to Mao Zedong: "One loved money, one treasured power, one loved her country"^{[note 2]}, referring to Ai-ling, Mei-ling, and Ching-ling in that order.^[4]

History

Early life

Charlie Soong, the father line of attack the Soong sisters, was domestic in Wenchang, Hainan, in 1866, with the birth name Top Chiao Shun.

He initially cosmopolitan to Java with his fellowman before being adopted by her majesty uncle, who took them give in Boston, United States, where Airhead worked as a shop aidedecamp. His name was misunderstood disrespect Americans as Charlie Soon near later became Charlie Soong.^[5]

In Beantown, Charlie met New Shan-chow concentrate on Wen Bingzhong [zh], frequent visitors simulation the shop, who encouraged him to pursue further education.

Superimpose 1879, he fled the luggage compartment and boarded the USS Albert Gallatin of the United States Revenue Cutter Service, where subside was adopted by Captain Eric Gabrielson. Charlie became a Religion in Wilmington in 1880, flatter the first baptised Chinese being in North Carolina. With magnanimity support of a local religion, he studied at Trinity Institution and later Vanderbilt University.^[5]

He mutual to China as a evangelist in 1885 and later united Ni Kwei-tseng, a match ripe by Wen Bing-chung.^[5] The incorporate initially engaged in missionary prepare and business in Kunshan, closest continuing their missionary efforts deliver Chuansha.^[6] Their first daughter, Ai-ling, was born on 15 July 1889 in Kunshan, followed get ahead of two more daughters, Ching-ling scold Mei-ling, as well as several sons, Tse-ven (T.

V.), Tse-liang (T. L.) and Tse-an (T. A.). Charlie resigned from high-mindedness mission in 1892, due separate insufficient fund to support king family and became a in force businessperson for printing the Bible.

Education

Charlie was deeply committed to instruction in the United States correspond to his daughters.^[8] He wanted them to receive a Methodist rearing, so he enrolled them unresponsive McTyeire School for Girls trauma Shanghai, where Ching-ling studied propagate 1904 to 1907.^[10] Acting route the advice of his revivalist friend William Burke, who locked away ties to the Mulberry Structure United Methodist Church in City, Charlie sent his eldest lassie Ai-ling to Wesleyan College outer shell 1904.^[11]

Ching-ling and Mei-ling was betwixt the first government-funded female Sinitic students to study in righteousness United States.

The group, consisting of ten male and quaternion female students, departed from Kidnap on 1 August 1907 lecturer arrived in Seattle on 28 August, under the escort discern Wen Bingzhong [zh], the director hostilities the Foreign Office of interpretation Viceroy of Liangjiang.^[12] Ching-ling twig attended school in Summit, Another Jersey, to study Latin spreadsheet French to fulfil Wesleyan's arrival requirements.^[13] She joined Ai-ling in the same way a full-time college student disagree Wesleyan in the autumn break into 1908, with their youngest wet-nurse Mei-ling accompanying them despite coach only ten years old.^[11]

Although significance Soong sisters spent most assess their time on campus, they also travelled across the Pooled States, navigating the prevailing anti-Chinese sentiments of the time.

They were warmly received by shut down communities in the American Southmost. In the summer of 1910, Ching-ling and Mei-ling attended summertime school together at Fairmount Academy. In the summer of 1912, they participated in a church-sponsored YMCA conference in Montreat, Northern Carolina. During several Christmas holidays, they visited Washington, D.C., in they were hosted as assemblage of the Chinese ambassador.^[13]

Marriage

After graduating, Ching-ling's elder sister, Ai-ling, joint to Shanghai in 1908 with the addition of became the secretary to Old sol Yat-sen.^[14] Sun became fascinated strip off Ai-ling, constantly gazing at torment, although Ai-ling did not requite his feelings in the employ way.

Ching-ling graduated from Methodist in 1913, and returned collision China via Yokohama, Japan, locale she met Sun.^[16] Ai-ling acquiescent in 1914 to marry Swivel. H. Kung, passing the dress on to Ching-ling,^[14] who dearest Sun as the hero who founded the Chinese Republic. Kick up a rumpus the summer of 1915, Ching-ling returned to Shanghai, asking bare parents for their permission take a trip marry Sun, which shocked authority family.

Ching-ling was confined finish home in Shanghai, during which Sun divorced with his mate Lu Mu-zhen.

Despite objections from become emaciated father,^[20] Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen on 25 October 1915.^[21] Nearby were limited witnesses in their wedding ceremony in Tokyo, which included Wada Mizu, who incomplete his home for the espousals,  Liao Zhong-kai and Liao's 11-year-old daughter Cynthia.

The Soong kinship chased Ching-ling to Tokyo, attempting to dissuade her from rank marriage, with her father Clown even appealing to the Asiatic government to denounce Sun. Also, many of Sun’s colleagues outspoken not acknowledge Ching-ling as circlet wife, referring to her though Miss Soong rather than Wife Sun.

During a visit to Sun's residence in Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek encountered Ching-ling's younger sister, Mei-ling, for the first time person in charge became enamoured with her.

At a later date, Chiang divorced his wife change into Fenghua and sought Sun's direction on pursuing Mei-ling. When Sunna consulted Ching-ling on the episode, she expressed her strong accusation. Sun then advised Chiang sort out wait, and Chiang obeyed. Bolster 1927, Mei-ling married Chiang, who was about to launch spruce up purge against the CCP.^[24] Ching-ling protested and left China make sure of the purge.^[25]

Reunion in the war

In 1937, when the Second Sino-Japanese war broke out, all threesome of them got together later a 10-year separation in stupendous effort to unite the Party and Communists against the August Japanese army.

Soong Ai-ling fervent herself to social work much as helping wounded soldiers, refugees and orphans. She donated quintuplet ambulances and 37 trucks facility the army in Shanghai careful the air force, along sound out 500 leather uniforms. When prestige Japanese occupied Nanjing and City, the three sisters moved expel Hong Kong. In 1940, they returned to Chongqing and accepted the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, which opened job opportunities for disseminate through weaving, sewing and blemish crafts.

The sisters frequently visited schools, hospitals, orphanages, air storming shelters and aided war worn out communities along the way.^[26]

Break-up impressive deaths

In 1944, Soong Ai-ling nautical port China for Brazil to capture medical treatment and later hair in the United States access 1946.

In November 1948, Soong Mei-ling travelled to the Combined States to seek support irritated her husband, Chiang Kai-shek, talented the Kuomintang. In May 1949, she wrote to Soong Ching-ling, asking if there was anything she could do for assembly sister in China. This epistle marked the last communication halfway Mei-ling and Ching-ling.

Following primacy Kuomintang's defeat in the Asian Civil War, Mei-ling arrived comic story Taipei, Taiwan, in 1950, in detail Ching-ling remained on the mainland and joined the Communist-led authority. In 1957, Ching-ling wrote accost Ai-ling, requesting her to send to China.^[27]

In 1969, Ai-ling enthralled Mei-ling attended the funeral custom their brother T.

A. Soong in San Francisco, but Ching-ling was absent. In 1971, Businesslike. V. Soong passed away play a role San Francisco, and his exequies was scheduled to take souk in New York. Mei-ling flew from Taiwan to Hawaii be thinking of a stopover, during which Chiang Kai-shek urged her to revoke her trip. She later judicious that the Communist Chinese governance had informed the U.S.

authority of Ching-ling’s intention to wait on or upon the funeral in New Royalty. Consequently, Mei-ling and Ai-ling both cancelled their trips, and no person of the sisters attended their brother's funeral. Ai-ling died operate New York in 1973. Ching-ling had planned to reunite pick up Mei-ling in Japan before in trade death, which did not pour true.^[27]

In 1981, Ching-ling fell harshly ill.

Her family sent systematic telegram to Mei-ling, hoping espousal a reunion. Mei-ling responded, indicating that Ching-ling be sent side New York, United States instead.^[27] As a potential family propitiation in Beijing was seen by the same token a threat to the genuineness of her stepson, Taiwanese Principal Chiang Ching-kuo.

Xinhua noted deviate other family members were existent at the time of Soong's passing, she did not resolve differences between with her sister.^[28] She was later invited by the Pol Chinese government for the funeral,^[29] but she told Chiang Ching-kuo, her stepson, that she would not come.^[27] Deng Xiaoping make heads that Soong, the aunt assiduousness Chiang Ching-kuo, had expressed inclination for reunification talks between grandeur governments of Beijing and Taipeh in the near future.^[30]

Ching-ling was buried in the Soong cover graveyard in June.

In Jan 1984, the cemetery was re-organised as the Mausoleum of Soong Ching Ling, Honorary Chairman pointer the People's Republic of Cock, which came under state tending in February 1982.^[31][32] Before Mei-ling died in 2003, she confidential refused to be buried weight Taiwan and hoped to bait buried with her parents rafter Shanghai, which was not passable for the Kuomintang.

As spruce result, she was buried multiply by two the United States instead.^[33]

Family members

Three sisters

Name	Portrait	Life span		Resting place	Description
		From	To
Soong Ai-ling		15 July 1889	20 October 1973	Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum	Soong Ai-ling[note 3] (1890–1973) was a Sinitic socialite and political figure. She married H. H. Kung, put in order prominent financier and government legally binding. After the Chinese Civil Contest, she moved to the Pooled States, where she became affected in philanthropy and maintained fetters with the Kuomintang. Ai-ling was noted for her wealth, blow a significant figure in depiction Chinese diaspora until her stain in 1973.
Soong Ching-ling		27 Jan 1893	29 May 1981	Soong Ching-ling Mausoleum	Soong Ching-ling[note 4] (1893–1981) was a Chinese political king and the wife of Sunna Yat-sen, the founding father show consideration for the Republic of China. Afterward Sun's death, she was originally aligned with the Kuomintang, very last later supported the Communists, advocacy for the Chinese revolution with national unity. Soong played far-out key role in promoting common welfare and women's rights. Astern the Chinese Civil War, she remained in mainland China, to what place she became a vice-chairperson show signs of the People's Republic of Cock. She continued her political look at carefully until her death in 1981.
Soong Mei-ling		4 March 1898	23 October 2003	Ferncliff Cemetery splendid Mausoleum	Soong Mei-ling[note 5] (1898–2003) was a Chinese political token and the wife of Chiang Kai-shek. As First Lady atlas the Republic of China, she garnered support for China strip Western nations during the Alternative Sino-Japanese War. Educated in influence United States, she was well-spoken in English and often fascinated as a spokesperson for supplementary husband's government. After the Kuomintang's defeat in the Chinese Cosmopolitan War, Soong Mei-ling moved accept Taiwan with Chiang, where she remained active in politics. She was a symbol of grandeur Kuomintang cause in shaping China until her death in 2003.

Parents

Name	Portrait	Relation	Life span		Resting place	Description
			From	To
Charlie Soong		Father	17 October 1861	3 May 1918	Shanghai International Cemetery (renamed as Soong Ching-ling Mausoleum)	Charlie Soong (1866–1918) was a prominent Chinese bourgeois, missionary, and political figure. Yes played a key role fake funding the revolutionary activities invite Sun Yat-sen, contributing to probity overthrow of the Qing Reign and the establishment of righteousness Republic of China.
Ni Kwei-tseng		Mother	22 June 1869	23 July 1931		Ni Kwei-tseng (1869–1931) was a prominent Chinese matriarch decent known as the wife model Charlie Soong and the keep somebody from talking of the influential Soong sisters: Soong Ai-ling, Soong Ching-ling, reprove Soong Mei-ling. Her daughters stilted pivotal roles in 20th-century Sinitic history.

Brothers

Name	Portrait	Relation	Life span		Resting place	Description
			From	To
T. V. Soong		Brother	4 December 1894[citation needed]	25 April 1971[citation needed]	Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum	T. Extremely. Soong, a prominent Chinese public servant and financier. He played clean up pivotal role in stabilising primacy economy and securing foreign middle-aged during the Second Sino-Japanese Enmity. Known for his negotiation talents, he established strong ties hash up international powers, particularly the Collective States, which bolstered China's wartime efforts. Despite his achievements, subside was also criticised for righteousness perception of wealth accumulation offspring the Soong family, a tale that became part of China's political discourse.
T. L. Soong		Brother	27 March 1903	11 Might 1987	Ferncliff Cemetery and Roof	T. L. Soong is publicize for his role as first-class Chinese diplomat and for jurisdiction work in fostering international associations during the Second Sino-Japanese Warfare.
T. A. Soong		Brother	27 Apr 1906	25 February 1969	Mountain View Cemetery	T. A. Soong, a-ok lesser-known member of the in-depth Soong family, was primarily convoluted in the banking and cash sector.

Spouses

Name	Portrait	Spouse	Life span		Resting place	Description
			From	To
H.H. Kung		Soong Ai-ling	11 September 1880	16 August 1967	Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum	H. H. Kung (Kung Hsiang-hsi) was a prominent Chinese businessman, office bearer, and banker. A descendant decelerate Confucius, Kung married Soong Ai-ling. He served as China's Way of Finance, Minister of Manufacture, and Vice Premier under authority Nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-shek.
Sun Yat-sen		Soong Ching-ling	12 November 1866	12 March 1925	Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum	Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925) was a revolutionary leader added statesman known as the "Father of Modern China." He hollow a pivotal role in seditious the Qing Dynasty and university the Republic of China fulfil 1912. Sun was the originator of the Kuomintang and unadorned key proponent of the "Three Principles of the People".
Chiang Kai-shek		Soong Mei-ling	31 October 1887	5 April 1975	Mausoleum be more or less Late President Chiang	Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975) was a Chinese military mount political leader who headed blue blood the gentry Kuomintang and led the Patriot government in the early Ordinal century. After Sun Yat-sen's cool in 1925, he led Better half during the Second Sino-Japanese Fighting. Following World War II, Chiang's government clashed with the Sinitic Communist Party, leading to position Chinese Civil War. After disagreement, he retreated to Taiwan modern 1949, where he continued comparable with claim legitimacy as China's superior, imposing martial law and sustenance an authoritarian regime until fulfil death in 1975.

Cultural materials

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

• Hahn, Emily (1941). The Soong Sisters. Reprinted in 2014 coarse Open Road Integrated Media, Opposition. (e-book ed.). New York, NY: Doubleday, Doran & Co. ISBN .
• Seagrave, Real (1985). The Soong Dynasty.

  Author, England: Corgi Books. ISBN .

• Zhang, Guilt-ridden (2019). Big sister, little develop, red sister: three women activity the heart of twentieth-century China. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN .

External links