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{{Infobox_Officeholder
{{Nofootnotes|date=February 2009}}
⚫
| name =Soong May-ling <br> 宋美齡
{{Refimprove|date=February 2009}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
⚫
| name = Song May-ling <br> 宋美齡
| image =Eleanor Roosevelt with Soong Mei-ling.jpg
| image =Eleanor Roosevelt with Soong Mei-ling.jpg
| image_size =280px
| image_size =280px
| caption =Song May-ling (right) with [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] during a 1943 visit
| caption =Soong May-ling (right) with [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] during a 1943 visit
| birth_date =[[Circa|ca]] 1897<ref name="birth">While records at [[Wellesley College]] and the Encyclopaedia Britannica indicate she was born in 1897, the [[Republic of China|ROC]] government as well as the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] and the ''[[New York Times]]'' cite her year of birth as 1898. The ''New York Times'' obituary includes the following explanation: "some references give 1897 as the year because [[Han Chinese|the Chinese]] usually consider everyone to be one year old at birth." cf: [[East Asian age reckoning]]. However, early sources such as the Columbia Encyclopedia, 1960, give her date of birth as 1896, making it possible that "one year" was subtracted twice.</ref>
| birth_date =[[Circa|ca]] 1897<ref name="birth">While records at [[Wellesley College]] and the Encyclopaedia Britannica indicate she was born in 1897, the [[Republic of China|ROC]] government as well as the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] and the ''[[New York Times]]'' cite her year of birth as 1898. The ''New York Times'' obituary includes the following explanation: "some references give 1897 as the year because [[Han Chinese|the Chinese]] usually consider everyone to be one year old at birth." cf: [[East Asian age reckoning]]. However, early sources such as the Columbia Encyclopedia, 1960, give her date of birth as 1896, making it possible that "one year" was subtracted twice.</ref>
| birth_place =[[Shanghai]], [[China]]<ref name="shanghai">The ''New York Times'' gives her place of birth as [[Shanghai]], while the BBC and ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' give it as [[Wenchang]], [[Hainan]] island (which was then part of [[Guangdong]] Province).</ref>
| birth_place =[[Shanghai]], [[China]]<ref name="shanghai">The ''New York Times'' gives her place of birth as [[Shanghai]], while the BBC and ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' give it as [[Wenchang]], [[Hainan]] island (which was then part of [[Guangdong]] Province).</ref>
Line 19: Line 17:
| alma_mater=[[Wesleyan College]], [[Wellesley College]]
| alma_mater=[[Wesleyan College]], [[Wellesley College]]
| children=[[Chiang Ching-kuo]] (step-son) and [[Chiang Wei-kuo]] (adopted)
| children=[[Chiang Ching-kuo]] (step-son) and [[Chiang Wei-kuo]] (adopted)
| nationality =[[Republic of China|Taiwanese]]
| nationality =[[Republic of China|Chinese]]
| party=[[Image:Naval Jack of the Republic of China.svg|22px]] [[Kuomintang]] (KMT)
| party=[[Image:Naval Jack of the Republic of China.svg|22px]] [[Kuomintang]] (KMT)
| parents=[[Charlie Soong]] (father) and [[Ni Kwei-tseng]] (mother)
| parents=[[Charlie Soong]] (father) and [[Ni Kwei-tseng]] (mother)
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}}
}}


'''Song (Soong) May-ling''' or '''Song Mei-ling''', also known as '''Madame Chiang Kai-shek''' ({{zh-tsp|t=宋美齡|s=宋美龄|p=Sòng Měilíng}}; [[Circa|ca]] 1897<ref name="birth"/> – [[October 23]] [[2003]]) was a [[First Lady]] of the [[Republic of China]], the wife of former [[President of the Republic of China|President]] [[Chiang Kai-shek]]. She was a [[politician]] and [[Chinese painting|painter]]. The youngest and the last surviving of the three [[Soong sisters]], she played a prominent role in the politics of the Republic of China.
'''Soong May-ling''' or '''Soong Mei-ling''', also known as '''Madame Chiang Kai-shek''' ({{zh-tsp|t=宋美齡|s=宋美龄|p=Sòng Měilíng}}; [[Circa|ca]] 1897<ref name="birth"/> – [[October 23]] [[2003]]) was a [[First Lady]] of the [[Republic of China]], the wife of former [[President of the Republic of China|President]] [[Chiang Kai-shek]]. She was a [[politician]] and [[Chinese painting|painter]]. The youngest and the last surviving of the three [[Soong sisters]], she played a prominent role in the politics of the Republic of China.


==Childhood==
==Childhood==
She was born in [[Shanghai]] on [[March 5]], [[1898]], but some biographies use the year 1897 because Chinese tradition considers everyone to be one year old at birth.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=
She was born in [[Shanghai]], [[Imperial China]] on [[March 5]], [[1898]], but some biographies use the year 1897 because Chinese tradition considers everyone to be one year old at birth.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=
Madame Chiang Kai-shek, a Power in Husband's China and Abroad, Dies at 105
Madame Chiang Kai-shek, a Power in Husband's China and Abroad, Dies at 105
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/24/international/asia/24CHIANG.html?ei=5007&en=f8b504bbb50d937b&ex=1382414400&partner=USERLAND&pagewanted=all&position= |quote= |publisher=[[New York Times]] |date=[[October 24]] [[2003]] |accessdate=2008-06-27 }}</ref> She was the third of six children of [[Charlie Soong]], a [[Hakka people|Hakka]] Chinese [[Methodist]] minister and [[businessman]] who made a fortune selling [[Bible]]s in China. Her siblings were: Oldest sister [[Soong Ai-ling|Ai-ling]], middle sister [[Soong Ching-ling|Ching-ling]], Mayling herself, then her brothers [[T. V. Soong|T. V.]], T.L., and last T.A.
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/24/international/asia/24CHIANG.html?ei=5007&en=f8b504bbb50d937b&ex=1382414400&partner=USERLAND&pagewanted=all&position= |quote= |publisher=[[New York Times]] |date=[[October 24]] [[2003]] |accessdate=2008-06-27 }}</ref> She was the third of six children of [[Charlie Soong]], a [[Hakka]] Chinese [[Methodist]] minister and [[businessman]] who made a fortune selling [[Bible]]s in China. Her siblings were: Oldest sister [[Soong Ai-ling|Ai-ling]], middle sister [[Soong Ching-ling|Ching-ling]], Mayling herself, then her brothers [[T. V. Soong|T. V.]], T.L., and last T.A.


In Shanghai, May-ling attended the [[McTyeire School for Girls]] with her sister, Ching-ling, before their father arranged to have them further their education in the United States in 1907. Initially, May-ling and Ching-ling were attending a private school in [[Summit, New Jersey]]. In 1908, Ching-ling was accepted by her sister Ai-ling's alma mater, [[Wesleyan College]], at the age of 15 and the two sisters moved to [[Macon, Georgia]] to join Ai-ling. However, a problem arose as May-ling could neither gain permission to stay with her sister on campus as a family member nor could she gain acceptance as a student due to her young age. May-ling spent the subsequent year in [[Demorest, Georgia]], where one of Ching-ling's Wesleyan friends' family resided. The friend's mother took care of May-ling and enrolled her as an 8th grader at the [[Piedmont College]]. A year later, in 1909, Wesleyan's newly appointed president, William Newman Ainsworth, gave May-ling special permission to stay at Wesleyan and assigned her special tutors. May-ling was officially registered as a freshman at Wesleyan in 1912 at the age of 15. She then transferred to [[Wellesley College]] a year later to be closer to her older brother, T.V, who, at the time, was studying at [[Harvard]]. By then both her sisters had graduated and returned to Shanghai. She graduated from [[Wellesley]] as one of the 33 Durant Scholars on June 19, 1917 with a major in [[English literature]] and minor in [[philosophy]]. As a result of being educated in English all her life, she spoke excellent English, with a pronounced [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] accent which helped her connect with American audiences [http://www.wellesley.edu/Anniversary/chiang.html].
In Shanghai, May-ling attended the McTyeire School for Girls with her sister, Ching-ling, before their father arranged to have them further their education in the United States in 1907. Initially, May-ling and Ching-ling were attending a private school in [[Summit, New Jersey]]. In 1908, Ching-ling was accepted by her sister Ai-ling's alma mater, [[Wesleyan College]], at the age of 15 and the two sisters moved to [[Macon, Georgia]] to join Ai-ling. However, problem rose as May-ling could neither gain permission to stay with her sister on campus as a family member nor could she gain acceptance as a student due to her young age. May-ling spent the subsequent year in [[Demorest, Georgia]], where one of Ching-ling's Wesleyan friends' family resided. The friend's mother took care of May-ling and enrolled her as an 8th grader at the [[Piedmont College]]. A year later, in 1909, Wesleyan's newly appointed president, William Newman Ainsworth, gave May-ling special permission to stay at Wesleyan and assigned her special tutors. May-ling was officially registered as a freshman at Wesleyan in 1912 at the age of 15. She then transferred to [[Wellesley College]] a year later to be closer to her older brother, T.V, who, at the time, was studying at [[Harvard]]. By then both her sisters had graduated and returned to Shanghai. She graduated from [[Wellesley]] as one of the 33 Durant Scholars on June 19, 1917 with a major in [[English literature]] and minor in [[philosophy]]. As a result of being educated in English all her life, she spoke excellent English, with a pronounced [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] accent which helped her connect with American audiences [http://www.wellesley.edu/Anniversary/chiang.html].


==Madame Chiang==
==Madame Chiang==
Song May-ling met [[Chiang Kai-shek]] in 1920. Since he was eleven years her elder, already married, and a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], May-ling's mother vehemently opposed the marriage between the two, but finally agreed after Chiang showed proof of his divorce and promised to convert to [[Christianity]]. Chiang told his future mother-in-law that he couldn't convert immediately, because religion needed to be gradually absorbed, not swallowed like a pill. They married on December 1, 1927. While some biographers regard the marriage as one of the greatest love matches of all time, others describe it as a marriage of convenience.{{Fact|date=March 2009}} The couple never had any children.
Soong May-ling met [[Chiang Kai-shek]] in 1920. Since he was eleven years her elder, already married, and a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], May-ling's mother vehemently opposed the marriage between the two, but finally agreed after Chiang showed proof of his divorce and promised to convert to [[Christianity]]. Chiang told his future mother-in-law that he couldn't convert immediately, because religion needed to be gradually absorbed, not swallowed like a pill. They married on December 1, 1927. While some biographers regard the marriage as one of the greatest love matches of all time, others describe it as a marriage of convenience. The couple never had any children.
[[Image:Chiang Kai Shek and wife with Lieutenant General Stilwell.jpg|thumb|250px|Generalissimo [[Chiang Kai-shek]] and his wife Soong May-ling with Lieutenant General [[Joseph W. Stilwell]] during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]]]
[[Image:Chiang Kai Shek and wife with Lieutenant General Stilwell.jpg|thumb|250px|Generalissimo [[Chiang Kai-shek]] and his wife Soong May-ling with Lieutenant General [[Joseph W. Stilwell]] during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]]]
Madame Chiang initiated the [[New Life Movement]] and became actively engaged in Chinese politics. She was a member of the [[Legislative Yuan]] from 1930 to 1932 and Secretary-General of the Chinese Aeronautical Affairs Commission from 1936 to 1938. In 1945 she became a member of the [[Kuomintang#Organization|Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang]]. As her husband rose to become Generalissimo and leader of the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT), Madame Chiang acted as his English translator, secretary and advisor. She was his muse, his eyes, his ears, and especially his most loyal champion. During [[World War II]], Madame Chiang tried to promote the Chinese cause and build a legacy for her husband on par with [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]], [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] and [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]]. Well versed in both Chinese and western culture, she became popular both in China and abroad. Her prominence led [[Joseph Stilwell]] to quip that she ought to be appointed minister of defense.
Madame Chiang initiated the [[New Life Movement]] and became actively engaged in Chinese politics. She was a member of the [[Legislative Yuan]] from 1930 to 1932 and Secretary-General of the Chinese Aeronautical Affairs Commission from 1936 to 1938. In 1945 she became a member of the [[Kuomintang#Organization|Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang]]. As her husband rose to become Generalissimo and leader of the [[Kuomintang]], Madame Chiang acted as his English translator, secretary and advisor. She was his muse, his eyes, his ears, and especially his most loyal champion. During [[World War II]], Madame Chiang tried to promote the Chinese cause and build a legacy for her husband on par with [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]], [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] and [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]]. Well versed in both Chinese and western culture, she became popular both in China and abroad. Her prominence led [[Joseph Stilwell]] to quip that she ought to be appointed minister of defense.


In the [[United States]], she drew crowds as large as 30,000 people and made the cover of [[TIME magazine]], first with her husband as "[[Person of the Year|Man and Wife of the Year]]" and second under the title "Dragon Lady."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19380103,00.html TIME Magazine cover]</ref> Both husband and wife were on good terms with Time Magazine senior editor and co-founder [[Henry Luce]], who frequently tried to rally money and support from the American public for the Kuomintang. On [[February 18]], [[1943]], she became the first Chinese national and second woman to address both houses of the [[Congress of the United States|U.S. Congress]].
In the [[United States]], she drew crowds as large as 30,000 people and made the cover of [[TIME magazine]], first with her husband as "[[Person of the Year|Man and Wife of the Year]]" and second under the title "Dragon Lady."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19380103,00.html TIME Magazine cover]</ref> Both husband and wife were on good terms with Time Magazine senior editor and co-founder [[Henry Luce]], who frequently tried to rally money and support from the American public for the Kuomintang. On [[February 18]], [[1943]], she became the first Chinese national and second woman to address both houses of the [[Congress of the United States|U.S. Congress]].
Line 44: Line 42:


==Later life==
==Later life==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2009}}
[[Image:Mme.chiang e.roosevelt.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Eleanor Roosevelt]] and Madame Chiang Kai-shek, 1943.]]
[[Image:Mme.chiang e.roosevelt.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Eleanor Roosevelt]] and Madame Chiang Kai-shek, 1943.]]
After the death of her husband in 1975, Madame Chiang assumed a low profile. Chiang Kai-shek was succeeded to power by his eldest son [[Chiang Ching-kuo]], from a previous marriage, with whom Madame Chiang had rocky relations. In 1975, she emigrated from [[Taiwan]] to her family's 36 acre (14.6 hectare) estate in [[Lattingtown, New York|Lattingtown]], [[Long Island]], [[New York]], [[United States|USA]], where she kept a portrait of her late husband in full military regalia in her living room.
After the death of her husband in 1975, Madame Chiang assumed a low profile. Chiang Kai-shek was succeeded to power by his eldest son [[Chiang Ching-kuo]], from a previous marriage, with whom Madame Chiang had rocky relations. In 1975, she emigrated from [[Taiwan]] to her family's 36 acre (14.6 hectare) estate in [[Lattingtown, New York|Lattingtown]], [[Long Island]], [[New York]], [[United States|USA]], where she kept a portrait of her late husband in full military regalia in her living room.
Line 52: Line 49:
Madame Chiang made a rare public appearance in 1995 when she attended a reception held on [[United States Capitol|Capitol Hill]] in her honor in connection with celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. Madame Chiang also made her last visit to Taiwan in 1995.
Madame Chiang made a rare public appearance in 1995 when she attended a reception held on [[United States Capitol|Capitol Hill]] in her honor in connection with celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. Madame Chiang also made her last visit to Taiwan in 1995.


In the [[ROC presidential election, 2000|2000 Presidential Election on Taiwan]], the [[Kuomintang]] produced a letter from her in which she purportedly supported the KMT candidate [[Lien Chan]] over independent candidate [[James Song]] (no relation). James Song himself had never disputed the authenticity of the letter.
In the [[ROC presidential election, 2000|2000 Presidential Election on Taiwan]], the [[Kuomintang]] produced a letter from her in which she purportedly supported the KMT candidate [[Lien Chan]] over independent candidate [[James Soong]] (no relation). James Soong himself had never disputed the authenticity of the letter.


Song sold her [[Long Island]] estate in 2000 and spent the rest of her life in her Gracie Square apartment on the [[Upper East Side]] of [[Manhattan]] surrounded only by black-suited bodyguards who cleared the lobby as she passed.
Soong sold her [[Long Island]] estate in 2000 and spent the rest of her life in her Gracie Square apartment on the [[Upper East Side]] of [[Manhattan]] surrounded only by black-suited bodyguards who cleared the lobby as she passed.


When Madame Chiang was 103 years old, she had an exhibition of her Chinese paintings in New York. To this date her work is not for sale.
When Madame Chiang was 103 years old, she had an exhibition of her Chinese paintings in New York. To this date her work is not for sale.


==Death==
==Death==
Song died in her sleep in [[New York City]], in her [[Manhattan]] apartment on [[October 23]], [[2003]], at the age of about 105.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Madame Chiang, 105, Chinese Leader's Widow, Dies |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E5DA1531F937A15753C1A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |quote=Madame Chiang Kai-shek, a pivotal player in one of the 20th century's great epics -- the struggle for control of post-imperial China waged between the Nationalists and the Communists during the Japanese invasion and the violent aftermath of World War II -- died on Thursday in New York City, the Foreign Ministry of Taiwan reported early Friday. She was 105 years old. |publisher=[[New York Times]] |date=[[October 24]], [[2003]] |accessdate=2008-06-27 }}</ref> Her remains were interred at [[Ferncliff Cemetery]] in [[Hartsdale, New York]], pending an eventual burial with her late husband who was entombed in [[Cihu]], Taiwan. The stated intention is to have them both buried in mainland China once political differences are resolved.
Soong died in her sleep in [[New York City]], in her [[Manhattan]] apartment on [[October 23]], [[2003]], at the age of about 105.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Madame Chiang, 105, Chinese Leader's Widow, Dies |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E5DA1531F937A15753C1A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |quote=Madame Chiang Kai-shek, a pivotal player in one of the 20th century's great epics -- the struggle for control of post-imperial China waged between the Nationalists and the Communists during the Japanese invasion and the violent aftermath of World War II -- died on Thursday in New York City, the Foreign Ministry of Taiwan reported early Friday. She was 105 years old. |publisher=[[New York Times]] |date=[[October 24]], [[2003]] |accessdate=2008-06-27 }}</ref> Her remains were interred at [[Ferncliff Cemetery]] in [[Hartsdale, New York]], pending an eventual burial with her late husband who was entombed in [[Cihu]], Taiwan. The stated intention is to have them both buried in mainland China once political differences are resolved.


==Quotations about Song May-ling==
==Quotations about Soong May-ling==
*{{cquote|She can talk beautifully about democracy. But she does not know how to live democracy.|30px|30px|[[Eleanor Roosevelt]]}}
*{{cquote|She can talk beautifully about democracy. But she does not know how to live democracy.|30px|30px|[[Eleanor Roosevelt]]}}
*{{cquote|Direct, forceful, energetic. Loves power, eats up publicity and flattery... Can turn on charm at will and knows it.|30px|30px|[[Joseph Stilwell]]}}
*{{cquote|Direct, forceful, energetic. Loves power, eats up publicity and flattery... Can turn on charm at will and knows it.|30px|30px|[[Joseph Stilwell]]}}
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==References==
==References==
{{refs|2}}
{{refs|2}}

== Further reading ==
* ''Madame Chiang Kai-Shek : China's eternal first lady'', Laura Tyson Li, [[Atlantic Monthly Press]], [[2006]], ISBN 9780871139337


==External links==
==External links==
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{{Cold War}}
{{Cold War}}
{{Time Persons of the Year|27-50}}
{{Time Persons of the Year|27-50}}

{{Persondata
{{Persondata
|NAME = Song May-ling
|NAME = Soong May-ling
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Madame Chiang Kai-shek, Madame Chiang
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Madame Chiang Kai-shek, Madame Chiang
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = [[First Lady]] of the [[Republic of China]]
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = [[First Lady]] of the [[Republic of China]]

Revision as of 16:09, 22 March 2009

Soong May-ling
宋美齡
File:Eleanor Roosevelt with Soong Mei-ling.jpg
Soong May-ling (right) with Eleanor Roosevelt during a 1943 visit
First Lady of the Republic of China
In office
May 20, 1948 – April 5, 1975
Preceded by(none)
Succeeded byChiang Fang-liang
Personal details
Bornca 1897[1]
Shanghai, China[2]
Died(2003-10-23)October 23, 2003 (aged 106)
New York City, United States
Political party Kuomintang (KMT)
SpouseChiang Kai-shek
ChildrenChiang Ching-kuo (step-son) and Chiang Wei-kuo (adopted)
Parent(s)Charlie Soong (father) and Ni Kwei-tseng (mother)
Alma materWesleyan College, Wellesley College
OccupationFirst Lady of the Republic of China

Soong May-ling or Soong Mei-ling, also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek (simplified Chinese: 宋美龄; traditional Chinese: 宋美齡; pinyin: Sòng Měilíng; ca 1897[1] – October 23 2003) was a First Lady of the Republic of China, the wife of former President Chiang Kai-shek. She was a politician and painter. The youngest and the last surviving of the three Soong sisters, she played a prominent role in the politics of the Republic of China.

Childhood

She was born in Shanghai, Imperial China on March 5, 1898, but some biographies use the year 1897 because Chinese tradition considers everyone to be one year old at birth.[3] She was the third of six children of Charlie Soong, a Hakka Chinese Methodist minister and businessman who made a fortune selling Bibles in China. Her siblings were: Oldest sister Ai-ling, middle sister Ching-ling, Mayling herself, then her brothers T. V., T.L., and last T.A.

In Shanghai, May-ling attended the McTyeire School for Girls with her sister, Ching-ling, before their father arranged to have them further their education in the United States in 1907. Initially, May-ling and Ching-ling were attending a private school in Summit, New Jersey. In 1908, Ching-ling was accepted by her sister Ai-ling's alma mater, Wesleyan College, at the age of 15 and the two sisters moved to Macon, Georgia to join Ai-ling. However, problem rose as May-ling could neither gain permission to stay with her sister on campus as a family member nor could she gain acceptance as a student due to her young age. May-ling spent the subsequent year in Demorest, Georgia, where one of Ching-ling's Wesleyan friends' family resided. The friend's mother took care of May-ling and enrolled her as an 8th grader at the Piedmont College. A year later, in 1909, Wesleyan's newly appointed president, William Newman Ainsworth, gave May-ling special permission to stay at Wesleyan and assigned her special tutors. May-ling was officially registered as a freshman at Wesleyan in 1912 at the age of 15. She then transferred to Wellesley College a year later to be closer to her older brother, T.V, who, at the time, was studying at Harvard. By then both her sisters had graduated and returned to Shanghai. She graduated from Wellesley as one of the 33 Durant Scholars on June 19, 1917 with a major in English literature and minor in philosophy. As a result of being educated in English all her life, she spoke excellent English, with a pronounced Georgia accent which helped her connect with American audiences [1].

Madame Chiang

Soong May-ling met Chiang Kai-shek in 1920. Since he was eleven years her elder, already married, and a Buddhist, May-ling's mother vehemently opposed the marriage between the two, but finally agreed after Chiang showed proof of his divorce and promised to convert to Christianity. Chiang told his future mother-in-law that he couldn't convert immediately, because religion needed to be gradually absorbed, not swallowed like a pill. They married on December 1, 1927. While some biographers regard the marriage as one of the greatest love matches of all time, others describe it as a marriage of convenience. The couple never had any children.

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong May-ling with Lieutenant General Joseph W. Stilwell during the Second Sino-Japanese War

Madame Chiang initiated the New Life Movement and became actively engaged in Chinese politics. She was a member of the Legislative Yuan from 1930 to 1932 and Secretary-General of the Chinese Aeronautical Affairs Commission from 1936 to 1938. In 1945 she became a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang. As her husband rose to become Generalissimo and leader of the Kuomintang, Madame Chiang acted as his English translator, secretary and advisor. She was his muse, his eyes, his ears, and especially his most loyal champion. During World War II, Madame Chiang tried to promote the Chinese cause and build a legacy for her husband on par with Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin. Well versed in both Chinese and western culture, she became popular both in China and abroad. Her prominence led Joseph Stilwell to quip that she ought to be appointed minister of defense.

In the United States, she drew crowds as large as 30,000 people and made the cover of TIME magazine, first with her husband as "Man and Wife of the Year" and second under the title "Dragon Lady."[4] Both husband and wife were on good terms with Time Magazine senior editor and co-founder Henry Luce, who frequently tried to rally money and support from the American public for the Kuomintang. On February 18, 1943, she became the first Chinese national and second woman to address both houses of the U.S. Congress.

After the defeat of her husband's government in the Chinese Civil War in 1949, Madame Chiang followed her husband to Taiwan, while her sister Soong Ching-ling stayed on the mainland, siding with the communists. As the Generalissimo aged, Madame Chiang seized power by assuming the role of "interpreter". Madame Chiang continued to play a prominent international role. She was a Patron of the International Red Cross Committee, honorary chair of the British United Aid to China Fund, and First Honorary Member of the Bill of Rights Commemorative Society. Through the late 1960s she was included among America's 10 most admired women.

Later life

Eleanor Roosevelt and Madame Chiang Kai-shek, 1943.

After the death of her husband in 1975, Madame Chiang assumed a low profile. Chiang Kai-shek was succeeded to power by his eldest son Chiang Ching-kuo, from a previous marriage, with whom Madame Chiang had rocky relations. In 1975, she emigrated from Taiwan to her family's 36 acre (14.6 hectare) estate in Lattingtown, Long Island, New York, USA, where she kept a portrait of her late husband in full military regalia in her living room.

Madame Chiang returned to Taiwan upon Chiang Ching-kuo's death in 1988, to shore up support among her old allies. However, Chiang's successor as president, Lee Teng-hui, proved to be more adept at politics than she was, and consolidated his position. As a result, she again returned to the U.S.

Madame Chiang made a rare public appearance in 1995 when she attended a reception held on Capitol Hill in her honor in connection with celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. Madame Chiang also made her last visit to Taiwan in 1995.

In the 2000 Presidential Election on Taiwan, the Kuomintang produced a letter from her in which she purportedly supported the KMT candidate Lien Chan over independent candidate James Soong (no relation). James Soong himself had never disputed the authenticity of the letter.

Soong sold her Long Island estate in 2000 and spent the rest of her life in her Gracie Square apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan surrounded only by black-suited bodyguards who cleared the lobby as she passed.

When Madame Chiang was 103 years old, she had an exhibition of her Chinese paintings in New York. To this date her work is not for sale.

Death

Soong died in her sleep in New York City, in her Manhattan apartment on October 23, 2003, at the age of about 105.[5] Her remains were interred at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, pending an eventual burial with her late husband who was entombed in Cihu, Taiwan. The stated intention is to have them both buried in mainland China once political differences are resolved.

Quotations about Soong May-ling

  • She can talk beautifully about democracy. But she does not know how to live democracy.

    — Eleanor Roosevelt

  • Direct, forceful, energetic. Loves power, eats up publicity and flattery... Can turn on charm at will and knows it.

    — Joseph Stilwell

  • Madame Chiang was a close friend of the United States throughout her life, and especially during the defining struggles of the last century. Generations of Americans will always remember and respect her intelligence and strength of character. On behalf of the American people, I extend condolences to Madame Chiang's family members and many admirers around the world.

    — George W. Bush

See also

Template:Contains Chinese text

References

  1. ^ a b While records at Wellesley College and the Encyclopaedia Britannica indicate she was born in 1897, the ROC government as well as the BBC and the New York Times cite her year of birth as 1898. The New York Times obituary includes the following explanation: "some references give 1897 as the year because the Chinese usually consider everyone to be one year old at birth." cf: East Asian age reckoning. However, early sources such as the Columbia Encyclopedia, 1960, give her date of birth as 1896, making it possible that "one year" was subtracted twice.
  2. ^ The New York Times gives her place of birth as Shanghai, while the BBC and Encyclopædia Britannica give it as Wenchang, Hainan island (which was then part of Guangdong Province).
  3. ^ "Madame Chiang Kai-shek, a Power in Husband's China and Abroad, Dies at 105". New York Times. October 24 2003. Retrieved 2008-06-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ TIME Magazine cover
  5. ^ "Madame Chiang, 105, Chinese Leader's Widow, Dies". New York Times. October 24, 2003. Retrieved 2008-06-27. Madame Chiang Kai-shek, a pivotal player in one of the 20th century's great epics -- the struggle for control of post-imperial China waged between the Nationalists and the Communists during the Japanese invasion and the violent aftermath of World War II -- died on Thursday in New York City, the Foreign Ministry of Taiwan reported early Friday. She was 105 years old. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Honorary titles
Preceded by
None
 First Lady of the Republic of China
1948–1975 		Succeeded by

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