Soong Ching-ling

Soong Ch'ing-ling ({{zh-stpw|s=宋庆龄|t=宋慶齡|p=Sòng Qìnglíng|w=Sung Ch'ing-ling}}) (January 27, 1893 - May 29, 1981) was one of the Soong sisters—three sisters whose husbands were amongst China's most significant political figures of the early 20th century. Also known as Madame Sun Yat-sen, she was described as the "one who loved China". Her Christian name was Rosamond.

Related Topics:
January 27 - 1893 - May 29 - 1981 - Soong sisters - China - 20th century

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She was born to the wealthy businessman and missionary Charlie Soong in Kunshan, Jiangsu, attended high school in Shanghai, and graduated from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, United States.

Related Topics:
Charlie Soong - Kunshan - Jiangsu - Shanghai - Wesleyan College - Macon, Georgia - United States

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She married Sun Yat-sen in Japan on October 25, 1915 after he divorced Lu Muzhen. Ching-ling's parents greatly opposed the marriage, as Dr. Sun was 26 years her senior. After Sun's death in 1925, she was elected to the Kuomintang (KMT) Central Executive Committee in 1926. However, she exiled herself to Moscow after the expulsion of the Communists from the KMT in 1927.

Related Topics:
Sun Yat-sen - Japan - October 25 - 1915 - Lu Muzhen - 1925 - Kuomintang - Moscow

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Although she reconciled with the KMT during the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), she sided with the Communists in the Chinese Civil War. She did not join the party but rather was part of the united front heading up the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang.

Related Topics:
Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) - Communists - Chinese Civil War - United front - Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang

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in 1939, she founded the China Welfare Institute (former China Defense League) in Hong Kong.

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She set up the magazine China Today (former China Reconstructs) in 1949 with the help of Israel Epstein. This magazine is published monthly in 6 languages (Chinese, English, French, German, Arabic and Spanish).

Related Topics:
China Today - Israel Epstein

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After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, she became the Vice Chair of the People's Republic of China (now translated as "Vice President"), Head of the Sino-Soviet Friendship Association and Honorary President of the All-China Women's Federation. In 1951 she was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize, and in 1953 a collection of her writings, Struggle for New China, was published. From 1968 to 1972 she acted jointly with Dong Biwu as head of state.

Related Topics:
People's Republic of China - Vice Chair of the People's Republic of China - All-China Women's Federation - Stalin Peace Prize - Dong Biwu - Head of state

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According to Jung Chang's and Jon Halliday's biography of Soong Ching-ling, Madame Sun's home was one of the few places if not the only place to offer macaroni and cheese in Communist China during its isolation from the 1950's to 70's.

Related Topics:
Jung Chang - Jon Halliday - Macaroni and cheese

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On May 16, 1981, two weeks before her death, she was admitted to the Communist Party and was named Honorary President of the People's Republic of China.

Related Topics:
May 16 - 1981 - President of the People's Republic of China

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Unlike her younger sister Soong May-ling, who sided with her husband Chiang Kai-shek and fled to Taiwan, Soong Ching-ling is greatly revered in mainland China.

Related Topics:
Soong May-ling - Chiang Kai-shek - Taiwan - Mainland China

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