Biography of Zhang Xueliang

Author: Zhang Youkun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: This year marks the 60th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the War of Resistance Against Japan, as well as the 105th anniversary of the birth of General Zhang Xueliang. On this special occasion, let us together remember the life of this patriotic general, a life full of hardships and legends! This is the first publicly published biography of Zhang Xueliang in China. The former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and centenarian anti-Japanese war hero Lü Zhengcao, who once served as Zhang Xueliang's aide-de-camp and secretary, wrote the preface. The Biography of Zhang Xueliang is divided into 10 chapters, recounting the life story, childhood, and special relationships and emotions of Zhang Xueliang: with his father Zhang Zuolin, his brother Zhang Xuesi, his mentor Zhang Boling, Zhou Enlai, Lü Zhengcao, his two wives Yu Fengzhi and Zhao Yidi, his teacher Guo Songling, and many others. It describes Zhang Xueliang's military career, his participation in the Zhili-Fengtian War, the "Liaoning Flag Change," his support for Chinese athletes in the Olympics, the Xian Incident, and his later years of seclusion across the Taiwan Strait. With light and engaging prose, it narrates the life interests of General Zhang in his later years—his passion for calligraphy, growing orchids, and his love for Peking Opera. It also analyzes and reveals for the first time the secrets behind Zhang Xueliang's longevity and the reasons why he never returned to mainland China during his lifetime. The author of this book, Zhang Youkun, once served as the secretary of General Lü Zhengcao and is a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He has met Zhang Xueliang twice.