Enter the Jiang Family (Republic of China Famous Figures Series) -- Zhu Peiying, Nephew of Jiang Jieshi, Talks About the Jiang Family

Author: Yang Yaoshen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: The centenarian Zhu Peiyin is the niece of Chiang Kai-shek. She has lived among the Jiang family since she was a child. Jiang Ruilian, Chiang Kai-shek's younger sister, and Mao Fumei, his first wife, all regarded her as their pearl in the palm. Growing up in this unique environment, Zhu Peiyin witnessed the rise and fall, the glory and disgrace of the Jiang family. Living with them day and night, she was constantly immersed in the joys and sorrows, the ups and downs of the Jiang family, even the subtle changes in their emotions that outsiders could hardly discern. She was well-versed in the political and family affairs of the Jiang family. Now, through her words, she reveals a glimpse behind the mysterious veil. For example: the love and grievances between Chiang Kai-shek and his first wife; after the Xi'an Incident, Chiang Kai-shek's restless and reserved demeanor when he returned to his hometown Xikou for recuperation; how he blamed himself for his elder brother's sudden death. The troubles caused by Chiang Jingguo and Chiang Fangliang's newlyweds "not seeing their own mother first, recognizing their stepmother later"; the extramarital affair between Chiang Jingguo and Zhang Yaru and its origins, and so on. Since almost every event involves what Zhu Peiyin witnessed and experienced firsthand, and most of them are little-known, they are newly disclosed, which holds reference value for researchers. It is worth mentioning that after the liberation of the nation, especially during the Cultural Revolution, the elderly Zhu Peiyin suffered hardships due to her family background. It was the reform and opening-up breeze of the mainland that dispelled the shadows in her heart, allowing her to finally fulfill her long-held dream of finding her family. In the early 1990s, after much effort, Zhu Peiyin made contact with her cousin Jiang Weiguang, who was living in Taiwan. They often exchanged letters, expressing their sibling affection and expressing their earnest hope for the early unification of the two sides of the strait and the reunion of their family. Now that Jiang Weiguang has passed away, the several handwritten letters of his included in this book are particularly precious. To recall the past is to face the present and look to the future. We published this book to brush away the dust of time and reveal the true face of the Jiang family, and through this, to demonstrate that people on both sides of the strait are descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors, bound by blood. Achieving unification is the shared aspiration of all. We firmly believe that the goal of national unification and the prosperity of the nation will surely be realized. We hereby wish the elderly Zhu Peiyin a reunion with her family in Taiwan in her remaining years.