Feng Yuxiang - A Century-Old Family

Author: Zhong Haitao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: The long river of history quietly flows, the sky remains silent, and time is voiceless. Yet, a century-old family thrives, passing down through generations. In some way or another, they leave behind traces—deep or shallow—in the cycle of time, bestowing future generations with legends to savor and memories that never fade. The Feng family is but one branch in the historical stream of "family-state integration," shining with its unique glory and splendor. First, take General Feng Yuxiang (1882–1948), who lived through the late Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China (from the Guangxu, Xuantong, and Beiyang periods to the Chiang Kai-shek Nationalist government), enduring hardships and trials yet never losing his ambition. He devoted himself to serving the nation and governing the world, and his extraordinary courage and meticulous efforts ultimately led to remarkable military achievements and political accomplishments. From a poor, orphaned child to a commander-in-chief commanding hundreds of thousands of troops; from a co-conspirator in the "Purification of the Party" to a lifelong friend of the Communist Party; from Chiang Kai-shek's elder ally and deputy chairman above whom no one stood to a sworn enemy across the ocean—his life's path twisted and turned, and the reasons behind it are even more thought-provoking.
Generations pass, and the legacy endures. The children of the Feng family carried on their father's ideals, achieving remarkable success. Some served on the battlefield, dedicating themselves to the nation; others devoted themselves to medicine, gaining global acclaim; and still others pursued research, making names for themselves in foreign lands, each excelling in their fields. As the saying goes, "Wealth does not last for three generations," yet the third generation of the Feng family produced outstanding talents who excelled in military, political, business, and academic fields—truly a testament to the saying, "The wave behind pushes the wave ahead."
Looking at the entire Feng family, over a century, they have produced four generals and five members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The prosperity of this family can only be imagined! Examining history, why did the Feng family endure for a century without decline, remaining unshaken despite repeated upheavals? Let us open this book, think as we read, and savor—following the heart and footsteps of this family, from the small to the grand, into the tumultuous century of history, into the vicissitudes of modern China!