Wang Jingwei’s Shuangzhaolou poem inscribed by 盧子樞 Lu Zishu (1900-1978) on folding fan painted by 溥儒 Pu Ru (1896-1963).Wang Jingwei’s poetry was often used as inscriptions in the creation of folding fans, which were carriers of painting and calligraphy. Folding fans were gifts of friendship and affection among the literati. In 1930, Wang inscribed his poem on a fan painted by 陳樹人 … Read More
Wang Jingwei’s In-Laws: The Ho Family
Calligraphy of poetry by 何吾騶 He Wuzou（1581-1651）The Wang and Ho families had enjoyed a long friendship which grew inseparable when Ho Mang Hang married Wang Jingwei’s daughter Wenxing (1914-2015). Ho’s father Xiufeng (1898-1970) had helped Wang publish his poetry collection in Hong Kong. Both families were steeped in culture and the arts. The Ho family genealogical record shows that the … Read More
Wang Jingwei’s Literary Heritage
The Genealogical Record of the Wangs was compiled by his older brother 汪兆鏞 Wang Zhaorong (1861-1939). Annotations by Ho Mang Hang.Wang Jingwei grew up in a family of considerable literary accomplishments and became steeped in scholarly pursuits since childhood. Dating back to the 12th generation jinshi (highest and final degree in the imperial examination) 汪應軫 Wang Yingchen, to Wang Jingwei’s … Read More
Chen Zhenghui and Wang Jingwei
Framed by Wang Jingwei’s inscriptions on each side, this 1909 fan may be the earliest extant specimen of Wang’s calligraphy.This work illustrates a rarely seen progression of Wang Jingwei’s calligraphy, spanning more than 30 years. It is also significant in other ways: The fan, dedicated to Zeng Xing (1882-1954), is Wang’s calligraphy of “The Ballad of Mulan,” which was composed in Northern Wei … Read More
Was Wang Jingwei Truly Universally Condemned?
When Wang Jingwei returned to China from overseas in January, 1937, he was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. (Wang Jingwei: His Life, Ideas and Beliefs, pp. 118-123) Photo from Shibao BimonthlyClearly, Wang Jingwei was a controversial figure subject to much debate. For years, we have heard about attacks on his activities and character. In our last issue, new archival material … Read More
Freedom of the Press: Trials and Tribulations During the Wang Jingwei Regime
This August 11th, 1940 article in Zhongyang Ribao reported the bombing of Zhonghua Ribao’s office.Freedom is never easily attained. When opposing views not only met with fierce verbal opposition, they also led to open conflict. Newspapers sponsored by the Wang Jingwei regime did not escape this fate; how to defend this freedom became essential. Since Wang began negotiating peace with the … Read More