On March 29, 2025, Professor Eugene Chiu of the Department of History at Tunghai University and Associate Professor Hsu Yuming of the Department of History at National Dong Hwa University delivered a seminar at Kishu An Forest of Literature, moderated by Dr. Augustine Pan, an international relations scholar from the University of Auckland. Approaching the subject from the dual perspectives of intellectual history and international political history, the speakers re-examined the key trajectories of Wang Jingwei’s political career. The seminar consisted of three sessions focusing on the formation of Wang Jingwei’s thought prior to the age of thirty. Click here to watch now!

Professor Chiu emphasizes that Wang Jingwei’s life cannot be understood merely through surface-level political developments. Instead, it requires an examination of Wang’s intellectual world. Thoroughly studying Wang’s first-hand historical materials, including poetry, correspondence and early writings, Professor Chiu traces the evolution of Wang Jingwei’s political career from the perspective of intellectual history.

According to Professor Chiu, this statement underscores the fact that Wang Jingwei’s revolutionary intent originated not from impulse, but from an inner moral imperative. This “martyr complex” was not imposed upon Wang; it was a self-image he cultivated since his youth, which resulted from late Qing revolutionary discourse and modern political thought steeped in Confucian ethical traditions. Wang’s frequent emphasis on “action” and “responsibility” led him to offer himself as “kindling,” calmly embracing sacrifice. This intellectual disposition not only explains the rationale behind his early assassination attempt. It also provides long-overlooked insight into Wang’s willingness to sacrifice himself and endure political condemnation.

Professor Chiu’s lecture is both accessible and rigorous, transforming complex intellectual debate into a compelling historical narrative. A full articulation of his arguments can be found in his article “Towards the Path of Martyrdom: The Political Thought of Young Wang Jingwei.” Through meticulous analyses of historical sources, the article reconstructs the formation of Wang Jingwei’s political thought and offers an important theoretical foundation for further research in this field.

This year, we will host a series of seminars and invite Professor Chiu to share additional research on Wang Jingwei. We invite readers to subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about upcoming seminars and join rigorous scholars in re-examining political figures in modern Chinese history.