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
When Wang Jingwei Was Arrested
When officials asked Wang Jingwei why his essays “Trend of Revolution,” “Determination for Revolution,” and “A Farewell letter” were sewn into the lining of his coat, he responded: “These essays were first written with ink, now I want to write them in blood.” Page 13 of Wang Jingwei’s draft of an autobiography, in Wang Jingwei: His Life, Ideas and Beliefs … Read More
The 1939 Assassination Attempt on Wang Jingwei
Much has been written about the assassination that took place in March 1939 in Hanoi. Most recently, Ho Mang Hang’s eye-witness account, and Wang Jingwei’s own writing was been published for the first time in Wang Jingwei & Modern China. Aside from clarifying details about the incident, these recollections provide clues as to how the event affected Wang Jingwei. On … Read More
Wang Jingwei’s Pivotal Decision
On December 18, 1938, Wang Jingwei traveled from China to Hanoi with his family and a few close associates in order to advocate for peace with Japanese authorities as a person out of office while living overseas. Before leaving China, as Ho Mang Hang recalled, Wang’s nephew Wang Qi pleaded with him to reconsider. Even if the decision to negotiate … Read More