In keeping with its mission, The Wang Jingwei Irrevocable Trust is pleased to announce its donation of the Ho Mang Hang (1916-2016) collection of archival and research materials to Columbia University’s C.V. Starr East Asian Library. Many of the items in the collection have been published in the 2019 series Wang Jingwei & Modern China and will continue to be revealed … 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
Founder and Participant: Wang Jingwei’s Associations
Society of Collective Wisdom (Annotated by Ho Mang Hang) Wang Jingwei’s significance in the Guomindang and Chinese political arena makes it easier to overlook his activities and accomplishments in other areas. Before going to Japan, the young Wang Jingwei and his peers from the same village had organized Qunzhishe to encourage practical learning. During the Tongmenghui period, he formed an … Read More
The Yellow Flower Mound Uprising and Wang Jingwei
In this inscription, Hu Hanmin (1879-1936) described the Nationalist Government’s work to commemorate the sacrifices of the revolutionaries known as the “72 Martyrs.” It also credits Wang Jingwei for the calligraphy of the names of the martyrs. Photo collected by Ho Mang Hang, dated April 1, 1989.Wang Jingwei’s calligraphy of the names of “72 Martyrs” at Yellow Flower Mound in … Read More
Love in Poetry: Wang Jingwei and Chen Bijun
Wang Jingwei’s calligraphy of a poem he dedicated to his wife, Chen Bijun. (Wang Jingwei Poetry – Newly Edited, p. 2) In Shuangzhaoloushici duhouji (“Reflections After Reading Shuangzhaolou Poetry”), (Wang Jingwei Poetry – Newly Edited, p. 2) Ho Mang Hang made the following observation about the relationship between Wang Jingwei and Chen Bijun:Wang’s use of “Shuangzhao” to name his poetry collection illustrates how … Read More
Reading and Writing—Life Behind Bars for Wang Jingwei and Associates
In the handwritten draft of his autobiography, Wang Jingwei described how he endured prison life by writing poetry, which was later collected in Shuangzhaolou shicigao. Wang Jingwei Nanshe Poetry (page 76)The Book of Odes says: “The common people have toiled long and may well be allowed a little rest.” How true this is. To work and toil belongs inevitably to our … 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
Wang Jingwei’s Advocacy for a General Election Leading to the Republic of China
Page 18 of Wang Jingwei’s draft of his autobiography (see Wang Jingwei: His Life, Ideas and Beliefs, p. 227, for corresponding transcript see p. 226) In the draft of his autobiography, Wang Jingwei describes his work after being released from prison for the attempted assassination of the Prince Regent, which centered around plans for a vote to decide on the … Read More