A private glimpse at the Soong sisters’ lives to lightLu Feiran
Print Edition
ONE loved money, one loved power, and one loved China” — It’s this description of the three Soong sisters — Ai Ling, Ching Ling and Mei Ling — that is best known in China after appearing in the opening scenes of Hong Kong director Mabel Cheung’s film “The Soong Sisters” (1997).
A new exhibition tries to give a better understanding of their real lives. The exhibition, “The Soong Sisters: Special Memories,” shows a well-rounded, vivid portrait of the three sisters. This time, their different political views aren’t the focus of the story.
“The exhibition provides articles that were used by the three sisters, like letters, garments, accessories, and pictures, some of which were borrowed from Taiwan and are being displayed on the mainland for the first time,” said Zhu Jiuling, a researcher with the Commission of Relics of Sun Yet-sen and Soong Ching Ling, one of the exhibition’s organizers.
“The exhibition tells visitors about the sisters as people, not just as political figures.”
For Shao Ming Huang, a history professor with the National Chengchi University in Taiwan, one of the most eye-catching pieces in the exhibit is Mei Ling’s wedding dress. Mei Ling, he said, designed her own wedding dress.
The 1920s dress with a high waist that is shorter in the front combines both classic and modern elements. The fashion sense of Mei Ling can also be seen in a collection of purses, high heels and some of her favorite qipao dress.
The collection of Ching Ling’s outfits shows a different fashion sense with flats, several qipao and plain-looking purses. Her cigarette case and a lighter give a small insight into the rebellious side of Ching Ling.
Against her parent’s will, Ching Ling in 1915 married Dr Sun Yat-sen, who was 26 years older than her. Twelve years later, Mei Ling married Chiang Kai-shek. Ching Ling made no secret of her disapproval of her younger sister’s marriage and started to distance herself from the couple.
After the Japanese invasion, they briefly reunited in the 1940s. Photos of that time are part of the exhibit.
One shows the sisters visiting survivors of an air raid in Chongqing. Hand in hand, they went to hospitals, orphanages, air-raid shelters and schools, gave speeches on the radio and organized tea parties to encourage people to continue fighting the Japanese. At a time of crisis, all of them loved China.
The family reunion, however, didn’t last long. In 1944, Ai Ling went to Brazil for health reasons and then settled in the US. Ching Ling and Mei Ling saw her off at the airport — the last time the three sisters were together.
In 1948, Mei Ling moved to Taiwan as well, leaving only Ching Ling behind.
Most people believe that due to political disputes, the relationship between the sisters was strained, but the exhibit shows that they never stopped caring for one another.
“After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the three sisters tried to contact each other, and they tried to make plans to reunite, but eventually failed,” said Zhu Jiuling.
In 1957, Ching Ling wrote to Ai Ling, that “if you don’t come back soon, we’re getting too old.”
In 1971, the eldest son of the Soong family, Soong Tse-ven, died in the US. The three sisters all planned to attend the funeral, but politics got in their way. With the Cultural Revolution (1967-77) in full swing on the mainland, Ching Ling couldn’t travel to a hostile country, and Mei Ling canceled their trip on hearing that Ching Ling might attend. Only Ai Ling attended this funeral.
In 1981, when US President Ronald Reagan visited China, Ching Ling requested Anna Chan Chennault, a member of the US delegation, to tell Mei Ling that her health condition worsened and she was afraid that she didn’t have much time left, hoping to see Mei Ling one last time.
After Ching Ling died in 1981, Mei Ling said she missed Ching Ling very much, but noted that she couldn’t have met her back then.
After their last reunion in the 1940s, Ching Ling became one of the highest ranking officials of the People’s Republic of China and devoted her time to charity work for women and children. Ai Ling and Mei Ling were still close and met regularly and Mei Ling became an artist.
The exhibition marks the 150th birthday of Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China.
The three sisters were all part of Sun’s close social circle: Ching Ling was his wife; Ai Ling was his assistant and Mei Ling married Chiang Kai-shek, one of the earliest followers of Sun. Their father, businessman and missionary Charles Soong, was a close friend of Sun.
The exhibit, held at the Duoyunxuan Gallery, will last until the end of July.
Date: Through July 31
Venue: Duoyunxuan Art Center
Address: 1180 Tianyaoqiao Rd
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
