Soong Ching Ling is an outstanding politician, social activist, and the only honorary president of the People's Republic of China. Her fate is legendary and closely linked to Sun Yat-sen.
On October 25, 1915, she married Sun Yat-sen and became his beloved wife, student, and assistant.
Ten years later, the superstar fell, and Soong Ching Ling undertook his legacy, became the mainstay of the left wing of the Kuomintang, insisted on carrying forward his revolutionary ideas, promoted the revolutionary cause of the Chinese people, and finally became a great communist fighter.
Before and after Mr. Sun's death, Song Qingling, who was only 32 years old, experienced what kind of unknown pain? How can she always remain calm, take care of the aftermath, experience life twists, and shoulder political responsibilities?
Soong Ching Ling and Sun Yat-sen
In June 1913, Soong received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan Women's College in the United States. She originally wanted to continue her studies, but her father, Song Jiashu, sent a telegram to ask her to go to Japan.
At the end of August, Soong Ching Ling arrived in Yokohama to meet his family and meet Sun Yat-sen for the first time.
In June 1914, Soong Ching Ling began serving as Sun Yat-sen's English secretary, responsible for all the replies to the code and foreign letterhead.
Soong Ching Ling was extremely happy, and she realized her dream from childhood, close to the center of the Chinese revolution. For her, Sun Yat-sen was not only a great man, a hero, but also a learned teacher and a leader in the path of life. Therefore, when Sun Yat-sen proposed to her, she immediately agreed.
The married life of the two is only ten years, with the vicissitudes of modern history, but there is still no lack of sweetness and happiness. Whether it was quiet or turbulent, Soong Ching Ling took good care of and assisted Sun Yat-sen, and every night, he read scientific works in English for him, as well as some medical books and light articles.
At first, many people in the Kuomintang disagreed with Song Qingling's identity, and they even deliberately referred to her as Miss Song instead of Lady Sun.
In June 1922, Chen Jiongming's rebels shelled the presidential palace, and Soong Ching-ling stayed first to cover Sun Yat-sen's retreat, but he himself miscarried and could not conceive again for life. This move finally won the respect of everyone. Since then, "Mrs. Sun" has become the title of everyone.
On the last day of 1924, Soong Ching Ling arrived in Beijing with Sun Yat-sen, accompanied by Wang Jingwei and others. When they got off the train, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life in Beijing warmly welcomed them, but by this time Sun Yat-sen had fallen ill. Soong Ching Ling escorted Sun Yat-sen straight to Room 506 of the Beijing Hotel and immediately consulted a doctor. The entourage lived in the former Gu Weijun mansion in Tieshi Hutong prepared by Duan Qirui's government.
Sun Yat-sen
Soon, 7 doctors treated Sun Yat-sen, all of whom believed that the cause was in the liver.
On January 20, 1925, Sun Yat-sen's condition deteriorated rapidly. Body temperature fluctuates violently, eating is difficult, the eyes are yellow, and it is impossible to sleep peacefully. Song Qingling guarded the sickbed overnight and took care of it carefully.
On January 26, Soong Ching-ling tearfully persuaded Sun Yat-sen to be hospitalized.
At 3 p.m. on the same day, Sun Yat-sen was hospitalized in Ward 319, Building E, Union Hospital. At 6 o'clock, the operation is performed by the most senior doctors at home and abroad. Less than half an hour later, the doctor walked out of the operating room and said that there was nothing he could do: Sun Yat-sen was in the advanced stage of liver cancer and could not be saved.
Song Qingling only felt that the sky was spinning, she was only 32 years old, she had already endured the pain of her father's sudden death, and now she had to face the nightmare of her husband and mentor leaving.
In order to facilitate the care of Sun Yat-sen, Soong Ching Ling lived in room 320 next door. But in addition to the necessary reception, she did not leave, standing at No. 319, in front of Sun Yat-sen's hospital bed.
After the news of the illness, He Xiangning of the Kuomintang base camp in Guangzhou, Duan Qirui, premier of the Executive Government of Beijing, and His Japanese friend Xuanye Nagachi came to visit him one after another. There were also letters of condolence from social organizations such as the Beijing Students' Federation, the Chinese Women's Association, and the China-Russia Association for the Advancement of The Advancement, all of which were carefully received and replied by Soong Ching-ling.
The Shanghai Oriental News Agency even reported on the 27th that Mr. Sun had passed away yesterday morning. Song Qingling suppressed his anger and called the Headquarters of the Kuomintang in Shanghai to clarify the facts.
Due to the fact that Western medicine treatment has been ineffective. At noon on February 18, Song Qingling, Sun Ke, Wang Jingwei, Ma Xiang, the deputy of the bodyguard, and the Russian medical staff escorted Sun Yat-sen out of the hospital and moved to No. 11 Tie cross Hutong, where he was treated by traditional Chinese medicine.
Everyone around her knew that Mr. Sun's condition was serious, but Song Qingling was always reluctant to believe that her husband was about to leave, and she always fantasized that her illness could suddenly improve and she always served carefully.
On February 24, 1925, Sun Yat-sen became increasingly ill. Under the persuasion of He Xiangning, Soong Ching Ling agreed to leave the ward, and a group of key Kuomintang cadres such as Wang Jingwei and others came to Sun Yat-sen and asked him to make a will in advance.
Wang Jingwei said: We have prepared a few sentences to read to the premier. If the Prime Minister agrees, please sign it, and if not, please say a few more words.
Subsequently, Wang Jingwei finished reading the "State Affairs Will", "Family Will", and a "Testament to the Soviet Union".
In the family will, there is no mention of anyone, not even the children and grandchildren, and the relationship with Song Qingling is the most direct. The will has only one simple sentence, which means to leave all the houses, clothes, and books to Song Qingling as a souvenir.
Residence, only one, Shanghai Molière Road No. 29, 5 rooms. For the revolution, the house was pawned 3 times before it was redeemed.
Clothing, only simple clothes and daily necessities.
The most numerous are books, more than two thousand.
This is all the material legacy that Sun Yat-sen left to Soong Ching-ling.
If measured by the eyes of ordinary people, Song Qingling's ten years of dedication are far less than that of marrying famous children and enjoying wealth and glory as his father specified at that time. But Soong Ching Ling knew that the spiritual and honorary legacy left to her by Sun Yat-sen could not be measured by the numbers of the world.
When she thought about it, she couldn't help but cry outside. Sun Yat-sen,who was about to sign the pen, also stopped. He told Wang Jingwei that I would have a few days to live for the time being.
Although he did not sign it, Sun Yat-sen was still not at ease. He deliberately called his son Sun Ke and son-in-law Dai Ensai to him and told them that they should follow their stepmother Lady Song.
In front of the comrades in the party, Sun Yat-sen deliberately used the title of "Lady Liao Zhongkai" to invite He Xiangning to the sickbed, pointed at Soong Ching Ling, and said that she was also a member of the revolutionary comrades, and after I died, I hope to be able to treat her well.
Those who were entrusted with the entrustment were all moved to tears and agreed.
He Xiangning even said that he would do everything in his power to love his wife. Moreover, he has jointly called the Guangdong financial authorities with Wang Jingwei to ask him to take care of his wife in the future.
After Sun Yat-sen listened, he shook her hand: "Lady Liao, I thank you!" ”
In the past, Sun Yat-sen affectionately called He Xiangning Obasan in Japanese. At this time, he called her Lady Liao Zhongkai, which had a deep meaning.
At that time, in the Guangdong side of the Kuomintang, Liao Zhongkai and Wang Jingwei were the most important figures. Even on his deathbed, Sun Yat-sen could not rest assured of Soong Ching-ling's future, hoping to get their commitment and recognition.
He Xiangning (Mrs. Liao Zhongkai)
On March 11, Sun Yat-sen's whole body was puffy. On the morning of the 8th, He Xiangning found that his pupils began to dilate, worried that his husband would soon die, and hurriedly proposed to Wang Jingwei again about signing. Everyone was worried that Song Qingling would once again be sad and affect the signature, so they asked Song Qingling to cooperate.
At this time, Song Qingling is already very rational, and she firmly said, at this time, I will not obstruct, I still want to help you.
So everyone went to the sickbed. Wang Jingwei was holding a will, but Sun Yat-sen's hands were trembling and he couldn't even pick up his pen. With tears in his eyes, Soong Qingling held Sun Yat-sen's wrist and helped him sign the words "Sun Wen's March 11 Supplement".
That afternoon, Sun Yat-sen was sometimes awake and sometimes unconscious. Song Qingling sat in front of the bed, weeping on his side, and his sorrow was endless.
Sun Yat-sen said, "Darling, don't be sad, all I have, that is, you have." ”
Song Qingling said with tears in her eyes: "I don't love anything, I only love you." ”
Sun Yat-sen could no longer speak, and shook Soong Ching-ling's hand to make a final farewell, soong Ching-ling cried so much that he could not help himself, and everyone present shed tears.
At 9:30 a.m. on March 12, Sun Yat-sen died of illness. Before his death, he was still thinking of peaceful struggle to save China. After his death, he opened his eyes to Look at Song Qingling, who suppressed the huge inner pain and helped him close his eyes.
The barber entered the ward and began to sort out Sun Yat-sen's remains. While sobbing, Song Qingling cut a few strands of hair, carefully packed them into a glass box, and attached them to his chest.
Despite his great grief, Soong Ching Ling immediately began to take care of Sun Yat-sen's affairs. According to Chinese tradition, she selected nanmu coffins and held funerals according to Christian ceremonies. She invited Yenching University students to sing the choir, holding a large lit candle, and singing Sun Yat-sen's favorite song "Sweet Peace"
Subsequently, she and other relatives, in coordination with the Kuomintang Central Committee, completed all the mourning ceremonies of Sun Yat-sen.
At the condolence ceremony in Beijing's Central Park, Song Qingling was wearing a black veil, a black cheongsam with white beads, black shoes, black socks, and black gloves.
This is the first time many people see Song Qingling. But those who knew her well found that Song Qingling had completely changed.
In the past, she often wore European clothes, but also Chinese tops and skirts. And now, she will always wear only the cheongsam. Her cheongsam slit is low, up to the knee, and is always dark.
In the past, her hairstyles were diverse, but after that, she would always have only one hairstyle: long hair coiled in a round bun at the back of her head.
In the past, she had a lively personality, and in front of Sun Yat-sen, she was often even as cute as a little girl. But after that, she was always quiet and solemn, never remarried, and lived alone all her life.
Every time sun Yat-sen's birthday or death day, she closed the curtains, inserted white flowers, changed into black clothes, and sat alone in the house in silence. At this time, no one dared to disturb her, and she rarely spoke or moved.
When talking about Sun Yat-sen every day, she always calls Mr. Sun, sometimes "Yi", revealing a sense of closeness that she tries to suppress.
In the early days, Song Qingling lived at 29 Molière Road in Shanghai, depressed. He Xiangning often visited her, and Xiang Jingyu, the early leader of our party, also visited and comforted her almost every day after dinner.
With the passage of time, the wounds on Song Qingling's surface gradually healed. Politically, she began to carry forward Mr. Sun's spiritual legacy.
On January 4, 1926, at the first meeting of the Second National Congress of the Kuomintang, Soong Ching-ling delivered a speech calling on the whole party to unite and cooperate in realizing the Three People's Principles.
On January 16, she was elected to the second Kuomintang Central Executive Committee.
Unexpectedly, in 1927, Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Jingwei successively rebelled against the revolution and massacred the revolutionaries, and Soong Ching Ling immediately led the left wing of the Kuomintang, protested, and left China.
April 12 coup d'état
In 1929, Chiang Kai-shek took advantage of Sun Yat-sen's burial ceremony in Nanjing to take advantage of the three major kuomintang leaders to elect Soong Ching-ling as the central executive committee, hoping to soften his position. Although Soong Ching Ling returned to China to attend the ceremony, he issued a statement to the whole world that he would not participate in any work of the Kuomintang.
In order to inherit Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary legacy, Soong Ching Ling, as a weak woman, carried out great things in a bright and upright manner. Since then, she has been selfless and fearless, her righteousness is awe-inspiring, and no matter the twists and turns of the environment, she has firmly moved towards the light.
Song Qingling used his life to write down his loyalty to her husband, but also wrote down his love for his homeland and his faith in the revolution.
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