Oral history interview with Peter H.L. and Edith Chang, 1990
Abstract
In this interview, Peter H.L. Chang discusses his relationship with his family and his father, Chang Tso-lin, and his influence on him politically as well as the impact of his father's assassination on his role in history. He talks extensively about the various Chinese political figures, foreign powers, and the issues surrounding the Mukden Incident in 1931 and the Xi'an Incident in 1936, as well a s his life of exile in mainland China and Taiwan, including his relationship with Chiang Kai-shek, Chiang's family, and other Nationalist individuals. There are also mentions about issues of other people's writing and comments on his life and his role in the Xi'an Incident. Lastly, he talks about his conversion to Christianity and its philosophical and religious influence on him. The audio for the interview is accompanied by additional audio collected by interviewer T.K. Tong around the time of the interview and donated to Columbia University with the Chang interview. This audio is separate from the Chang interview, and includes eyewitness accounts of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident and songs commemorating the movement
Generals--China; Mukden Incident, China, 1931; Conversion--Christianity; China History 20th century; China History Xi'an Incident, 1936; China History Republic, 1912-1949; China History Tiananmen Square Incident, 1989; China Foreign relations; Zhang, Xueliang, 1901-2001; Zhao, Yidi; Zhang, Zuolin, 1875-1928; Chiang, Kai-shek, 1887-1975
Format
oral histories; sound recordings
Genre
Interviews
Date
1990
Note (Biographical)
Peter H. L. Chang (pinyin: Zhang, Xueliang; Wade-Giles: Chang, Hsueh-liang; Chinese: 張學良, 张学良; courtesy name/字: Hanqing, 漢卿, 汉卿; alias/号: Yi'an, 毅庵) was born in 1901 in Haicheng, Liaoning province, China. He graduated from the Fengtian Military Academ y in 1919, became a colonel in the Fengtian Army, and appointed as his father Chang Tso-lin's (Zhang Zuolin/張作霖) bodyguard. After his father was assassinated by the Japanese in 1928, Chang took his place as the "Young Marshal" (少帥). In 1930, he became the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Chinese Armed Forces and traveled to Europe in 1933. After returning to China, he instigated the Xi'an Incident of 1936 where he detained Chiang Kai-shek and convinced him to unite front between the Nationalist and Communist and focus on fighting the Japanese force in China. After the incident, he surrendered to Chiang who placed him under house arrest in mainland China and Taiwan. During his confinement in Taiwan, he became a Baptist and spent most of his time writing, reading the Bible, and studying history. After his release in 1995, he immigrated to Honolulu, Hawaii. Chang died in Honolulu, Hawaii at the age of 100 in 2001. Edith Chao Chang (pinyin: Zhao, Yidi; Wade-Giles: Chao, I-ti; Chinese: 趙一荻, 赵一荻; original name: Zhao Qixia, 趙綺霞, 赵绮霞; alias: 赵四小姐) was born in 1912, Hong Kong. She was the daughter of Lu Baozhen (吕葆贞) and Zhao Qinghua (趙慶華), a senior official. Edith met Peter Chang in 1928 and left her family while she was still in her teens to become his companion. She followed him into exile in mainland China and in Taiwan, and they spent the rest of their lives together. Her devotion moved Chang's first wife Yu Feng-Tze that she released him from his marriage vows in 1964, allowing him to marry Edith. She died in Honolulu, Hawaii at the age of 88 in 2000
Note
Interviewed by T.K. Tong and Guanying Guo on January 25, March 16, April 12, April 20, April 27, May 3, and May 20, 1990