Aimee, I am being an interested reader here. I learn by understanding many different philosophies, systems and how the work or worked. I had to refresh my own memory by reading up on Sun Yatsen. It might be that he was in my German school books for whatever reason more often referred to as Sun Tai Tseung, as I remembered that name. That is quite a revolutionary that is living in your lineage and seeing you speaking out in these times, feels like there might have been some transgenerational passing in to. His ideas indeed were quite revolutionary and might have influenced the world much more had he lived to bring them to fruition. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Jay. He was a failed statesman but a brilliant visionary and organizer. Still revered in China despite straddling both sides of the early KMT -communist divide. Had he lived longer he likely would not be still revered, alas.
Thank you for posting this incredibly detailed piece of history. I didn't know about any of these intricate maneuvers toward the end of his life, nor did I know that he died of liver cancer. I'm very interested in reading more. I revere Dr. Sun for what he had done for China, and how I wish his legacy had lived on in mainland China. What a different world we'd be living in today. Dr. Sun was active in Hong Kong for a period of time when preparing for the revolution, and when I lived in Hong Kong I was acutely aware of his contribution to modern Chinese history.
Thanks so much for letting me know you welcomed this, Louise. Dr. Sun worked tirelessly and my family history is entwined with his in so many ways. His son Sun Fo lived with my grandparents in San Francisco and later saved my grandfather's life after the 1927 White Terror. Writing about all of this from my vantage point is both irresistible and almost impossible for me, but I try.
You're welcome. I'm looking forward to reading more about your grandparents and their close connection to this important part of modern Chinese history. I never learned anything about Sun Fo and would love to hear more as well! Your writing made me realize that what I learned in school was piecemeal at best. The history you are recounting is significant and should be more widespread. I know how impossible it may feel to piece together this kind of history. I am struggling too to piece together the history of China around the time of my birth. Because so much information was suppressed and destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, and my father has already passed and my mom's memory of things isn't very detailed, it's been super challenging. But I try.
Thanks for reading! Yes, I've read some chapters in "Thank You, Mr. Nixon." It was by (uncanny) coincidence that I picked it up at a bookstore after I already started writing this story... I loved how she weaved her story about Pat Nixon's red coat, and it inspired me to develop my own story further!
A fascinating family! And such rich grist for your mill!
Aimee, I am being an interested reader here. I learn by understanding many different philosophies, systems and how the work or worked. I had to refresh my own memory by reading up on Sun Yatsen. It might be that he was in my German school books for whatever reason more often referred to as Sun Tai Tseung, as I remembered that name. That is quite a revolutionary that is living in your lineage and seeing you speaking out in these times, feels like there might have been some transgenerational passing in to. His ideas indeed were quite revolutionary and might have influenced the world much more had he lived to bring them to fruition. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Jay. He was a failed statesman but a brilliant visionary and organizer. Still revered in China despite straddling both sides of the early KMT -communist divide. Had he lived longer he likely would not be still revered, alas.
Thank you for posting this incredibly detailed piece of history. I didn't know about any of these intricate maneuvers toward the end of his life, nor did I know that he died of liver cancer. I'm very interested in reading more. I revere Dr. Sun for what he had done for China, and how I wish his legacy had lived on in mainland China. What a different world we'd be living in today. Dr. Sun was active in Hong Kong for a period of time when preparing for the revolution, and when I lived in Hong Kong I was acutely aware of his contribution to modern Chinese history.
Thanks so much for letting me know you welcomed this, Louise. Dr. Sun worked tirelessly and my family history is entwined with his in so many ways. His son Sun Fo lived with my grandparents in San Francisco and later saved my grandfather's life after the 1927 White Terror. Writing about all of this from my vantage point is both irresistible and almost impossible for me, but I try.
You're welcome. I'm looking forward to reading more about your grandparents and their close connection to this important part of modern Chinese history. I never learned anything about Sun Fo and would love to hear more as well! Your writing made me realize that what I learned in school was piecemeal at best. The history you are recounting is significant and should be more widespread. I know how impossible it may feel to piece together this kind of history. I am struggling too to piece together the history of China around the time of my birth. Because so much information was suppressed and destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, and my father has already passed and my mom's memory of things isn't very detailed, it's been super challenging. But I try.
Louisa! Just had a chance to read your pub! So wonderful! Have you read Gish Jen’s https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673264/thank-you-mr-nixon-by-gish-jen/. ???? It’s so great and opens with that red coat!
Thanks for reading! Yes, I've read some chapters in "Thank You, Mr. Nixon." It was by (uncanny) coincidence that I picked it up at a bookstore after I already started writing this story... I loved how she weaved her story about Pat Nixon's red coat, and it inspired me to develop my own story further!