Chi Wang - A Compelling Journey from Peking to Washington

A Compelling Journey from
Peking to Washington

Hamilton Books

Lanham Boulder New York Toronto London

TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

In memory of my mother, who was brutally murdered by Maos Red Guards in 1966 during the Chinese Cultural Revolution along with
millions of other Chinese.

This memoir covers my life from 1937 up until today. I have been fortunate enough to live through a long period of time, including some of the most pivotal events in Chinese history. I have also been privileged to interact with many fascinating figures in Chinese and American history. I have had the opportunity to meet many Chinese leaders, including the Young Marshal Zhang Xueliang (leader of Manchuria in the 1930s), Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (former leader of China), Madame Chiang Kai-shek (First Lady of China for two decades), and Dr. Lien Chan (former KMT leader in Taiwan and also former prime minister and vice president of Taiwan). In addition to recounting my personal story, this memoir is about these figures as well, as viewed through the eyes of a Chinese American teacher and scholar.

My story also reflects the larger narrative of Chinese history and its vast political and social changes over the past seventy years. My tale begins in China, where I grew up as the child of a high-ranking Nationalist (KMT) official during the war with Japan. During my youth, I personally experienced the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the Fall of Hong Kong, Japanese occupation, liberation, and part of the Chinese Civil Warall before my eighteenth birthday. In 1949, I left China and came to the United States. I arrived here, alone, as a high school student, without any previous experience or guidance. Despite not having any knowledge of the United States, I was presented with many opportunities that allowed me to succeed in my new country.

During my first ten years in the United States, I matured into a young adult and took on new responsibilities with the help and advice of my new friends in America. The transition from China to America was difficult at times, but I learned that by following the advice of friends and colleagues I could succeed in this new country and become a productive member of society. Friends taught me not to complain about the differences between American and Chinese culture and society, but rather to accept the United States for what it is. Instead of lamenting the differences, I learned to embrace them and my new country. I would pass this advice along to other travelers and immigrants. You cannot expect the country you are in to be the same as where you came from or for the people you come across to adapt to you. It is you who need to learn, adapt, and make your new country your own.

I hope my story can serve as a reference for Chinese students in the United States on how to adapt and succeed in a new country. For Americans, I hope it will teach you about one immigrants experience, but also about the US-China relationship through the lens of an eyewitness. It was the advice of Madame Chiang Kai-shek and Young Marshal Zhang Xueliang that inspired me to write my memoirs. In my conversations with them, I inquired why they had not written their stories. Both responded that their lives and roles in Chinese history were too controversial, but recommended that I tell my story instead. They said my life was not controversial and could serve as a source of inspiration and insight. I have taken up this task, and hope my reflections may provide a lens to help readers better understand a tumultuous period of history and the still murky relationship between China and America.

As a student, I always enjoyed reading memoirs for guidance and inspiration. However, during my teaching career I noticed that there are few memoirs included in college curricula. It is my hope that people will learn to identify with Chinese and American history on a personal level through the experiences of people like myself. Too often we view history as merely events described in a textbook, with little thought to the lived experiences of those who make up history. By writing my story, I hope to bring some color and humanity to the historical events that have touched my life. It was with this goal in mind that I began my memoirs.

In writing, I reflected upon my career as an academic and librarian, and my dedication to improving US-China relations. Overall, I feel that I have made a small contribution to this country and to Sino-American understanding and cooperation. One of the major questions now facing the world is whether America and China will prosper as friends into the future or whether they will engage in mutually destructive confrontation. The answer may determine the fate of the world. US-China relations have been facing difficulties and tensions in recent years. But I hope we can move toward peace and that the world is becoming a better place. Most of all, I hope that I have made a small contribution to this improvement in US-China friendship, and have thus done my part as a world citizen.

I am fortunate to still have a good memory. I remember my life and my meetings with all of these people as if it happened yesterday. As I am now celebrating seventy years since first coming to the United States, I thought it was a fitting time to revise my memoirs. This second edition of my memoir has endeavored to correct any errors that were found in the first edition, expand on areas that were confusing or lacking in depth, and also include additional stories and photographs. However, if there are any mistakes, I take full responsibility for them.

During my life and career I have been thankful for the help, support, and friendship of many incredible individuals. Without Cardinal Paul Y Pin, I likely would not have even made it to the United States. Howard Sollenberger gave me career advice, took me under his wing, and hired me to teach at the Foreign Service Institute, sparking my interest in diplomacy. Joseph Wang hired me for my first job at the Library of Congress, which ultimately led to a fulfilling, decades-long career. Father Joseph Sebes was my mentor and PhD advisor at Georgetown University. My wife, Ernestine, has always pushed me to succeed.

The list keeps going. I am so thankful to everyone who helped me along the way. As my memoir shows, my life would have been very different without the support of others. No one goes through life alone. And I have been blessed to have a life full of amazing people.