Song ChingLing, also known as Madame Sun Yat-sen, was one of the three Song sisters—who, along with their husbands, were amongst China's most significant political figures of the early 20th century. Madame Song died in 1981, but was not buried with her husband, Sun Yat-sen, the former president of the Republic of China, who was frequently referred to as the 'Father of the Nation'.

This was because she remarried her secretary in her later years, but since her title 'mother of the nation' was very important and useful to the survival of the Chinese Communist Party, the CCP stopped the public from knowing of her second marriage.  Her status was changed from “mother of the nation” to an “ex-wife”; and Song was not able to be jointly buried with Sun.

The marriage of Song Ching Ling and Sun Yat-sen

In June 1915, Song Ching Ling returned to Shanghai from Tokyo, Japan. There were two reasons for her return: to visit her parents and to express her wish to marry Sun Yat-sen.  Sun was an old friend of Song 's father, Song Jiashu. That year Sun was 49 years of age, and Song Ching Ling was 22. Song Jiashu did not approve of their marriage.  He then put his daughter under house arrest, forbidding her to see Sun again.

Song Ching Ling was very depressed. She became very quiet. One evening, taking advantage of being alone, Song Ching Ling quickly packed her things.  With the help of her maid she jumped out of the window and escaped. She then left Shanghai and went to Japan by sea.

Song and Sun were married in Japan on October 25, 1915, but Sun did not divorce his first wife Lu Muzhen (an arranged marriage) due to opposition from the Chinese community.

Sun Yat-sen and Song Chingling. (historic photo)

10 years of marriage with Sun Yat-sen

Song Ching Ling often accompanied husband Sun Yat-sen in his travels for the cause of democracy in China.

Sun was the founder of the Three People’s Principles of Nationalism, Civil Rights and People's Livelihood, and that is "national independence, civil liberties and happiness of the people's livelihoods." The ideology is heavily influenced by Sun's experiences in the United States and contains elements of the American progressive movement and the thoughts championed by Abraham Lincoln. Sun credited a line from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, "government of the people, by the people, for the people," as an inspiration for the Three Principles.

Sun Yat-sen’s health failed due to overwork.  In January 1925, his liver disease became worse. On March 1, from his bed, Sun pleaded for his best friend's wife, Mrs He Xiangning, to look after Madame Song after his death. Song Chingling cried bitterly beside his bed on hearing his plea.

Song Ching Ling rendered services for the CCP

After the death of Sun Yat-sen in 1925, Song Ching Ling was elected in January 1926 to the Central Executive Committee of the National Party.  Comintern (The Communist International) had an eye on her title of "mother of the nation.”. They tried every effort to win her over. Song gradually took the path of betrayal of Sun’s  Three People's Principles. She secretly joined the Comintern.

She adopted the policy of "uniting Russia and tolerating communism", splitting up the party on the inside. In realizing the communist Party’s use of the Nationalist government's financial and material resources to develop their own forces, Chiang Kai-shek set a Three Noes principle: no negotiation; no contact; no compromise.

In 1927, the Nanjing government established by Chiang Kai-shek launched a party purge in Shanghai, In July Song Ching Ling issued "a statement to protest against violation of the principles of Sun Yat-sen's revolution and policy", declaring that "some people who had led the revolution were going astray".  After that she betrayed her husband and broke up with her brother-in-law, the President of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek.

Song Chingling's secret work for the Comintern

Liao Chengzhi’s book My Memories, stated: "in May 1933, Song Ching Ling suddenly mysteriously came to my home to contact me in secret. She explicitly told me: 'I came as a representative of the highest authority.'"

This highest authority was the Comintern.  Song asked Mr. Liao two questions: “first question: will Shanghai's secret work be able to keep going? And second: a list of traitors that you know."  After receiving the reply Song quickly left his home. Liao wrote: "Although it was nearly 50 years ago, I can clearly remember every minute of the less than half an hour’s meeting."

In order to win over Song Ching Ling’s brother and sister, Song Tse-ven and Song Mei-ling, Zhou Enlai, the former communist senior, told them openly that Song Ching Ling was serving the Communist Party. Zhou told Song Tse-ven that Song Ching Ling recently sent 50,000 US dollars to Yan'an (CCP headquarters).

Zhou also told Song Tse-ven that he and Song Mei-ling could contact the Red Army’s representative through their sister, Song Ching Ling. After that, Tse-ven and Mei-ling severed their relation with Song Ching Ling.

Even when Song Chingling. then the Vice President of the Chinese Communist Party, died in 1981 in Beijing, her youngest sister, Song Mei-ling did not even write a word of condolence.

Soong Ching Ling's parents’ graves dug up by communists

After the Communist party illegally established government in China in 1949, Song Ching Ling found that she could not understand the CCP movement.   She wrote a letter to Mao Zedong for explanation. Mao considered Madame Sun of no value, and said“If you do not want to be in the country, you can go somewhere else”. Where could Song go? She could only be silent.

Her parents’ graves were dug up during the Cultural Revolution but she still had to remain silent. This is the common tragedy of having been used by the Communist Party.

Mao approved Song Ching Ling's remarriage

From 1949 to her death in 1981, Song lived like a bird in a cage.  She lived in a very spacious mansion on the far side of North ocean.  In the 60's, the lonely Song Ching Ling developed affection for a married man, her secretary. The staff working for her looked down on her. They often gossiped behind her back.

Song Ching Ling had no children.  In order to inherit her property and enjoy the "being her husband," the secretary divorced his wife. He was ready to marry into the family of Grandma Song Ching Ling. His two daughters changed calling her from “Grandma” to “Mum”.

Song Ching Ling handed in her marriage application. What shocking news!? Zhou Enlai thought that it was definitely inappropriate to register the marriage.  They could only cohabitate, so that her value could still be used., however when the report was handed to Mao Zedong, Mao said: I agree that she marry!

Loss of the title “mother of the nation”

Thus, Song Ching Ling lost her title “mother of the nation”.  She remained known as the “ex-wife of Sun Yat-sen” within the country.  To the outside world, Song Ching Ling was still "mother of the nation", the status used to participate in campaigns for the United Front.

on May 29, 1981, Song Ching Ling died in Beijing at the age of 90. Less than half a day after her death, the secretary was driven away. He was angry and said, “I was Song Ching Ling's husband!” The CCP said, “In your dreams! This country does not recognize you as Song Ching Ling's husband!”

Song Ching Ling's husband did not only not continue to enjoy the treatment as the family of his wife, the former Vice President of the country, but valuable historical and cultural relics which he had taken from Song Ching Ling's home were confiscated.

The fame and luxury that the secretary had tried so hard to gain was to no avail.  He eventually suffered from hemiplegia.

How about Song Ching Ling? In her will she wrote, "Please do not put me together with the father of the nation ..." she could only be buried beside the remains of her parents.

For those who have devoted themselves to the Chinese communist party, none of their paths through life were glorified in history.