Solving the Mysteries of Chiang Kai-shek --- The Public Disclosure of the Chiang Family Father-and-Son Diaries

1. Chiang Kai-shek's Diary: Unveiling Secrets

Why did Chiang Kai-shek rise to power so quickly?

When Chiang Kai-shek first followed Sun Yat-sen, he was merely a chief of staff in Chen Jiongming's Guangdong forces. However, within just 10 years, he ascended to become the highest leader and military commander of the Kuomintang (KMT), surpassing powerful figures within the Nationalist Government such as Hu Hanmin and Wang Jingwei. Besides political maneuvering, were there deeper reasons for his rapid rise?

Peace talks proposed, no pardon!

A review of Chiang's diaries during the war period reveals that the words "雪耻" (wash away shame) appear frequently, and he often referred to Japan as "倭寇" (Wokou - Japanese pirates). After formal declarations of war between China and Japan, Chiang firmly opposed peace talks. In a directive from 1939, he said: "In the future, anyone who uses Wang Jingwei's situation to discuss peace talks with Japan will be considered guilty of treason and executed without pardon."

2. Diaries Made Public

3. Secrets of the Past Revealed

Song Ziwen Losing His Temper in Front of Chiang

"On October 16, Chairman Chiang had a verbal altercation with Minister Song; Chairman Chiang angrily threw a bowl," then "Minister Song stormed out." In the memoirs of Chen Guangfu, the founder of the Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank, it is described how he visited Minister Song's home that afternoon. To his surprise, the floor was littered with broken glass, so he asked about it. Song explained that earlier that morning, Chairman Chiang had slammed the table and thrown bowls at him, so he returned and smashed some glass cups.

How Chiang Kai-shek Guided Chiang Ching-kuo's Studies

During Chiang Ching-kuo's childhood and youth, father and son were often apart. However, Chiang Kai-shek always cared about his son's education and consistently wrote letters offering guidance and teaching. After Chiang Ching-kuo returned from the Soviet Union in 1937, Chiang Kai-shek instructed him to study systematically, focusing on the research of traditional Chinese culture. Even into his later years, Chiang Kai-shek continued to emphasize the importance of learning and self-cultivation for his son.

4. Interview: Was Song Ziwen a Greatly Misunderstood Person?

"Song Ziwen Was Not a Multi-Millionaire"

Song Ziwen's archives provide very clear statistics and records regarding this matter. Song personally wrote down in pen the amount of assets under his name, including the value of each bond, etc.; his wife Zhang Leyi recorded separately.