Wild Swans: Resilience and Bravery in China's Cultural History

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Jung Chang's book Wild Swans is a unique portrayal of China's cultural history, chronicling the lives of three generations of women in her family from 1909 to the present day. The main focus of Chang's writing in Wild Swans is to emphasize the remarkable bravery and resilience exhibited by the Chinese people, particularly the women in her own family, who faced immense challenges. This book serves as a testament to the unwavering strength and determination displayed by her grandmother, mother, and herself as they confronted suffering, humiliation, and disillusionment.

By skillfully interweaving personal experiences with historical narratives, Chang offers valuable insights into China's tumultuous twentieth century through the experiences of these women and their families. Ultimately, Wild Swans explores themes such as familial love, loyalty, and selflessness.

The text below provides summaries of Chapter 2.

The book begins by sharing the biography of Chang's grandmother, Yu-fang. It then transitions to the story of Chang's mother, De-hong, after her birth.

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Following that, the book refocuses on Jung Chang's own autobiography, starting from her birth.

Chapter 1:

The father of Yu-fang, Yang Ru-shan, was born in 1894 as the only son and had the responsibility of continuing the family name by producing heirs. However, due to political unrest in China, he encountered difficulties. To ensure Yu-Fang's safety, he arranges for her to become the concubine of powerful warlord general Xue Zhi-heng at the age of fifteen. After a brief traditional marriage, the general leaves for six years until his next visit, during which Yu-Fang becomes pregnant.

The general's household is managed by his legal wife and the head concubines. The wife immediately claims Yu-Fang's daughter, named Bao Qin by the general. Determined to protect her daughter, Yu-Fang kidnaps her and escapes the household, deceiving others into believing that the child died during their journey. Following the general's death, Yu-Fang discovers that he had included a provision to release her from her duties as his concubine before passing away.

Chapter 2:

Shortly after, Dr. Xia, an experienced Manchurian doctor, develops a deep affection for Jung’s grandmother, reciprocated by her. The doctor proposes and she accepts. Despite not being overly enthusiastic about the marriage, the bride's father gives his approval and organizes a traditional wedding ceremony. When Dr. Xia's three sons, their spouses, and grandchildren learn of the marriage, they become very angry. The family subject the grandmother to significant harassment, and the eldest son tragically takes his own life. Nevertheless, the wedding proceeds as planned. Dr. Xia lovingly welcomes Yu-Fang's daughter into the family, renaming her "De-hong," which symbolizes virtue and a wild swan.

Chapter 3:

During the period of Japanese rule in China, Jung Chang's grandmother lives in Manchuria with Dr. Xia and begins to comprehend the immense hardships imposed by the Japanese rulers. The cruelty of these rulers is evident as they only provide acorn meal and sorghum for sustenance. As the Second World War progresses and Japan's prospects decline, rations and supplies further decrease for the people living in Manchuria. The undeniable confirmation of Japan's defeat becomes apparent when an American B-52 bomber is witnessed flying above. With remaining Japanese officers resorting to suicide or fleeing, chaos engulfs the town, reflecting a similar situation throughout all of Manchuria.

Chapter 4:

The Soviets took over from the equally brutal Japanese, engaging in pillaging, rape, and dismantling of factories to fulfill their desires. Eventually, they left and were replaced by the Kuomintang who appeared in shiny uniforms with rifles. However, the Kuomintang proved to be oppressive and ineffective in maintaining justice and peace. Both the Russians and the Kuomintang systematically killed any remaining Japanese. This led to a civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communists. De-hong notes that communism is gaining significance among many people but has not yet formed her own opinion on it. She continues to observe those in power at her current residence, a teaching school. Upon discovering that her favorite teacher and best friend, Cousin Hu, were Communists who had either been forced out of the city or executed for their political beliefs, De-hong decides to become a Communist herself.

Chapter 5:

De-hong, despite being rejected from joining the communist movement due to her young age, expresses her desire to be a part of it. However, she finds another way to contribute by distributing communist literature. The family is going through a difficult financial situation with no savings left and Dr. Xia's concerns about the family's future after his death at almost eighty years old. Extortion is widespread, food scarcity is a major problem, and money has little value. De-hong develops a friendship with a Kuomintang general and utilizes his military freedom to occasionally travel outside the walled city where she leaves messages for fellow communists. As a result, the communists start regularly bombarding the city, which includes an inactive shell that crashes into De-hong's family home.

Chapter 6:

De-Hong assists in the cleanup of the devastation caused by the civil war. Unlike previous groups, the communists do not engage in pillaging, raping, or extortion when they seize control of the town. They demonstrate kindness and courtesy, exemplifying the type of soldiers who defeated the Kuomintang. Upon reporting for her first assignment with the communists, De-Hong instantly falls in love with Wang Yu, a charming man who holds a high rank within the communist party. Wang Yu has participated in numerous perilous missions, earning his promotion through unwavering loyalty to the party and its principle of absolute equality. Accompanied by several other teachers and students, De-Hong and Wang Yu journey by train to another town controlled by the communists as a precaution against potential recapture by the Kuomintang. It is there that their love blossoms. Eventually, Wang Yu requests permission from the party leaders to discuss marriage, leading to their engagement and subsequent wedding.

Chapter 7:

Chang's parents are part of a group traveling south, amidst a dangerous civil war. The journey to Nanjing lasts forty days, and while her mother has no choice but to walk, her father is privileged to ride in a jeep. During the arduous expedition, De-hong becomes pregnant without even realizing it until she experiences a miscarriage due to the ordeal. This tragic event leaves her devastated and resentful towards her spouse. Subsequently, her parents are separated when he is relocated to Yibin. It takes De-hong four months to recover from her loss before she embarks on the journey to reunite with him. Throughout this period, her anger dissipates and they are filled with joy upon seeing each other.

Chapter 8:

When Chang's parents arrive in Yibin, her father is appointed leader and reverts back to his former name, Chang Shou-yu. They both reside in a mansion confiscated by the Communists. Despite her bound feet and difficulty walking, Chang's grandmother, Fang-Yu, makes the arduous journey from Jinzhou to Yibin to visit De-hong. De-hong gives birth to her first daughter, Xiao-hong.

Chapter 9:

This chapter recounts the experiences of her mother, who worked in the Public Affairs Department in Yibin. It describes her life living with her grandmother, the strictness of her father, and the challenges and hardships of being a member of the Communist Party. The most difficult aspect for her mother, however, was having a husband.

Chapter 10:

During this chapter, Chang's mother is suspected due to her previous connections with Kuomintang participants. However, despite the hardships she faced, she manages to clear herself of any charges.

Chapter 11:

In this chapter, Mao decides to once again purge the Communist party. This time, he determines that the majority of people are classified as "rightists" and must be expelled from the party, resulting in the permanent destruction of their lives. However, he receives assistance this time and compels all of his officials to eliminate 5% of the total members. Eventually, Chang's mother manages to reach this quota through various methods of accusing individuals of being "rightists."

Chapter 12:

During this chapter, China experiences a devastating famine in which numerous people die and starve. The famine is a result of Mao's decision to downplay its existence while focusing on steel production. This ultimately leads to a decline in food production. However, the famine is eventually addressed when Mao allows others to take responsibility for resolving the crisis.

Chapter 13:

Chang recounts her experience living in a compound with the aim of enrolling herself and her siblings in a renowned school. The compound offered various entertainment choices, eliminating the need to go outside for any purpose. Additionally, Chang fondly remembers her pleasant upbringing, characterized by good conduct and her family's gratitude for her presence in their comfortable home.

Chapter 14:

This chapter discusses the occurrences associated with the cult of Mao. Many young people were influenced to adopt a lifestyle similar to Lei Fang, an enthusiastic supporter of "Chairman Mao" who devoted his entire life to him. As part of their education, they studied Lei Fang's teachings and witnessed the punishment given to "class-enemies."

Chapter 15:

Upon realizing the decline of Stalin's Russia, Mao acknowledged his similarities with Stalin and the potential of facing a comparable fate – being overthrown by his own people. To avoid such an outcome, Mao endorsed the release of a book titled "The Quotations of Chairman Mao," consisting of his own quotes. The purpose behind this publication was to bolster his popularity among Chinese citizens, ultimately leading to an increase in Mao's authority within China during this time.

Chapter 16:

It was not until chapter 16 that Mao's rule started to become evident. Mao established the utilization of Red Guards, which he referred to as his personal police force that protected and fought for him. Many of these Red Guards were teenagers from influential families. They acted as a reinforcement to Mao's authority and dealt with anyone perceived as "betraying" him through methods such as beatings, raids, torture, or execution.

Chapter 17:

Jung Chang’s father begins to doubt Mao's actions and raises doubts about the justification of the Chinese people's actions. Eventually, he writes a letter to Mao, pointing out the faults in his actions (which Mao considers as "anti-Mao" and punishable by death). As a result, he is sent to prison. Additionally, he openly opposes Mao's ideas, which can result in severe consequences.

Chapter 18:

Jung Chang and her friends travel to Peking with the aim of meeting Chairman Mao, but their expectations are shattered when Mao's authority grows stronger. The accusations of being "capitalist-roaders" lead to severe consequences for her parents, including denunciation meetings, beatings, harassment, and humiliation. Despite their unwavering loyalty to Mao, they suffer greatly for the alleged crime.

Chapter 20:

Jung Chang’s father is sent to detention after sending another letter to Mao. In an attempt to help their situation, his wife travels to Peking to meet Premier Zhou Enlai. Along the way, she meets two lovers Yan and Yong who accompany her. Eventually, with Premier Zhou Enlai's assistance, Jung Chang’s father is released from detention. However, the situation takes a turn for the worse. While in detention, the guard manipulates Jung Chang’s father and convinces him that his wife conspired against him. This leads to them sleeping in separate areas and having a negative impact on Jung Chang’s father's mental and physical health, although his health later improves. The parents face more misery in subsequent denunciation meetings.

Chapter 21:

Chapter 21 focuses on the family dynamics and experiences of the author. It delves into the stories of her siblings, such as Xiao-hei joining a gang and Jin-ming's involvement in the "black market" book trade. The chapter also explores the theme of loyalty and betrayal, with people drawing lines between enemies and friends. Fortunately, the author's friends did not betray her, reflecting the chapter's title "Giving Charcoal in the Snow," which symbolizes providing assistance when needed. Additionally, this chapter recounts the author's first encounter with university life.

Chapter 22:

In this chapter, Mao introduces the concept of "thought reform through labor", which prompted Communists throughout China to relocate to rural areas and collaborate with peasants (Jung Chang was sent to Ningnan). Mao believed that this would bring Communists closer to the Chinese people. Tragically, towards the end of the chapter, Jung Chang's friends informed her that her grandmother had passed away.

Chapter 23:

To sum up this chapter, Jung Chang becomes a "barefoot doctor" and follows her career in this field. Mao had defined barefoot doctors as doctors who could be quickly trained in large numbers. Prior to becoming a barefoot doctor, however, she was moved to a different peasant village, called Deyang, where she discovers the historical events that occurred in China before the onset of the Cultural Revolution.

Chapter 24:

With her entire family dispersed in different locations as part of the mission of completing "thought reform through labor," Jung Chang embarks on a visit to her mother in Buffalo Boy Flatland and her father in a labor camp. During her visit to her father, she attempts to uplift his spirits by providing him with company. Subsequently, other family members come to visit, alleviating her father's despair and preventing him from contemplating suicide. Ultimately, Jung Chang's father expresses regret to Jin-ming, her brother, for their present circumstances and past actions.

Chapter 25:

In this chapter, Jung Chang embarks on a new career as an electrician. While working in her factory, she encounters Day and their relationship blossoms into love. Unfortunately, their romance is cut short due to their contrasting social statuses. Ultimately, Jung Chang's father passes away and she decides to pursue further education at an English university.

Chapter 26:

Education in China has become less stressful over time, but individuals who had connections with officials were able to gain eligibility for entry into universities through a process that later became referred to as "using the back door." The educational curriculum began to incorporate teachings focused on Mao and military strategies, emphasizing the importance of defending the country.

Chapter 27:

This chapter centers around the death of Jung Chang's father, who passed away from a heart attack. Unfortunately, the doctor's refusal to provide immediate care contributed to his demise. In tribute to her father, an elaborate funeral was organized. Soon after, Jung Chang's school organizes a field trip to the Chinese port of Zhanjiang, aiming for the students to enhance their English skills by conversing with sailors coming and going at the port. By the chapter's conclusion, the Party secretary notifies Jung Chang and her peers about Chairman Mao's passing.

Chapter 28:

After Mao's death, the Chinese population faced uncertainty and indecision. The concept of pursuing education in Western countries became increasingly popular, as the government offered scholarships for those interested in studying abroad. The narrative concludes with Jung Chang's journey to the Western world, driven by her desire to expand her knowledge and embrace personal liberty.