“Women are the real architects of society.”

Jung Chang’s remarkable journey from the oppressive environments of Maoist China to the liberating landscapes of England epitomizes the transformative power of resilience and intellect. Her body of work, not only as a writer but also as a historical commentator, has reshaped global perceptions of 20th-century Chinese political and social dynamics. 

Born in 1952 in Sichuan Province, China, Jung Chang’s early life was deeply affected by the Cultural Revolution, a period marked by profound violence and societal upheaval. During this time, her family endured severe persecution, an experience that left a permanent mark on Chang. When asked in a 2019 interview about her earliest memory, Chang replied, “I grew up in Communist China under Mao. When I was three, my mother was detained on suspicion of being a ‘counterrevolutionary,’ and I was sent to live in a kindergarten. I remember my mother sitting next to me one night, holding my hand. I would not let go because I feared she would disappear forever.” 

Under Mao’s regime, censorship and anti-intellectual policies were rampant, aiming to mold the collective consciousness into submission. “Mao said that the more books you read the more stupid you become, so schools were banned, universities were closed and there was no training for jobs,” Chang recounted. Despite these oppressive conditions, Chang harbored a latent passion for literature and writing, secretly composing poems and narratives. “To be a writer was the most dangerous profession,” Chang recalled, “I wrote my first poem aged 16 and destroyed it. When I was working spreading manure in the paddy fields aged 16 and 17, I was always writing in my head.” This silent rebellion against the prevailing anti-intellectualism laid the foundation for her future literary pursuits.

The post-Mao era brought a gradual thaw in China’s policies, allowing Chang the opportunity to pursue higher education in London, being among the first students permitted to study abroad. When she first arrived in London at 26, the culture shock was immense and immediate. She encountered a vastly different society than the one she had left behind; a world where freedom of expression was not only permitted but encouraged. Reflecting on her early days in London, she said “I remember walking in Hyde Park for the first time. Gardening had been banned in China because it was considered bourgeois, so when I saw all the plants and trees I was wild with joy.” The shift from an environment where oppression and unpredictability were the norms to one where freedom and individual rights were protected was jarring. “I think it is very difficult for British people to understand. Mentally perhaps, but not physically, not that feeling in your stomach when someone rules by terrorizing. It was so unpredictable.”

Thriving in this new setting, Chang became the first person from the People’s Republic of China to earn a doctorate from a British university, receiving her PhD in Linguistics from the University of York in 1982. Her first book, “Mme Sun Yat-sen,” which she co-wrote with future husband, historian Jon Halliday, was published in 1986.

In 1988, Dr. Chang’s mother would visit her in England. Empowered by the freedom of her surroundings, the matriarch would begin to recount stories from her past. Those stories were the seed that blossomed into Chang’s most influential work. “Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China” weaves those stories from her mother and grandmother’s lives, as well as her own, into a vivid tapestry of life in 20th century China. The non-fiction masterpiece was translated into 38 languages, sold 13 million copies, and earned multiple awards. 

Writing “Wild Swans” would turn out to be a transformative work for both Chang and her mother. The author said “I got closer to her, and to my father and grandmother through it. I stopped having nightmares, and I started understanding more of what had gone on.” 

Speaking of the book’s effect on her mother, Chang said “The book has done something quite tremendous for her. She is now a very tranquil person and at peace with herself. When I read her readers’ letters after it was published in America, she was pleased to find herself understood by so many people.”

In 2005, Dr. Chang wrote “Mao: The Unknown Story” alongside Halliday, now her husband. This biography presented a highly critical analysis of Mao, depicting him as a tyrant whose atrocities had been underestimated. As a result, Chang would only be allowed to visit her family in China for 15 days a year. “I live in dread that this privilege may be revoked and I would never see my mother again,” Chang said, “But I also realize that is the price I pay for writing my books honestly. And she never asks me to mince my words or pull punches. My mother is, at 88, still a tower of strength for me.”

Today, although Chang’s books are banned in China, they continue to inspire through the black market. Chang is hopeful about China’s democratic prospects. “You constantly see this in the comments on the Chinese internet: ‘people are not pigs’. They don’t want just to eat and sleep, they have minds, they need to think, they need to express themselves…People may not be out in the streets in mainland China but there are many other ways of resisting the country becoming more repressive. Because I have studied history, I know many things are not what they seem to be. All I can say is that I’m holding my breath.”

Dr. Jung Chang’s journey from the rice fields of Maoist China to the academic halls of England and into the hearts of millions worldwide underscores a profound narrative of triumph over silence. Despite the heavy mantle of censorship still shadowing her works in her homeland, Chang’s story is a testament to the power of the written word as a tool of personal healing and societal understanding. It is a reminder that history is not just about the events of the past, but about the marks they leave on individual lives and the collective human spirit. As Dr. Chang continues to write and advocate for truth and freedom, her life and works encourage us all to cherish and defend these values. Her enduring legacy teaches us that courage and clarity can indeed emerge from the depths of oppression, allowing the human spirit to flourish against all odds.