Deputy Secretary-General Shen Haiping researched Soong Ching-ling's date of birth and found that her year of birth was actually 1890, not 1893 as originally believed. This discovery was made by investigating the content of Chen Xianqi's conversations, as well as some details of Sui Yongqing's recollections. Chen Xianqi told Shen Haiping that once when he was painting a portrait of ***, Song Qingling came to visit and gave him a valuable cigarette. In order to give it to his mother, Chen Xianqi did not smoke, but clipped it to his ear. Song Qingling asked him why he didn't smoke it, and Chen Xianqi replied that he wanted to smoke it for his mother. Song Qingling was very moved after hearing this, because he was a tiger like Chen Xianqi, not a snake, which showed that her birth year should be 1890.
We can also find more evidence from Sui Yongqing's recollections. She recalled that when she was a child, she went to the zoo and cried when she saw a tiger, and Song Qingling comforted her by saying that the tiger would not hurt her if it was kept in a cage, and that she and her father belonged to the tiger. This shows that Song Qingling mentioned that he was a tiger many times, not an accidental mistake. In addition, Sui Yongqing also revealed that Song Qingling's specific birthday was on the day of the winter solstice, not January 27. Although Sui Yongqing can't remember the specific date, she remembers that her birthday is December 18, which is very close to Song Qingling's birthday. Based on this evidence, we can infer that Soong Ching Ling was indeed born in 1890.
Why, then, does Soong Ching Ling's archives still say 1893? This is because when Soong Ching-ling was sent to the United States to study in 1907, he needed to go to school with his younger sister Soong Mei-ling. However, because Song Qingling is 7 years older than Song Meiling, the two cannot enter the same school according to their age. In order for the two to be able to study in the same school, the family decided to change Soong Ching-ling's age by 3 years, from 1890 to 1893. Although Song Qingling once said that she was very aggrieved at that time and did not want to repeat a grade, she still accepted this decision in order to take care of her sister.
Some readers may be curious, since Song Qingling knows his true date of birth, why not change it? Song Qingling later explained: "Since everyone thinks so, don't change it." Don't tell it to the outside world, just understand it in your heart. She wants to maintain a consensus about her year of birth and not cause trouble for others. This explanation reflects Soong Ching Ling's consistent low-key style and personal principles. In addition, Song Qingling may also think that it is an honor to be born in the same year as ***, so he did not change back to the real date of birth.
Song Qingling is full of deep feelings for her sister Song Meiling. Although the two later took different paths, Soong Meiling has been secretly protecting Soong Qingling, so that Chiang Kai-shek does not dare to attack her. This reflects Song Qingling's deep affection for her family, and it is also a reflection of her responsibility and love for her younger sister as an older sister.
Through Shen Haiping's research, we learned that Song Qingling's real date of birth was 1890, not 1893, as often said. Although the information still says 1893, this is because the family changed her age to 3 years younger so that Song Qingling and her sister Song Meiling could study in the same school. Although she knew the truth, she chose to stay as it was and not to correct the mistake. This reflects her low-key style and affection for her family, as well as her sense of honor for being born in the same year as ***. Through the understanding of this historical fact, we have a deeper understanding of Soong Ching Ling's character image and personal principles.