The US Columbia University's Rare Edition Manuscripts Library is
reportedly going to release en masse Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang's oral
account of history on file to mark the 101st anniversary of the
general's birth.
The news will of course throw big repercussions within Chinese
historians, for this oral account evidencing the life of Mr. Chang
known to China's modern history.
What people care most at this moment are undoubtedly new historical
revelations of the Xi'an Incident, which is closely related to this
great man.
Chang Hsueh-liang's oral account is by itself a rich precious
record of history and life of Mr. Chang.
As
told by Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang's verbal account, a wealth of
historical materials will be made known, including his large number
of correspondence with such historical personages as Chiang
Kai-shek, Soong Mei-ling and Kong Xiang-xi, all important figures
in Chinese modern history.
Materials long kept from the public such as Zhang's photos with his
wife, his collection of curiosities, paintings, documents, work
diary, records of important meetings and talks are all included in
the release.
It
is told that as had been formerly agreed, the Rare Edition
Manuscripts Library is going to have its collection of Mr. Chang's
opened on the anniversary of his 101st birthday in 2002, and used
or reviewed by appointments on a study purpose starting from June 5
on this year.
Zhang Youkun, vice chairman and research fellow of Chang
Hsueh-liang Study Society under the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences told news media that he is most happy to know that the
Rare Edition Manuscripts Library is going to release Chang
Hsueh-liang's verbal account record since his death last year.
As
shown by his oral account, people will find in Mr. Chang a patriot
and his life long in captivity.
So, high credit must go to Zhang Zhiyu and Zhang Zhibin for their
three years of scholarly study in helping the world readership with
a full record of Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang's oral account put out, he
said.
Professor Yang Kuisong with the faculty of History of Peking University
also tells how he feels about Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang's oral account,
saying that it must be claimed as a complete systematic work of
historical academic significance.
( June 4, 2002)