Ni Kwei-tseng
Ni Kwei-tseng | |
|---|---|
倪桂珍 | |
 Soong Ching-ling, Soong Ai-ling and their mother | |
| Born | 22 June 1869 Chuansha, Jiangsu, China |
| Died | 23 July 1931 (aged 62) Qingdao, China |
| Burial place | Shanghai International Cemetery |
| Alma mater | McTyeire School for Girls |
Ni Kwei-tseng (22 June 1868 – 23 July 1931) was a Chinese Christian educator and philanthropist, who was the wife of Charlie Soong and the mother of Soong sisters.[1]
Early life
[edit]Born in Chuansha to a devout Christian family on 22 June 1869, she was the 17th-generation descendant of Xu Guangqi, the Ming Dynasty scholar and astronomer who played a pivotal role in introducing Western science and Catholicism to China. The Ni family, which had a Catholic tradition, was a predominant family in Yuyao, Zhejiang. Her grandmother adopted Protestantism in 1859, under the influences of British and American missionaries. Her father, Ni Yunshan was a devoted believer, who was educated in Shanghai and became a Protestant minister there.[1]
Ni was among the first women in Shanghai to receive a modern education, attending the McTyeire School for Girls, a pioneering institution founded by American missionaries. Fluent in English, skilled in mathematics, and musically talented, she defied traditional gender norms, notably refraining from the practice of foot-binding. Her progressive mindset enabled her to challenge conventional Chinese views on women’s roles.[1]
Marriage and missionary work
[edit]Ni met Charlie Soong at McTyeire School for Girls.[2] In 1887, Ni married Charlie Soong.[1] Their marriage was groundbreaking, as both partners pursued mutual respect and collaboration rather than conforming to arranged marriage traditions. Together, they engaged in missionary work, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship, founding schools, printing presses, and businesses in Shanghai and beyond.[1] The couple initially engaged in missionary work and business in Kunshan, later continuing their missionary efforts in Chuansha.[2]
Mother of Soong sisters
[edit]As a mother, Ni Guizhen was celebrated for her rigorous yet nurturing approach to raising six children, including the illustrious Soong sisters—Ai-ling, Ching-ling, and May-ling—and three sons, two of whom held prominent roles in the Republic of China’s government.[1]
In June 1915, Soong Ching-ling returned to Shanghai to seek her parents' permission to marry Sun Yat-sen. Ni, as her mother, strongly opposed the idea, pointing out that Sun Yat-sen's son, Sun Fo, was even older than Ching-ling. Both Ni and Charlie Soong traveled to Japan to dissuade Ching-ling, but despite their efforts, Ni ultimately forgave Sun Yat-sen and accepted the marriage.[1]
In 1927, Soong Mei-ling sought her mother's approval to marry Chiang Kai-shek. Initially, Ni objected to the union, but Chiang personally travelled to Japan to appeal to her. As a condition, Ni insisted that Chiang convert to Christianity, to which he agreed.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Li, Yading. "Nee Guizhen". Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ a b ""宋家王朝"的余姚巾帼倪桂珍". Yahoo China (in Simplified Chinese). 2010-10-20. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2011-12-29.