This 14-year-old girl went on to become world famous. This image is from a certificate issued by the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai to authorize her admission to the United States. If you can name her, you’ll win a USD 10 (RMB 60) gift certificate to Starbucks or Amazon.com, whichever you prefer. Post your answer in the comments. Good luck!
Update: We have a winner! Congratulations to Catherine for correctly identifying SONG Qingling as the girl pictured. This photo was taken for the below “Form of Chinese Certificate” issued in 1907 to allow her to enter the U.S. as a student. She studied at Weslyan College in Macon, Georgia, along with her sisters Meiling and Ailing.
Qingling’s father was the wealthy businessman and Christian missionary, Charlie Song. Their family became one of the most influential in 20th-century China.
Qingling married SUN Yat Sen (SUN Zhongshan), who had served as first president of the Republic of China beginning in 1911. After his death, his Nationalist Party split, with CHIANG Kai-shek (JIANG Jieshi) heading up the right wing. She denounced the right wing as having betrayed her husband’s ideals.
During the Chinese Civil War, she sided with the Communists against the Nationalists, headed up by Chiang. Her sister Meiling had married Chiang. And her brother T.V. was a powerful figure in the Nationalist government.
After the 1949 establishment of the People’s Republic of China she served as Vice President of China and head of the All-China Women’s Federation. She was named honorary president of China in 1981, shortly before she died.
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