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Yu Fang, Grandmother is born
On the fifth day of the fifth moon, in the early summer of 1909, Yu Fang, the author's (Jung Chang's) grandmother was born. She was blessed to be given an actual name. Yu, meaning "jade" was her generation name, and fang, which means "fragrant flowers." The year she was born, China was in a chaos of people fighting for power and control. Also, many old rituals were still practiced, such as the binding women's feet. Yu Fang had her feet bound into "Three Inch Golden Lilies", when she was young. -
Becoming General Xue's Concubine
In 1924, when Yu Fang (Author's Grandmother) was just the young age of 15, she was married off as a concubine to General Xue, the inspector general of the Metropolitan Police of the warlord government in Peking, which was a very powerful and high position. They had a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony with lots of red lanterns and silk, and the general lavished magnificent betrothal gifts on the family. Three days after the marriage, General Xue left and did not return until six years later.. -
General Xue returns..
Six years later, General Xue returns to visit Yu Fang. HIs visit did not last long, and a few days later he left. Before leaving, he asked Yu Fang to live with him in Lulong. Yu Fang did not want to live under the same roof as the general's wife and his other concubines, and so she pleaded to stay. On his departure, he showered Yu Fang jewels of gold, silver, jade, perals, and emeralds, as on his arrival. -
Bao Qin, Mother is born
A short time after General Xue's departure, Yu fang realized she was pregnant. In the Spring of 1931, a baby girl, (the author's mother) was born. -
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Living in the Residence of General Xue
Shortly after the author's mother, Bao Qin was born, General Xue fell ill, and Yu Fang was ordered to bring their daughter to live with him. Living in the large mansion was like living in a prison for Yu Fang. Yu Fang could not raise her own daughter, because Bao Qin was taken away to be cared for by the wife of General Xue. The Xue household did not care for Yu Fang because she was a mere concubine, and Yu Fang did not find any meaning in life during this grim period. -
Yu Fang Marries Dr.Xia
General Xue died, and his last words were to give Yu Fang her freedom. Yu Fang was at the age of 24, and she was free. Before long, Yu Fang falls in love and marries Dr.Xia, a manchu doctor with a high professional reputation. He was an elderly widower when he proposed to the author's grandmother, and he married her as his proper wife rather than a concubine. He raises Bao Qin as his own daughter, and the three live a poor, simple, but happy life. -
Japan Attacks China
The Xia family was traumatized by all the fighting and violence going on around them, and Japan had complete control over China. The Communist-Kuomintang alliance is formed to battle the Japanese. Dr.Xia and Yu Fang struggle to help people in need of food, the injured, and the wounded. -
Japanese Surrender
The Japanese surrender China, and shortly after, the Kuomintang-Communist Civil War breaks out in 1946 (to 1950). -
Bao Qin (Mother) becomes Student Leader
Bao Qin, a bright student since her youth, is a communist Red Guard. She becomes a student leader and joins the Communist underground. -
Father and Mother Meet
The aurthor Jung Chang's parents meet in 1948, and they were both ideal Red Guards. They both wanted to put forth their hearts in the Cultural Revolution, and they married in 1949. They leave to Jinzhou, and march to Nanjing, because of the Siege of Jinzhou. The People's Republic of China is also proclaimed around this time period, and the Communists take over Sichuan, and the Kuomintang was forced to flee to Taiwan. -
Author, Jung Chang is Born.
The year Jung Chang, the author, was born, campaigns to "suppress counter-revolutionaries," were all over China. Bao Qin, the author's mother is a head of the Youth League, and has a full Party membership. Dr.Xia, Jung Chang's step-grandfather also passes away the year she is born. In 1952, Jung Chang's father also becomes the governor of Yibin, the province they were living in at the time. -
Campaign to Uncover Hidden Counter-Revolutionaries
In 1955, the mother, Bao Qin, is detained becaus of the campagin to uncover hidden counter-revolutionaries. However, she was soon released a year later in 1956, but underwent loads of pain and work the full year she was detained. -
Jung Chang starts school
Jung Chang starts her education/school, and this impacts her greatly. She finds an interest in learning, and she starts reading lots of books. Although her teacher was Japanese, the teacher was very kind to Jung, and taught her how to read, write, and enjoy literature. It was school that sparked Jung's passion in writing, and this was an influential period of her life. -
The Cultural Revolution Begins
The Cultural Revolution starts, and Jung Chang's father was detained because he was scapegoated. Mother, Bao Qin rushes to Peking to appeal, and the father is released from his detainment. However, shortly after, they were captured and tormented. Father writes to Mao, but is arrested and exiled to a camp. -
Working as a Peasant
Jung Chang is exiled to Ningnan to work as a peasant because of the Cultural Revolution to get young people to work. She soon becomes a "Bare-foot Doctor" in 1970. Jung's mother is also sent to a camp. -
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Freedom At Last
1973, Jung Chang enteres the Sichuan University. China is finally turning around and becoming more open-minded and modernized because of Deng Xio Ping. in 1975, Jung's father dies, and she is thrown into sorrow, but it gave her more motivation to work harder. She then meets her first foreigners, the first time she had ever seen a Caucasian person. in 1977 Jung becomes an assistant lecturer. By 1978, Jung wins a scholarship to Britain to the York University.
