Lo Chia-Luen and Sun Li-Jen

Lo Chia-luen and Sun Li-jen
羅家倫和孫立人

Lo Chia-luen (Luo Jialun 羅家倫, 1897-1969), and Sun Li-jen (Sun Liren, 孫立人, 1899-1990) are two Chinese historical figures during the 20th century. Lo Chia-luen was a student leader from Peking University ( 北大, now Beijing University) during the May 4 Movement in 1919, and he had given a detailed account in: 羅家倫﹕五四運動. Along with the May 4 Movement ( 五四運動) was the New Cultural Movement (五四新文化運動), aimed at popularizing education to all Chinese to build a solid foundation for a strong China. Both movements had greatly impacted Chinese everywhere, the society, and the development of China. They had made contributions to the development of China during the 20th-century, each had a different legacy.

In his memoir Sun Li-jen wrote that he demonstrated in the Tianmen Square (天安門廣場) during the May 4 Movement in 1919. He was a student in the class of 1923 of Tsing Hua College (清華學校, now 清華大學) at that time, so was the literateur Liang Shih-chiu (Liang Shiqui, 梁實秋, 1903-1987, using the name 梁治華 in Tsing Hua). The demonstration was organized by voluntary students, and the patriotic 20-year old Li-jen was part of the movement.

Ms. Liang Wen-chiang (Liang Wenqiang, 梁文薔), the youngest daughter of Liang Shih-chiu, and I met in 1988 when she visited the late General Sun Li-jen. The classmate friendship passed on to the next generation, and Ms. Liang and I had since become friends. She is also a good friend of Ms. Lo Jiu-fong (Luo Jiufang, 羅久芳), daughter of Mr. Lo Chia-luen. During their conversation, they mentioned that I was making a website dedicated to the late General. Ms. Lo immediately remembered that she had a photograph of her father and Sun Li-jen. She promissed Ms. Liang to search for the historical mementos related to her father and Sun Li-jen.

A short time later, Ms. Liang sent me the electronic version of two photographs, and copies of some writings made by Lo Jia-luen.

Ms. Lo has kindly summarized her father's relationship with Sun Li-Jen for those who have limited time, but unlimited interest in history. In her document, I have added some Chinese names for the readers knowing Chinese.

Chung Chieh (Jie Jun 揭鈞 cchieh@uwaterloo.ca)
February 17, 2005 in University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

My Father Lo Chia-luen and Sun Li-jen
先父羅家倫和孫立人

By Luo Jiu-fong (Luo Jiufang, 羅久芳)

My father, Lo Chia-luen (羅家倫, 1897-1969) was two years older than General Sun (孫立人 1899-1990). Although they were both involved in the student demonstrations at Tiananmen on May 4, 1919 (my father, then a junior, was a student leader representing Peking University, while Sun, a student in Tsing Hua, marched with fellow students) it was unlikely that they had met before both returned to China after studying abroad, my father in 1926, and Sun in 1927. When success of the Northern Expedition (北伐) led to the establishment of the Nationalist government in Nanjing in 1927, my father was involved in the founding of the Central Party Institute (中央黨務學校), and became Acting Dean. In 1928 Sun Li-Jen was appointed commander (大隊長) of the cadet battalion of the Institute. The reference to Hongzhilang (紅紙廊), where the Institute was located, in one of my father's poems is proof that the two must have become acquainted around that time. In fall, 1928, my father was appointed president of National Tsing Hua University in Peiping (北平﹐ now Beijing﹐ 北京), but later he returned to the Institute (renamed Central Political Institute, 中央政治學校) in 1931 as Dean until 1932. As both men served in the central government in Nanjing, their friendship probably continued throughout the 1930s.

From October to December, 1941, my father led an investigating delegation to the southwestern provinces of Yunnan (云南) and Guizhou (貴州). Twice the delegation encountered the Chinese military units led by General Sun preparing to head toward the Burma Road. Two of my father's poems (Poem No. 1 and 2 below) were dedicated to the officers and soldiers of the Expeditionary Forces (遠征軍), wishing them victory against the Japanese. The last two poems (Poem No. 3 and 4 below) were composed later, while he was posted in Xinjiang in 1944 and received news of the stunning victory in Burma – the capture of Mogaung by General Sun's 38th Division. He was so overjoyed that he wired the poems to General Sun to congratulate him.

My father returned to Taiwan from India (where he served as ambassador since 1947) in February, 1950. In October, he went to the south of Taiwan and visited several military bases where he met General Sun and spoke to the troops. I have found two photographs.

The photograph of Sun Li-Jen and my father was taken in Fengshan (台灣-鳳山), the Army training base in southern Taiwan. My father spoke to his troops during training before the photograph was taken. The General must have taken my father to see his beloved elephant Linwang (林旺), because there is a photograph of My father and Linwang . Both photographs were taken by the renowned photographer Lang Jingshan (郎靜山) who was traveling with my father.

Historical Notes

The next generation of three historical figures want to preserve and give accurate historical encounters. They pieced together bits mementos to give a historical reflection.

Sun Li-jen started his military career in the Central Party Institute. Mr. Lo Chia-luen, one of the founders, must have known the Sun Li-jen well at that time. Sun Li-Jen was a student in Tsing Hua College (清華學校) during 1912-23. He and Liang Shih-Chiu were classmates. Lo Chia-luen was appointed the preisdent of the National Tsing Hua University (國立清華大學, formerly Tsing Hua College) in 1928. Thus, they all have a Tsing Hua connection (清華人).

Ms. Lo Jiu-fong printed a few pages of her fathers' hand-written notes and poems and gave them to Ms. Liang Wen-Chiang to pass on to Chieh. A Chinese brush was used for these carefully calligraphed notes.

Poem No. 1

增途中出征將士

壯士長歌出漢關﹐
關前仍是舊家山﹐
蕭蕭夜渡江河水﹐
擒得蝦夷馬上還。

To the Expedition Soldiers

The valiant soldiers sing as they depart for the border,
The hills ahead are still within their motherland.
Wind and stars accompany you across the river,*
May you return victorious with captured enemies in hand.

*Gen. Sun led his New 38 Division cross River Wanding at the China-Burma border.

Poem No. 1 was probably written by Lo Chia-luen after saying goodbye to General Sun at Kunming, Yunnan (云南﹐昆明), wherethe New 38th Division boarded a convoy of trucks and headed for Burma to fight the Japanese invaders. All poems translated by Ms. Lo.

Poem No. 2

昆明勉出征將領

萬莫雲屯盡枕戈
中朝欣值會盟多
越南翡翠暹羅象
銅柱相期馬伏波

To the Expedition Generals

Ten thousand tents resembling clouds shelter soldiers prepared for battle,
The Chinese are happily joining forces with many allies.
Jade from Vietnam and elephants from Siam
Await at the border for the arrival of another Ma Yuan.*

*Ma Yuan (馬援, 14 B.C. – 49 A.D.) was a famous Han Dynasty general who pacified the region bordering Vietnam, and honored with the title Fubo General (伏波將軍).

Poem No. 2: 將離昆明勉出征援緬將領 (Encouragement to the generals on their way to join the campaign in Burma) This was also written in December, 1941 after the Lo Chia-luen bed farewell to General Sun and his expeditionary force in Kunming.

Poem No. 3 and 4

紅紙廊前許國士*
野人山外奪雄關
將軍不負當筵約
擒得蝦夷馬上還

雨急泥深路豈通
奇兵真箇奏敷功
天山雪月擎明炬
夜報雄師克孟公

Amidst an assembly of comrades, he had taken a vow at Hongzhilang, *
Now he has captured a strategic pass beyond Ye Ren Mountains;
The General has fulfilled his promise at the banquet,
And returned victorious with Japanese prisoners.

In pouring rain and deep mud, the roads were impassable,
Nevertheless the brilliant soldiers completed their assigned mission;
The moon-lit snow on Tian Shan shone like a torch,
Bringing news of the victory of our heroic soldiers at Moguang.

*Hongzhilang (紅紙廊) was the location of the Central Party Institute in Nanjing where General Sun assumed the position of Commander of the cadet battalion, and where he probably made a vow to defend the nation against aggressors.

For Poem No. 3 and 4, Lu Chia-luen wrote on his notes: Wire service brought news of a major victory won by our forces in the counter-offensive in Burma and the capture of Mogaung (孟拱) from the Japanese. Overjoyed, I immediately composed two seven-character poems and wired them to the front lines in congratulation (電傳入緬甸國軍反攻大捷, 克孟拱, 為之狂喜; 口占二絕, 馳電稱賀.) These poems were written in June, 1944 while Mr. Lo Chia-luen was posted in the remote province of Xinjiang (新疆), according to his daughter.

Record did show that General Sun received the encouraging poems from Lo. One of his aids wrote an article using this poem as a lead.

In February, 1944, the New First Army (NFA, 新一軍) led by General Sun Li-jen captured Maingkwan (孟關) from the Japanese. After a succession of victories, Mogaung also fell to the Chinese. At this point, only the Battle for Myitkyina (密支那) was still in progress before the China-Burma-India Road was finally opened. General Stilwell was directing this last fierce battle since May that year, and later General Sun led the NFA and joined forces with him. The combined American and Chinese units triumphed and captured Myitkyina on August 9, 1944.

General Sun was the Deputy Commander (副軍長) of the NFA at this time, but he was the actual leader. All the field reporters referred too him as the 鏠ommander�. Even Mr. Lo considered him to be the Commander in his note after the poem.

Rendezvous - A song by Lo Chia-luen

A few weeks later, I received another letter from Ms. Liang. It encosed a song written by Lo Chia-luen called the Rendzvous (會師) . Click the link to read please.