Song Qingling's former residence treasures a small and delicate purple crystal vase, which was given by Chen Hansheng, an old friend of Song Qingling. This vase is placed on Song Qingling's dresser, and there are often a few seasonal flowers dotted in it, lining the room with vitality.
Chen Hansheng presented song Qingling with an amethyst vase
From November 1956 to February 1957, Chen Hansheng was a member of the delegation to the National People's Congress, visiting the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Yugoslavia. This was his last trip abroad. While visiting the spa resort of Karlovy Vary in the western Czech Republic, he purchased this purple crystal vase.
After returning to China, Chen Hansheng gave the purple crystal vase as a gift to Song Qingling. Song Qingling loved it very much, not only placing it on the dresser that he could see every day, but also drawing several small paintings for this vase with great interest, and specially made the painting into a letterhead and wrote it to Chen Hansheng on October 15, 1971. The letter reads:
Dear Friends,
Do you remember this little light purple crystal vase? You brought it back from Karlovy Vary and gave it to me when you returned to Shanghai. I cherish this lovely "friendship vase" and bring it here. Now I put it on my dresser and remind me of my good friends every day.
Song Qingling's gouache painting for the amethyst vase
Song Qingling's interaction with Chen Hansheng began in 1927. At that time, due to the severe revolutionary situation, Chen Hansheng and his wife were forced to choose to go to the Soviet Union, where he worked as a researcher at the Institute of Peasant Movements founded by the Comintern. In the same year, Song Qingling, who was dedicated to finding a way to save the country, also arrived in Moscow in September. Under the recommendation of Deng Yanda, Chen Hansheng became acquainted with Lady Sun, whom he had always admired. Although this foreign meeting was short,perhaps it established a friendship between the two for many years.
After returning to Shanghai, Chen Hansheng often visited Song Qingling's apartment on Moli'ai Road. When the two men met, they would talk in English about the current situation at home, the situation of the Kuomintang, and the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. Because of his like-mindedness, Chen Hansheng has done a lot of work in assisting Song Qingling at different times. He secretly participated in the rescue activities carried out by the Chinese Civil Rights Protection League; he also repeatedly covered the departure of underground party members from Shanghai under the arrangement of Soong Ching-ling; later, he served as the secretary of the International Committee for The Chinese Industrial Cooperation Movement initiated by Soong Ching-ling; he also assisted in the initial period of the League for the Defense of China; after the founding of New China, he accepted Soong Ching-ling's invitation to participate in the founding of "China Construction" magazine and served as the deputy director of the editorial board.
The deep friendship that has exceeded half a century has made Song Qingling extremely trusting Chen Hansheng, and many of the articles she has published have asked Chen Hansheng for revision opinions in advance. She once described Chen Hansheng as "an old friend of mine and one of the most talented people I've ever met." ”
In October 1955, Chen Hansheng accompanied Song Qingling to meet with Belgium
Famous peacemaker Mrs. Isabelle Brum (front row left)
(Back row from left: Li Dequan, Liu Guanyi, Chen Hansheng, Shi Liang)
Today, when you walk into Song Qingling's former residence, you can still see this small purple crystal vase on the dresser in the office on the second floor of the main building. It is still quietly placed there, witnessing the timeless friendship between those Song Qingling and his friends.
Contributed by: Song Qingling Former Residence Management Center
Editor: Song Yang
China Soong Ching Ling Foundation