Zhuhai Museum documents given national relic status

A handwritten poem by proletarian revolutionary Yang Pao'an (Lintao) and the first-edition English-printed memoir of Yung Wing (Rong Hong) have just been escalated to national Grade-II cultural relic status.

Both items are housed at the Zhuhai Museum in Jiuzhou Town of Jida in Xiangzhou District. They are among objects at the museum that have been identified as cultural heritages by authoritative antiquarians from Guangdong provincial organizations.

The only known handwriting by Yang Pao'an (1896-1931) -- two poems created in 1927 -- were donated in 2002. Through the poem To Xiaomei (寄小梅) Yang worries about the fate of his country and proclaims loyalty to the Communist Party of China. Created while he was expatriated in Southeast Asia due to failure of the First National Revolution (1924-27), the poem is clearly written in red ink on notepaper and has three redactions in black. It had been sent to the husband of Yang's younger female cousin along with a longer poem.

Yang Pao'an's handwriting [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

Yang was born in Beishan Village of Nanping Town and became an outstanding early theorist of the CPC who was credited with introducing Marxism to South China during the May 4th Movement of 1919. Aged 36, he was executed in secret at the Longhua Police Command in Shanghai in August 1931.

The forefather of Overseas Chinese study, Yung Wing (1828-1919) also was born in Nanping. His autobiography is titled My Life in China & America. Of significant historical and cultural value, the book was published in 1915 and provides insight into life in 19th century China and describes the Yung's key role in the country's development.

The book was written in English, Yung Wing having been the first Chinese person to graduate from a major US college. After Yale, he returned to China to initiate the Chinese Educational Mission (CEM) through which 120 Chinese children were sent to study in America. The book was donated to the museum by Yung Wing's grandson, Frank Yung of Singapore.

Several other collections were also identified as national grade-III cultural relics. They include the Chinese version of Yung's My Life in China & America (1915) and an original group photo of the members of the Provisional Government of the Republic of China (1912) Senate and Presidential Office from February 1912.