The Birthday of Eileen Chang

In the September 2005 issue of Ming Pao Monthly, there is an article by Chen Zishan (陳子善), professor of Chinese language at the Shanghai Huadong Normal University.  In that article, Chen reported on his excursion to the address Number 195, Changde Road (常德路) in Shanghai.  What is so special about that address?  From the summer of 1942 to September of 1947, the writer Eileen Chang resided here.  Most of the works collected in the two volumes of short stories Rumors (流言) and Legends (傳說) were written here.  Chen stated that this was undoubtedly a blessed piece of turf in the contemporary history of Chinese literature.  Fortunately, this building is designated with an "exceptional historical building" status or else it would surely have been demolished to make way for a bland steel-and-concrete skyscraper.

At the location, Chen found this small plaque titled "The former residence of Eileen Zhang."  He took a photo of the plaque.  He noted that there was another elderly person from Taiwan also taking photographs of the same plaque, and they exchanged smiles because they knew why the other was there for.  The words on the plaque explain in Chinese and English just who Eileen Chang was.  The plaque begins with the dates of her birth and death (1921 and 1995), and stated that she left for the United States in 1952.

As Chen is a compiler of a Zhang Ailing database, he knew immediately that the information was erroneous.  As far as he knows, two of the three dates are wrong.  The correct date was the year of death -- 1995 -- as this was heavily covered in the news at the time.

On the date of birth, Chen cited the following from his Eileen Chang database:

1. When Eileen Chang registered at the Hong Kong University in August 1939, she put down September 19, 1920.
2. In the 1960's, Eileen Chang wrote up a resumé by hand in the United States (note: the original copy is in the files of Professor C.T. Hsia at Columbia University), and she put down September 30, 1920 as her birthday.
3. In 1975, she wrote a self-description for the book "Brief Introduction to World Authors: 1950-1970" and she stated that her birthday was September 30, 1920.
4. On her American identity card, the date of birth entered was September 30, 1920.
5. On November 25, 1994, Eileen Chang wrote to the Deputy Editor of the China Times Supplement Section: "Previously, I sent you my resumé and I wanted to write down 1920 but I mistakenly wrote 1921."

Of these five pieces of evidence, the most convincing one should be number four.  But whereas the other four pieces of evidence are sourced and verifiable (respectively, the Hong Kong University registrar (where the day of September 19 is at odds with the other evidence), the handwritten resumé with Professor C.T. Hsia, a copy of the book "Brief Introduction to World Authors: 1950-1970" and the original letter received at China Times), there is no indication of where that American identity card is.  And what is an American identity card anyway, since there has never ever been a national identity card system as such in the United States?  It would be good if that so-called American identity card were found and then this whole matter could be put to rest.

Hmmm ... where is that American identity card?  Golly gee, would you believe that it is in my possession?  In fact, it is stashed inside a storage box in my bedroom right this moment.  Here is the scan image of Eileen Chang's 'green card.'

The 'green card' is issued to all new immigrants when they enter the United States of America.  The individual is required by law to have this card with him/her at all times.  The information on there has to be accurate.  If it were ever discovered that the individual provided false information, he/she may be expelled even if he/she has attained full citizenship by then.  The date on this card is September 30, 1920.  This should put the matter at rest.

On the same card, it is noted that Eileen Chang was admitted to the United States as an immigrant on October 22, 1955.  As Chen pointed out, Eileen Zhang departed from Shanghai for Hong Kong in 1952.  Between 1952 and 1955, she spent most of her time in Hong Kong except for a brief stay in Japan.

As a bonus, here is the back side of the 'green card' with Eileen's photograph.