Xia De-Hong, central figure in 'Wild Swans' memoir, dies at 94
Xia De-Hong, the mother of author Jung Chang and a central figure in the bestselling memoir 'Wild Swans,' has died at age 94. The New York Times reported her death on May 8, 2026. Xia was portrayed in the book as a stoic matriarch who held her family together while fighting for her husband, a functionary tortured and imprisoned during Mao Zedong's regime. 'Wild Swans,' published in 1991, became a global phenomenon, selling over 15 million copies and offering a personal account of 20th-century Chinese history through three generations of women. Xia's role in the narrative highlighted the resilience of ordinary families under political persecution. Her death marks the passing of a key figure in one of the most widely read memoirs about China's Cultural Revolution era.
Key facts
- Xia De-Hong died at age 94.
- She was the mother of author Jung Chang.
- Xia was a central character in the memoir 'Wild Swans.'
- The book describes her efforts to hold her family together during Mao's regime.
- Her husband was a functionary tortured and imprisoned under Mao.
- 'Wild Swans' was published in 1991.
- The memoir sold over 15 million copies worldwide.
- Xia's death was reported by The New York Times on May 8, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Jung Chang
Institutions
- The New York Times
Locations
- China