Story of A Robe - Last Emperor, Dragon, Python And Tigers


It was a 'Thank You' gift from Chiang Kai-Shek to my grandfather for his contribution leading the Flying Tigers and Republic of China Air Force in WWII  (Nell Calloway 2015)
https://dageveawsiami.blogspot.com/2014/08/130.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sunangen/7401054634
The Chennault Aviation & Military Museum Facebook Page


1. Hong family ancestral ceremonial robe.
2. Great grandfather's (洪以南 1871-1927) photo collection - Sitting center is Zaifeng 載灃 (1883-1951), a Manchu prince and the father of Puyi, the Last Emperor. 
3. A robe gifted to Genl Chennnault at museum display, Louisiana, USA.
4. The original location (Hengyang Road 衡陽路 today) of a memorial arch built in 1888, representation of Hong ancestral history. 

This is an unusual, interesting discovery and connection - made happen by presence of family ancestral collections, information on a number of historical events and lastly sealed by email exchange with Nell Calloway - 


(Nell Calloway is the granddaughter of Genl Claire Chennault, legendary aviator and founder of the AVG Flying Tigers, whose legacy lives on in the ROCAF today. 
Tobie Openshaw) 
Nell Calloway had been staying in Taiwan for a number of weeks in the summer of 2015 - Interviewed account of her Taiwan trip is seen in Tobie Openshaw vimeo HERE. 

For my part and the discovery of the robe gifted to Nell's Grandfather Genl Chennault began here: 


The government has invited descendants of foreigners who helped the Republic of China (ROC) win the Second Sino-Japanese War to attend a series of commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday. Among those invited are Thomas Rabe, a German professor whose grandfather, John Rabe, saved the lives of more than 200,000 Chinese during the Nanjing Massacre; Nell Calloway, granddaughter of Lieutenant General Claire Chennault — who organized a volunteer unit of the US Air Force known as the Flying Tigers; former members of the Flying Tigers; and volunteers from the former Soviet Union who participated in the war against Japan, Ma said. (Source HERE)
While browsing pages of this event and the Flying Tigers legacy, I came across photos of a magnificent embroidered longpao (dragon robe) which appeared the centerpiece of the display. Very little information explained on site however.

It reminded me of the two ancestral robes in our Hong family possession, now in my cousin Ken CT Hong's care. 
https://dageveawsiami.blogspot.com/2014/08/130.html
On the left belongs to 洪輝東(1839-1884) my great great grandfather 高祖. And is an imperial surcoat. The blue-black fabric indicates the wearer is a court official.

On the right belongs to 洪騰雲（Âng Thîng-hûn  Hong Tengyun 1819-1899) ，father of 洪輝東，my great great great grandfather 天祖. And is him and this robe that instigated the robe investigation. 

Hong Tengyun robe and 228 peace memorial park connection:

洪騰雲急公好義坊 (Hong Tengyun Jigonghaoyi Memorial Arch)



A Qing Dynasty memorial arch Jigonghaoyi 急公好義坊 commemorating Hong Tengyun who donated money to build examination halls in Tamsui County (Then) /Northern Taiwan (Today) to save on yearly average 2000 students travelling 300 kilometers long journey to Tainan, the traditional exam location. Relocated from Ximending 西門町to today's 228 peace memorial park in 1905.

By Ken  CT Hong's account HERE - 

"Hong Tengyun five-claw python robe": According to legend, the yellow Kowloon five-claw dragon robe in the late Qing Dynasty was used exclusively by the emperor. Others who used the blue fabric in embroidered dragon were called python robe. Hong Tengyun, a wealthy man of Monga (Wanhua today), bought the Python robe because he was approved by the imperial decree to build the Jigonghaoyi arch. On the one hand, he thanked the emperor for His gift, and on the other hand, he wore it for formal occasions when guests congratulated him. Although the robe has nine five-claw dragon patterns, it is basically a none official-made product for the gentry"

What struck me and made me ask is not the python, dragon and claws but the bottom border pattern of Chennault's robe collection - it indicates something significant, I thought at the time, having little knowledge nor interest in imperial fabric tradition. 


I told the whole story to my Taiwan historian friend HM in Boston, where and who it belonged to and told him I wondered about the border pattern. He came back more or less certain the wearer was 99.9% an emperor. I never have reasons to doubt his information and judgement and we were both left curious Who He is and How it got into the hands of Genl Chennault?!

It was then I contacted Nell by the museum email address, not really expecting a reply to be honest, but an attempt to satisfy curiosity was forcefully forthcoming. After a few weeks, she replied! and by politely saying sorry for the delay - she had been travelling and only just caught up with correspondences. She was also interested, perhaps by my unusual request, and told me not much information about the robe was given to her. All she knew was...

"It was a 'Thank You' gift from Chiang Kai-Shek to my grandfather for his contribution leading the Flying Tigers and Republic of China Air Force in WWII"

Bingo! in no time my friend HM completed the last piece of puzzle - 

Poor Puyi, the Last Emperor, deprived of dignity and freedom to bare bone and grave! He didn't even get to keep his clothes! 




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