Jung Chang | Full Address and Q&A at The Oxford Union

SUBSCRIBE for more speakers ► is.gd/OxfordUnion
Oxford Union on Facebook: / theoxfordunion
Oxford Union on Twitter: @OxfordUnion
Website: www.oxford-unio...
Jung Chang is the author of best-selling books Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, Mao: The Unknown Story, and Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister. Her most highly acclaimed, Wild Swans, is banned in mainland China, and tells the story of three generations of Chinese women within her own family, covering their experiences through the Sino-Japanese War and Mao’s Premiership. Her parents were denounced and imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution, during which she worked as a ‘barefoot’ doctor, before becoming an English-language student at Sichuan University. Her books have sold over 10 million copies worldwide and have been translated in over 40 languages.
ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY: The Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. Since 1823, the Union has been promoting debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.

[@5ClaireEleanor]

My mother gave me Wild Swans shortly before she died so it is a book which will always mean a lot to me. Wild Swans is one of the best books I have ever read and Jung Chang is a truly inspirational woman.

[@irenelem7038]

I learned a lot about China from reading Wild Swans and feel so sad for the Chinese people who had to suffer so much. I hope we will learn from history to have a better world. ♥️ Thank you for following your passion to write and to write about something that is so relevant! I am praying for China and the world.

[@denismichaeljames]

I’ve just read this book. It was beautifully written, even poetic in places when there were chances and let-ups to escape and examine the beauty of landscape. It was a heartbreaking tale of a family, and most of society living under such brutal conditionings. I was astonished at the layers of suffering and torture. Her stoic Grandmother and her death was desperately sad. Then her Mother’s miscarriages and hard labour. Her Father’s loyalty and honesty and yet he still suffered to the bitter end. I am so pleased I read this book. I learned a lot. And it made me appreciate the value of freedom and life. Most importantly to stay conscious of one’s political surroundings. I was curious on how her Mother was in herself, living in China and has she been treated well, or with extensive interest? Especially as her daughter’s book was banned in the country? I think everyone should read this book. It’s a real history lesson. We should never be complacent and show goodwill as Jung Chang rightly pointed out.

[@timothyseekings4318]

Read the book while residing between China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Wonderful to hear the stories of this amazing lady come to life in this conversation. Thx!

[@stevejhkhfda]

I read Wild Swans and I'm so delighted this woman chose to make England her home. It is such a fantastic book.

[@dhsumana407]

Much of Jung Chang’s story /stories is so heartbreaking

[@frankconley7630]

Great video. I love her. I read all her books. I emailed her assistant, and he wrote back. Her mao book i real good. Wild swansis good too. She is the same age as me. When i was out drinking beer she was going through hell.

[@Thomas...191]

This woman is a treasure

[@adambanul7660]

Great interview!!!

[@Deus_mo]

Just finished the book. I was shocking by lots of compliances between russian (20s-40s) and chinese history in 20 century. Every ideology can be cruel when it transforms in dogma and justification for the selfish ambitions of politicians. Unfortunately, we see it when it comes for our present times. It is really sad

[@brplimited5079]

Very good speech

[@barbara5051]

What she and her family went through and what she has becomes shows how fighting for democracy is about life and death when it is possible to have a dictator like mao

[@vortex162]

She lived an interesting life!

[@嘴真甜]

jung, would you write a book about chinese empress Wu Zetian?

[@Beupdatedwithme-m5d]

Where is the sound

[@bbydoi]

Why did you cancel the Vivek Agnihotri ??? Are you afraid or you just deny the Kashmir genocide??

[@busterbuster1641]

The make up of the audience says quite a lot.

[@dhsumana407]

What do you mean ? Can you be explicit ?

[@JeffreyStein-v9m]

Well Mao had bad hygiene himself

[@VoU-iw7ks]

That is the most ridiculous things I have ever heard about China. Mao encourage doctors to go to the countryside to help the poor people. At the same time trained some farmers to act as doctors to help their fellow men. As they were still working as farmers while helping others they are called bear foot doctor. What a nonsense to say Mao would like doctors not to be trained.

[@nazmakhatun3920]

Jhip my

[@ishrendon6435]

Exactly im suprised her propaganda was allowed well it follows the china bashing narrative but any serious academic would tell you mao created modern china not some empress lol she didnt industrialize nor suffer flreign aggression and have to fight back to back wars. Mao isnt given enough credit he was given a broken occupied nation and did ehat he could with poor backwards country. The empress didn't have to deal with that nightmare. Shes obviously too ignorant and she claims to be open minded but cant see the obvious

[@channelwanderer7010]

The same man that encourages books to be burned whilst his favourite pastime was reading? Could never envisage such a man saying one thing and doing another. Foxtrot, Foxtrot, Sierra

[@pevitzachast6892]

Liar

[@dhsumana407]

@@pevitzachast6892 say more please explain

[@ishrendon6435]

Shes just jealous mao was better than her lol

[@willsmith39]

Yeah that must be it. Jealous she's not responsible for more deaths than Stalin and Hitler combined. By the way adding 'lol' to the end of an asinine sentence just underscores stupidity it doesn't somehow mitigate it.