First Lady of the Republic of China

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First Lady of Republic of China (Taiwan)
Incumbent
Vacant
since 20 May 2016
Inaugural holderLu Muzhen (1912)
Soong Mei-ling (1949)
Formation1 January 1912

The First Lady of the Republic of China refers to the wife of the President of the Republic of China.[1] Since 1949, the position has been based in Taiwan, where they are often called by the title of First Lady of Taiwan,[1] in addition to First Lady of the Republic of China (ROC).[1]

The position has been vacant since 2016, as incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen, the first woman to be elected to the presidency, is unmarried.[2]

First Ladies (before the 1947 Constitution)[edit]

Spouse Image President Took office Left office
1 Lu Muzhen
(30 July 1867 – 7 September 1952)
Sun Yat-sen 1 January 1912 10 March 1912
2 Yu Yishang
(1872-1956)
Yuan Shikai 10 March 1912 6 June 1916
3 Oei Hui-lan
(2 December 1889 – 1992)
V. K. Wellington Koo 1 October 1926 16 June 1927
4 Soong Mei-ling
(5 March 1898 – October 23, 2003)
Chiang Kai-shek 1 August 1943 20 May 1948

First Ladies (after the 1947 Constitution; based in Taiwan after 1949)[edit]

Since 1949, individuals in this position have been known as the First Lady of Taiwan, in addition to the First Lady of the Republic of China.[1]

No. Spouse Image Tenure President Notes
4 Soong Mei-ling
宋美齡
(5 March 1898 – 23 October 2003)
20 May 1948

5 April 1975
Chiang Kai-shek
m. December 1, 1927
Also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang[3]
5 Liu Chi-chun
劉期純
(1908 – 24 December 1999)
6 April 1975

20 May 1978
Yen Chia-kan
m. December 14, 1924
Was 1st to take office on the island.
6 Chiang Fang-liang
蔣方良
(Faina Vakhreva)
(15 May 1916 – 15 December 2004)
20 May 1978

13 January 1988
Chiang Ching-kuo
m. March 15, 1935
Born Faina Epatcheva Vahaleva in Orsha in the Russian Empire, (present-day Belarus).[4] She met her husband Chiang Ching-kuo while both were working at the Ural Heavy Machinery Factory in Sverdlovsk, USSR (present-day Yekaterinburg).[4] Epatcheva adopted the Chinese names Chiang Fang-liang or Faina Chiang Fang-liang.[4] She avoided politics during her time as first lady.[1]
7 Tseng Wen-hui
曾文惠
(born 31 March 1926)
13 January 1988

20 May 2000
Lee Teng-hui
m. February 9, 1949
Wife of the first popularly elected president.[1]
8 Wu Shu-chen
吳淑珍
(born 11 July 1953)
20 May 2000

20 May 2008
Chen Shui-bian
m. February 20, 1975
Member of the Legislative Yuan from 1987 until 1990.
9 Christine Chow Ma
(Chow Mei-ching)
周美青
(born 30 November 1952)
20 May 2008

20 May 2016
Ma Ying-jeou
m. August 20, 1977
Born Chow Mei-ching (周美青) in British Hong Kong, Chow headed the legal department of Mega International Commercial Bank, where she worked as a lawyer for more than 20 years, prior to becoming first lady.[5]
None 20 May 2016

Incumbent
Tsai Ing-wen
unmarried
President Tsai Ing-wen, the first female head of state in the Republic's history, is unmarried.[2][6]

First Lady-designate[edit]

No. Spouse Image Tenure starts President Notes
10 Wu Mei-ju
吳玫如
(born 1962)
20 May 2024 Lai Ching-te
m. 1986

Longevity[edit]

Rank First Lady Born Died Age
1 Soong Mei-ling March 5, 1898 October 23, 2003 105 years, 232 days
2 Oei Hui-lan 2 December 1889 1992 102 years, 364 days to 103 years, 29 days
3 Tseng Wen-hui 31 Mar 1926 Alive 97 years, 362 days
4 Liu Chi-chun 1908 24 December 1999 90 years, 358 days to 91 years, 327 days
5 Chiang Fang-liang 15 May 1916 15 Dec 2004 88 years, 214 days
6 Lu Muzhen
30 July 1867 7 September 1952 85 years, 39 days
7 Yu Yishang 1872 1956 84 years, 334 days to 84 years, 365 days
8 Christine Chow Ma 30 Nov 1952 Alive 71 years, 118 days
9 Wu Shu-chen 11 Jul 1953 Alive 70 years, 260 days

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ko, Shu-ling (2010-05-17). "FEATURE: ROC's first ladies play varying roles". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 2020-07-29. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  2. ^ a b Liu, Shan-Jan Sarah (2010-02-10). "Taiwan's first female president easily won reelection. Are Asian women taking note?". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  3. ^ Faison, Seth (2003-10-24). "Madame Chiang, 105, Chinese Leader's Widow, Dies". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  4. ^ a b c Bowring, Philip (2020-03-20). "BOOK REVIEW: China's Russian Princess". Asia Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  5. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (2008-03-30). "Newsmaker: Chow Mei-ching: the career-minded first lady". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  6. ^ "President Tsai biography". Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2020-07-30.