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The 5th WCILCOS International Conference of Institutes and Libraries for Chinese Overseas Studies Chinese through the Americas May 16‐19, 2012 Vancouver, B.C. Canada Summary of Research Findings on the Family History of Yuan Shikai:
a current and updated report
Presenters: KaChuen Gee (Associate Professor/Librarian, Leonard Lief Library, Lehman
College , City University of New York) and and Sheau-Yueh Chao
Abstract
Research Statement
This paper is a revised and updated report of the authors’ research findings on the history of
Yuan Shikai 袁世凯 family. We began our research in 2008 when we traveled to China to collect
archival documents and published books, as well as historical photographs, about the Yuan
family. Upon returning to the United States, we presented the first report of our findings in 2009
and began the preparation of writing a book.
However, since 2010, there has been a surge of renewed interest in studying and re-evaluating
Yuan Shikai’s life and career. Based on evidences found in historical records, historians now
realized that, despite his faults, Yuan was not just a total autocrat who selfishly betrayed China
for his own gains. Actually, Yuan was proactive in modernizing and reforming China, and had
made significant contributions. Simultaneously with the development of this new trend, the Yuan
family was brought into focus again. Two associations of Yuan descendents were founded in
Henan in 2010/11 to research the ancestry of the clan, to restore ancestors’ property, and to
collect new information about contemporary members.1 Many stories about the family and
biographies of members that were not made public in 2009 are published in various journals and
internet networks now. 2 Since we are writing a complete and up-to-date book about Yuan
family’s history, it is necessary for us to review all these new materials, evaluate them for
accuracy and validity, and then update and expand our research with the new data. This report is
a summary of our new findings which will be incorporated into our forth coming book, The Yuan
Chronicle.
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(1) The Yuan Descendants Association, founded in 2009 in Xiangcheng 项城 Henan 河南. Chair: Waidong Yuan
袁伟东. The Association has held two annual meetings attended by about 85 members. Its goals are: to conduct
further research on Yuan ancestry; to trace all contemporary Yuan descendents and form a network; and, to rebuild
the Yuan Fortress 袁寨 with the support of the Chinese government. (2) Committee to Restore the Yuan Ancestral
Tombs at Yuange 袁 阁 Village. Founded in 2011 in Xiangcheng, Henan. Chair: Minghui Yuan 袁明辉. The project
is funded by voluntary contributions.
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e.g. Yuan, Jinxue.袁静雪 “A Daughter’s Account of Family Conflicts ” excerpt from her book “My father Yuan
Shikai” (1952 ) transcribed by 星岛网 2006 www.stnn.cc/2006; Pe, Junhe 柏均和 (Interview).” Memoirs of three
Yuan Generations” Lao Zhaou Pian, 老照片, January, 2011; and “A Great Grandson of Yuan Shikai—Interview
of Yuan Jiyan 袁缉燕” Gong Shiwang 共识网 2011, www.21ccom.net/ 2011
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Research Methodology
We began our new research in early 2010 by first establishing contact with the Association of
Yuan Descendents. The chairman and members of the association sent to us, by mail or
electronically, documents about Yuan ancestry taken from Yuan family records and Xiangcheng
gazetteers. At the same time, the authors also acquired several out of print books about the Yuan
family through connections with publishers in China. Interviews by phone with several relatives
whom we did not meet in 2008 were conducted and recorded. Starting in 2011, we consolidated
the materials collected and began the evaluation of data. Stories that were fictional without
proper documentation were discounted. Biographies were verified by at least two sources.
Whenever possible, we also tried to confirm dates and names with the source supplier by phone
or email. This process of validation is still ongoing, since our contacts in China continue to send
us new information. Next year, we plan to make another trip to China in March to meet the Yuan
Association members and other contacts in person. We will ask them to review the data we
collected and correct any possible mistakes. We also plan to visit Xiangcheng again to review
original documents about Yuan ancestry. After we return from China, we plan to write a
summary report to be presented in this conference, and then complete the book by the end of
2012.
Structure
The first part of the paper traces Yuan ancestors who settled in Xiangcheng, Henan 河南项城 in
the 17th century, and recounts the rise of the family from its humble beginnings to prominence.
New biographical sketches of Yuan Shikai’s elders and the impact of their teaching on his
personality were introduced here. The second part of the paper focuses on the early life of Yuan
Shikai, the shaping of his character, and the formation of his large family. Life of prominent
Yuan sons, including Keding 克定 and Kewen 克文, were portrayed with more details and
accuracy, with new information on the relationship between the two brothers added. Biographies
of Yuan daughters, if known, were also introduced. Lastly, the paper presents selected records
of interviews with contemporary Yuan descendents that were not included in the first report.