East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Manchu princess, Japanese spy, the story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the cross-dressing spy who commanded her own army, Phyllis Birnbaum

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

individual biography

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Manchu princess, Japanese spy

bibliography

894032768

Phyllis Birnbaum

Asia perspectives : history, society, and culture

the story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the cross-dressing spy who commanded her own army

"Kawashima Yoshiko (1906-1948) was an enigmatic Manchu princess whose life mirrored in many ways Japanese-Chinese relations in the first half of the 20th century. She was born into the Qing dynasty in China--the fourteenth daughter Prince Su--but grew up in Japan, after being given up for adoption to promote her father's political causes. Her fame was caught up with the fate of the puppet state set up by the Japanese in Manchuria during the 1930s (Manchukuo). She was a supporter of Manchukuo and served as a spy for the Japanese but also worked to restore the Manchu dynasty. She played a central role in the Shanghai Incident, which the Japanese Army used as an excuse to expand their war in and against China, culminating in the notorious Nanjing Massacre, but she also stuffed the empress into the trunk of her car and transported her in secret to a coronation in Manchuria. The Japanese set her up as the perfect symbol of amity between the two nations. She contested gender roles by wearing male military attire and a short, mannish haircut. In this book, Birnbaum tells Yoshiko's life story, culminating with her execution in 1948 by Chiang Kai-shek. She highlights the way in which Yoshiko's Chinese birth and Japanese upbringing created a unique personality, and how she was viewed differently in the two countries"--Provided by publisher

Main characters -- Chronology -- A note on the text -- Born to chaos -- Little sister -- Royalty in exile -- Continental adventurer -- A new life in Japan -- Manchu prince, Japanese wife -- School days -- The beauty in men's clothing -- Extreme measures -- Repercussions -- On her own -- Poisonous devil's brew -- Advance into Manchuria -- An emperor in flux -- The reluctant empress -- Powerful connections -- Woman of influence -- A growing awareness -- Commander Jin -- Starting over in Manchukuo -- In the bright light -- Wild child -- A daughter looks back -- China nights -- Emergency help -- An old love -- Adrift in Fukuoka -- Hopeful to the end -- Narrow escapes -- Postwar justice -- Go with a smile