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Chiang Kai-shek and Christianity: religious life reflected from his diary

By examining the recently-publicized diary of Chiang Kai-shek, this study investigates how he accepted Christianity, what influences Christianity had on him, and how his faith was realized in his daily life. What initially prompted Chiang to accept Christianity as his personal faith, around the time he married Song Meiling, was the admonishment of Ni Guizhen, Song's mother. Since that time, Song wielded great influence over him, which played a significant role in his final conversion. But Chiang did not truly live life as a Christian until the 20 or so days of the Xi'an Incident in December 1936, when he was imprisoned. Around 1938, his spiritual life centered on regular Bible studies and prayer sessions. After he became Christian, his goal was not only the pursuit of moral enrichment and cultivation on a personal level; it was also focused on help for China. Particularly after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident when China was in the crisis of perishing as a nation, Chiang prayed primarily for national salvation. As China continued to lose many battles in the war and the future became increasingly bleak, he grew increasingly reliant on God's help, trusting to prayer for national liberation and independence. He wrote in his diary that his own sins led to the suffering of the country, and sought God's forgiveness for them. He also advocated a reform of China based on the Christian spirit of sacrifice, service, and solidarity. Thus, Christianity provided one of the most important paths for Chiang the politician not only to become a better person but also for China to be saved and to become a better society.