Fang Xianjue
Encyclopedia
Fang Xianjue was born in a small Jiangsu
(now in Suzhou, Anhui
) village gentry family in 1903. After studying with the village tutor, he went to Xuzhou
Provincial High School, and later studied at the Nanjing
1st Industrial School, then later went to National Central University
(later renamed Nanjing University
in mainland China
and reinstated in Taiwan
). After completing his formal education, he decided to attend Whampoa Military Academy
and graduated class of 1926.
He started as a platoon leader in the National Revolutionary Army
(NRA), and got promoted to the rank of army general during the Second Sino-Japanese War
. After KMT lost the Chinese Civil War
, he relocated with the Nationalists to Taiwan
and later became the deputy commander of the NRA army group in charge of defending the Pescadores
Islands. General Fang personally participated in the Battle of Taierzhuang
, the Battle of Changde
, and the Battle of Changsha
. Retired from military in 1968 and later died in 1983.
, where he was besieged for 47 days after fighting off numerous assaults by the Imperial Japanese Army
(IJA). On the night of August 8, 1944 he telegraphed Chongqing about the long resistance and his will to fight to the death for the sake of the country. After running out of ammunition and supplies, with no hope of getting reinforcement and a botched suicide attempt, he surrendered to the Japanese on the condition that all POW would not be harmed and all wounded Chinese soldiers would get medical treatment. Initially, he tried to shoot himself, but was wrestled out by his subordinates. The Japanese commander unconditionally accepted his terms out of respect for his fierce defense of Hengyang, where the IJA suffered almost 30,000 casualties in its attempt to take the city (this number is almost 1/2 of total Japanese casualty suffered from the entire Operation Ichi-Go). On the other hand, the Chinese suffered 7,400 casualties.
He later escaped from captivity and received a hero's welcome from Chiang Kai-shek
in Chungking, where he received the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
. The surviving Japanese veterans of the 11th Army
, who personally participated in the battle of Hengyang, organized a group trip to Taipei to pay respect to Fang Xianjue in 1983 after his death.
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
(now in Suzhou, Anhui
Suzhou, Anhui
-Administration:Suzhou administers five county-level divisions, including one district and four counties.*Yongqiao District *Dangshan County *Xiao County *Lingbi County *Si County...
) village gentry family in 1903. After studying with the village tutor, he went to Xuzhou
Xuzhou
Xuzhou , otherwise known as Pengcheng in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China...
Provincial High School, and later studied at the Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
1st Industrial School, then later went to National Central University
National Central University
National Central University is a national comprehensive university in Taiwan .National Central University was founded in 1915 and originated in 258 CE at Nanjing, China. After NCU in Nanjing was renamed Nanjing University in 1949, NCU was re-established in Taiwan in 1962...
(later renamed Nanjing University
Nanjing University
Nanjing University , or Nanking University, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China...
in mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
and reinstated in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
). After completing his formal education, he decided to attend Whampoa Military Academy
Whampoa Military Academy
The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy , commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy , was a military academy in the Republic of China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second...
and graduated class of 1926.
He started as a platoon leader in the National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
(NRA), and got promoted to the rank of army general during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. After KMT lost the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
, he relocated with the Nationalists to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and later became the deputy commander of the NRA army group in charge of defending the Pescadores
Pescadores
The Penghu Islands, also known as Pescadores are an archipelago off the western coast of Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait consisting of 90 small islands and islets covering an area of 141 square kilometers....
Islands. General Fang personally participated in the Battle of Taierzhuang
Battle of Taierzhuang
The Battle of Tai'erzhuang was a battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938, between armies of Chinese Kuomintang and Japan, and is sometimes considered as a part of Battle of Xuzhou....
, the Battle of Changde
Battle of Changde
- Sources :* Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War 2nd Ed., 1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung, Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China. Pg...
, and the Battle of Changsha
Battle of Changsha
The term Battle of Changsha can refer to at least seven separate events.* Battle of Changsha — Three Kingdoms* Battle of Changsha — Xinhai Revolution*Battle of Changsha — gunboat diplomacy...
. Retired from military in 1968 and later died in 1983.
Defense of Hengyang
Fang Xianjue commanded the NRA 10th Army in the Defense of HengyangDefense of Hengyang
The Battle of Hengyang was the longest defense of a single city of the entire Second Sino-Japanese War. When Changsha fell to the Imperial Japanese Army on June 19, 1944, Hengyang became their next target...
, where he was besieged for 47 days after fighting off numerous assaults by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
(IJA). On the night of August 8, 1944 he telegraphed Chongqing about the long resistance and his will to fight to the death for the sake of the country. After running out of ammunition and supplies, with no hope of getting reinforcement and a botched suicide attempt, he surrendered to the Japanese on the condition that all POW would not be harmed and all wounded Chinese soldiers would get medical treatment. Initially, he tried to shoot himself, but was wrestled out by his subordinates. The Japanese commander unconditionally accepted his terms out of respect for his fierce defense of Hengyang, where the IJA suffered almost 30,000 casualties in its attempt to take the city (this number is almost 1/2 of total Japanese casualty suffered from the entire Operation Ichi-Go). On the other hand, the Chinese suffered 7,400 casualties.
He later escaped from captivity and received a hero's welcome from Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
in Chungking, where he received the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
The Order of Blue Sky and White Sun with Grand Cordon is the Republic of China's second highest military award. Created in 1929, it is awarded for "outstanding contributions to national security under foreign invasion" and is second only to the Order of National Glory...
. The surviving Japanese veterans of the 11th Army
Eleventh Army (Japan)
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.-History:The Japanese 11th Army was formed on July 4, 1938 under the Japanese Central China Area Army for the task of conquering and occupying the central provinces of China between the Yangtze River and the Yellow...
, who personally participated in the battle of Hengyang, organized a group trip to Taipei to pay respect to Fang Xianjue in 1983 after his death.