First Lady of the Republic of China

First Lady of the Republic of China
中华民国第一配偶
Incumbent
Wu Mei-ju
since 20 May 2024
Inaugural holderLu Muzhen (1912)
Soong Mei-ling (1949)
Formation1 January 1912

The first lady of the Republic of China (Chinese: 中华民国第一配偶; pinyin: Zhōnghuá mínguó dì yī pèi'ǒu) 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 was vacant from 2016 to 2024, as President Tsai Ing-wen, the first woman to be elected to the presidency, is unmarried.[2]

First Ladies (before the 1947 Constitution)

Spouse Image President Took office Left office
1 Lu Muzhen
(1867–1952)
 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
(1889–1992)
 V. K. Wellington Koo 1 October 1926 16 June 1927
4 Soong Mei-ling
(1898–2003)
 Chiang Kai-shek 1 August 1943 20 May 1948

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

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
–
20 May 2024 		Tsai Ing-wen
unmarried 		President Tsai Ing-wen, the first female head of state in the Republic's history, is unmarried.[2][6]
10 Wu Mei-ju
吳玫如
(born 1964)
 20 May 2024
–
Incumbent 		Lai Ching-te
m. 1986


Longevity

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 98 years, 242 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, 364 days
9 Wu Shu-chen 11 Jul 1953 Alive 71 years, 140 days
10 Wu Mei-ju 1964 Alive

See also

References

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