18 Facts About Lei Jieqiong

Lei Jieqiong, known as Kit King Lei, was a Chinese sociologist, activist, and politician.

Lei Jieqiong was a cofounder of Zhongzheng University in Jiangxi during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Lei Jieqiong co-founded the China Association for Promoting Democracy, one of the eight legally recognized non-Communist parties in China.

Lei Jieqiong was born 12 September 1905 in Guangzhou during the late Qing dynasty, with her ancestral home in Taishan, Guangdong.

Lei Jieqiong's grandfather went to the United States during the California Gold Rush and became a prosperous businessman, but left his third son Lei Zichang in Guangdong to receive a traditional Chinese education.

Lei Jieqiong then studied law in Beijing and became a lawyer and magazine editor in Guangdong.

Lei Jieqiong was born to Lei Zichang and his wife Li Peizhi.

Lei Jieqiong's father provided her with a progressive education and sent her to study in California when she was 19.

In 1931, Lei Jieqiong returned to China and became a lecturer at the Sociology Department of Yenching University.

Lei Jieqiong went to Nanchang, Jiangxi Province to join the National Salvation Movement.

Lei Jieqiong served in a women's advancement group which cared for wounded soldiers and was awarded the rank of colonel.

Lei Jieqiong taught at a women's training class at the Jiangxi Political Movement Institute, one of whose two deans was Chiang Ching-kuo, the future President of the Republic of China.

In 1940, Lei Jieqiong helped to found Zhongzheng University.

Lei Jieqiong served as vice-dean of Beijing College of Political Science and Law.

Lei Jieqiong served as vice-president of the All-China Women's Federation, Vice-chair of the CPPCC, Vice-chair of the NPC, and Chair of the CAPD.

Lei Jieqiong taught at Peking University until the age of 100.

Lei Jieqiong died on 9 January 2011 at the age of 105.

In 1941, Lei Jieqiong married Yan Jingyao, an American-educated sociologist and cofounder of the CAPD.