Hu Shi, a renowned literary figure, is best known for works such as The Selected Works of Hu Shi and Forty Autobiography, which are essential reading for students. However, few people know that beyond his literary achievements, Hu Shi was also a key advocate for democracy and freedom in Taiwan. But how did Hu Shi fight for Taiwan’s democracy and freedom? The answer begins with “a letter.”

This spring, Dr. Ye Guo-Shin, the first Chinese scholar to earn a PhD in Art Authentication from the UK, traveled to the United States to authenticate a collection of Hu Shi’s works and personal items. Among them, Ye noticed 11 small handwritten English letters, roughly the size of notepaper, with no sender or recipient information but carefully preserved. While others might have overlooked these notes, Dr. Ye suspected they held deeper significance. After thorough research, he discovered that these letters were written by Hu Shi to Henry Luce, the founder of Time magazine.

At the beginning of the letter, Hu Shi expressed gratitude to Henry Luce for his warm hospitality at a dinner. The tone then shifted as Hu Shi addressed the highly controversial “Lei Zhen case,” outlining his staunch defense of democracy and freedom. Shortly after writing the letter, Hu Shi returned to Taiwan, tirelessly advocating for Lei Zhen’s release. His efforts took a toll on his health, leading to multiple hospitalizations for heart attacks. Tragically, Hu Shi passed away from a heart attack in Nangang the following year, never witnessing Lei Zhen’s release in 1970.

Dr. Ye’s meticulous approach and dedication revealed the profound historical value of this collection of Hu Shi artifacts. During this year’s Taiwan Foster Summer Auction, the letter’s manuscript fetched more than 10 times its starting price, hammering at 2.82 million NT dollars. Other Hu Shi manuscripts and items from his collection also achieved remarkable results.

(Reported by Xu Jun-Yang, Commercial Times)

Original source: Ye Guo-Shin’s Insight Brings Hu Shi’s Artefacts to Light