Ling Sheng (1886 - April 24, 1936) often known by his courtesy name, Yunzhi, was a Chinese Pan-Mongol politician who served as a Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China for a short period between 1931 and 1932 and as Governor of Xing'an Province in Manchukuo from 1932 until his execution by the Kwantung Army.[1]

Ling Sheng
凌陞
Ling Sheng in 1934
Governor of Xing'an Province
In office
October 1934 – April 24, 1936
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
October 12, 1931 – May 4, 1932
Personal details
Born1886
Qing Dynasty
DiedApril 24, 1936 (aged 51)
Changchun, Manchukuo
Political partyConcordia Association

Biography

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He was born in 1886 with Daur and Solon ancestry in the Qing Dynasty. His father was Guifu, the deputy governor of Hulunbuir.[2] Yunzhi grew up speaking Manchu, but learnt Chinese while attending Hulunbuir Mengqi Middle School.[2]

In October 1931, he was elected to the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China.[3] After the establishment of Manchukuo, he served as the governor of Xing'an Province.[1] Ling Sheng was an outspoken pan-Mongolist who collaborated with the Japanese Government, stating that "the ultimate goal of the Mongolians is to unify Outer Mongolia, Inner Mongolia and Hulunbuir into one country. Under the current situation, they can only rely on Japan to achieve this goal."[4]

In 1935, at the Manchuria Conference to discuss the border issue between Manchukuo and the Mongolian People's Republic , he served as the chief representative of Manchukuo's delegation. According to a later court martial ruling, this Manchuria Conference was the catalyst for him to make contact with Mongolian dignitaries, and he began to communicate military secrets between the Manchukuo and Japanese armies.[citation needed] He also secretly received weapons from the Mongolian side. According to Katsuhiko Tanaka , research published in Mongolia supported this.[5][6]

In 1936, he was arrested by the Kwantung Army alongside many prominent supporters of Emperor Puyi. On April 20 of the same year, the Kwantung Army Military Court sentenced Ling Sheng and other seven people to death on charges of "collaborating with the Soviet Union, collaborating with the Mongols, and opposing the Manchus and Japan". They were later executed. This incident is known as the "Ling Sheng Incident".[6][7][8]

Puyi had betrothed his fourth sister, Yunxian, to Ling Sheng's son, Sebu Jingtai, but after Ling Sheng's death, Puyi annulled the marriage under pressure from Japan.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "凌陞". www.jacar.archives.go.jp. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  2. ^ a b "南蒙古时事评论: 满洲国凌升事件". 南蒙古时事评论. November 11, 2010. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  3. ^ Xu 2007 p. 1330
  4. ^ Li Narango. The Eastern Asian community described by Mongols
  5. ^ Tanaka (2009) p. 112
  6. ^ a b c Wang Songwen. Unraveling the “mystery” of Guifu: Also on the discovery of Guifu's tomb in Xiangshan . Beijing Cultural and Museum. [ 2010-12-22 ]
  7. ^ Ling Sheng . Xinhua News Agency Inner Mongolia Channel. [ 2010-12-22 ] .(原始内容存档于2005-11-27).
  8. ^ Ling Sheng, a famous patriot of the Daur ethnic group . Xinjiang Philosophy and Social Sciences Network. [dead link]