Background
Born in Shanghai in 1935, Zhang was the illegitimate daughter of a shop assistant and the son of a prominent family.
章含之
Born in Shanghai in 1935, Zhang was the illegitimate daughter of a shop assistant and the son of a prominent family.
She was adopted by Zhang Shizhao. Her family moved to Beijing in 1949 and four years later, Zhang entered the Beijing Foreign Studies University, where she taught after graduating with a master's degree. She met Mao in 1950 and then started to translate English for him.
The lessons abruptly stopped in 1964 as the Cultural Revolution began taking shape. Zhang and her family and friends were persecuted although she said Mao provided protection at various times. In 1971, Zhang was transferred to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she began her diplomatic career and attended a series of landmark meetings, including the ones with Nixon, when the countries began restoring diplomatic relations.
Zhang then married Qiao Guanhua. He died 10 years later. On the 26 January 2008, she was reported dead.
The cause of death was released as a lung-related illness. Zhang's daughter is Hung Huang, a Chinese media figure.