H. H. Kung (Kong Xiangxi) - The Richest Man in China in the early 20th century![]()
Fan Zhongyan - Prominent Politician and Literary Figure in Song Dynasty
An Lushan - Military Leader during the Tang Dynasty
Zhao Gao - An Instrumental Role in the Downfall of Chinese Qin Dynasty |
K'ung Hsiang-hsi (September 11, 1881 – August 16, 1967), often known as H. H. Kung, was a wealthy Chinese banker and politician in the early 20th century. He was the richest man in China at that time. Born in Taigu, Jinzhong, Shanxi, he was educated at Oberlin College and Yale University. Kung was an early supporter of Sun Yat-sen and later of Chiang Kai-shek. He long served in the Republic of China government as minister of industry and commerce (1928–1931), minister of finance (1933–1944), and governor of the Central Bank of China (1933–1945). He joined the central executive committee of the Kuomintang (KMT) in 1931. He served as Premier of the Republic of China from 1 January 1938 – 20 November 1939. After the retreat of the KMT to Taiwan at the end of the Chinese Civil War, he moved to the United States. In 1937 he and two other Chinese Kuomintang officials visited Germany and were received by Adolf Hitler. Kung married Soong Ai-ling, one of the Soong sisters. Kung shares the same surname with Confucius and claimed to be a 75th generation descendant, as indicated by the generation name 祥 (pinyin: Xiang). |











