Recently, in one of the many open houses I visited in Summit NJ, I came across a personal correspondence from Madam Chiang Kai Shek to the homeowner. It was totally unexpected, but it reminded me once again how powerful and influential the Soong sisters were. For those of you who are not familiar with the Soong sisters, they were, along with their husbands, amongst China’s most significant political figures of the early 20th century. They each played a major role in influencing their husbands, which, along with their own positions of power, ultimately changed the course of Chinese history. It is also commonly said that of the three sisters, “one loved money (Ai Ling), one loved power (Mei Ling), and one loved China (Qing Ling).” To find out more about the legendary Soong Sisters, you can read Soong Dynasty by Sterling Seagrave, an investigative journalist who grew up in China to western parents. With his journalistic background, I feel it gives him more credibility in the stories he tells. Alternatively, grab some popcorn and watch a piece of history in this movie version of the Soong Sisters starring Michelle Yeoh, (aka bond girl) and Vivian Wu (Joy Luck Club).