Date of Birth: March 28, 1968
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Date of Death: November 9, 2004
Biography
Iris Chang was a renowned American historian and journalist, best known for her best-selling book “The Rape of Nanking” which documented the atrocities committed during the Nanking Massacre by Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Born to Chinese immigrant parents, Chang was raised in a family that valued education and cultural heritage. She pursued her studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and later earned a master’s degree in Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Throughout her career, Chang was dedicated to bringing to light the untold stories of history, particularly those affecting the Chinese and Chinese-American communities. Her work was characterized by meticulous research and passionate advocacy. Tragically, Chang’s life was cut short in 2004 when she died by suicide, leaving behind a legacy of influential historical scholarship.
5 Interesting Facts about Iris Chang
1. Iris Chang’s book “The Rape of Nanking” spent 10 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list.
2. She received numerous awards for her historical writing, including the John T. and Catherine D. MacArthur Foundation’s Genius Grant.
3. Chang’s work led to greater awareness and acknowledgment of the Nanking Massacre, both in the United States and internationally.
4. Her parents were both professors at the University of Illinois, influencing her academic and intellectual pursuits.
5. Chang was working on a book about the Bataan Death March before her untimely death.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Iris Chang
1. “The only way to understand where you are is to understand where you have been.”
2. “We must educate the next generation about the horrors of the past so that such atrocities never happen again.”
3. “I wrote ‘The Rape of Nanking’ out of a sense of urgency and duty to those who could no longer speak for themselves.”
4. “History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future.”
5. “Each time we remember the past, we ensure that the spirits of those who suffered are not forgotten.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the time of her death, Iris Chang’s estimated net worth was around $1 million, primarily earned through her book sales and speaking engagements.
Children
Iris Chang had one child, a son named Christopher, who was born in 2002.
Relevant Links
1. [Iris Chang Biography – Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Iris-Chang
3. [Iris Chang’s Legacy – NPR](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4172443
5. [Iris Chang – PBS](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/nanking-iris-chang/
