Chang Ch'ung-ho

Chang Ch'ung-ho
Chang Ch'ung-ho was married to Hans Fränkel in November 1948 in Beijing.
Native name	張充和
Born	May 17, 1914 Shanghai, Republic of China
Died	June 17, 2015(2015-06-17) (aged 101) New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Other names	Zhang Chonghe
Alma mater	Peking University
Occupation	Educator, writer
Notable work	Taohuayu
Spouse(s)	Hans Fränkel (m. 1948; d. 2003)
Children	Emma Fränkel, Ian H. H. Frankel
Parent(s)	Father: Zhang Wuling Mother: Lu Ying
Relatives	Sisters: Chang Yuen-ho, Chang Yun-ho, Chang Chao-ho

Chang Ch'ung-ho or Zhang Chonghe (Chinese: 張充和; May 17, 1914 – June 17, 2015), also known by her married name Ch'ung-ho Chang Frankel, was a Chinese-American poet, calligrapher, educator and Kunqu opera singer. She is hailed as "the last talented woman of the Republic of China" (民國最後一位才女).

Chang Ch'ung-ho (Zhang Chonghe) was born in Shanghai in 1914, with her ancestral home in Hefei, Anhui. Her great-grandfather, Zhang Shusheng (張樹聲), was a high-ranking military officer in the Huai Army. Her father, Zhang Wuling (張武齡), was an educator. Her mother, Lu Ying (陸英), was a housewife. She had six brothers and three sisters. Her eldest sister, Chang Yuen-ho (張元和; 1907–2003), was a Kunqu expert. Her second sister, Chang Yun-ho (張允和; 1909–2002), was also a Kunqu expert. Her third sister, Chang Chao-ho (張兆和; 1910–2003), was a teacher and writer, and the wife of the celebrated novelist Shen Congwen.

At the age of 21, she was accepted to Peking University. After graduating from PKU, Chang Ch'ung-ho became an editor for the newspaper Central Daily News.

In 1947, Chang met Hans Fränkel at Peking University, they married in November 1948, and settled down in the United States in January 1949. They had a daughter, Emma Fränkel (傅愛瑪) and a son, Ian Frankel. Ch'ung-ho taught at Yale University, Harvard University and 20 other universities, teaching traditional Chinese culture.