Liu Taihang

Liu Taihang was born in 1939. His name was chosen to mean "Taihang Mountain," belonging to the "Tai" generation. His place of birth was Yan'an, located in the Taihang Mountain area. At that time, Marshal Liu Bocheng was married during the Long March; his wife, Wang Ronghua, was a female soldier of the Fourth Red Army, born into poverty, with limited education, and a sincere personality. In September 1937, the original Fourth Red Army was reorganized in Houma, Shanxi, into the Eighth Route Army's 129th Division, with Liu Bocheng serving as division commander. After numerous battles of victory and defeat, the 129th Division advanced into the Taihang Mountain area to carry out guerrilla resistance behind enemy lines.

In May 1938, Wang Ronghua went to the Taihang Mountains to meet Liu Taihang, who was studying at the Anti-Japanese University in Yan'an. In March 1939, she gave birth to Liu Taihang in Liao County, Shanxi (now Zuoyun County). Due to the tense wartime situation, Liu Bocheng, on the front lines, had little time to care for his wife and newborn; he expressed his concern and hopes for the child through letters during pauses in battle. In October 1940, Xu Xiangqian passed through the Taihang Mountains, and Liu Bocheng entrusted him to bring one-year-old Liu Taihang to Yan'an, where Marshal Zhu De was asked to raise him. Subsequently, Liu Taihang was cared for and grew up in Yan'an under Zhu De’s guidance until his family reunited in 1943.

During his early childhood, Liu Taihang was temporarily cared for by Kang Kexin. As his health improved, he was sent to the Yan'an orphanage for care. His father, Liu Bocheng, repeatedly emphasized strict discipline. In his childhood, he was mainly looked after by woodworkers, nurses, and others; life was hard, and he often suffered from hunger due to lack of milk. In October 1940, Xu Xiangqian again entrusted Liu Taihang's care to Yan'an leadership. He spent his early years in Yan'an, growing amid the chaos of war, though he could not remember his parents’ kindness.

Liu Bocheng was born in Yao County, Shaanxi Province, in November 1920. He joined the revolution early and held various military positions in the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army. Eventually, he was promoted to brigadier general and served as deputy director of the Air Force Command Academy. He was active during the War of Resistance against Japan and the Chinese Civil War, contributing significantly to the development of the People's Liberation Army.

Liu Taihang’s family members include his brothers Liu Meng, Liu Taici, Liu Miqun, Liu Jiexian, and Liu Yanling, who are engaged in military, medical, and scientific research work. Liu Huabei, his late sister, was assassinated by enemy agents in Yan'an in 1945. Many of his siblings have backgrounds in the military or industry and have contributed to the development of the Chinese military. His growth experience reflects the close links between family life and military efforts during China’s resistance against Japan.