Xi Xiaying

Xi Xiaying was the younger sister of Xi Zhongxun, a senior leader of the Chinese Communist Party. She was the daughter of Xi Zongde and Chai Caihua, and the third daughter in a family of seven children. The Xi family traced its roots to Fuping, Shaanxi, while her mother’s family came from Xichuan, Henan, two neighboring regions that shaped the family’s rural background.

She grew up in a large farming household with many siblings. Her father, Xi Zongde, though not formally educated, was known for being knowledgeable, principled, kind yet strict. He placed great emphasis on family discipline, often reminding his children to respect elders, care for the young, avoid quarrels, and stay honest and hardworking. Her brothers were sent to the fields as young as five or six to do simple farm work, while the daughters were taught spinning and weaving by their mother.

As the third daughter, Xi Xiaying was raised in a frugal and hardworking environment. She not only learned the traditional skills of farming and weaving but also grew up in an atmosphere of mutual support among siblings and strict guidance from her parents. These experiences shaped her character into one of resilience, diligence, and propriety.

Although little is publicly recorded about Xi Xiaying’s later life, family recollections suggest that she, together with her siblings, embodied the values of perseverance, simplicity, and integrity that defined the Xi family during times of hardship and social change.