Photo that lifted spirits during the darkest time of WWII. Courtesy/Zhen Huang 

By ZHEN HUANG
Los Alamos

This classic photo was taken by a British photographer during the darkest time of WWII. The giant panda cub in the photo was named Ming 明. She was brought by an American adventurer from her mountainous southwestern China habitat to London Zoo in a raging blizzard on the Christmas Eve of 1938.

Ming 明 was a wartime Angel of Peace. She lived through most of WWII, suffered bombing from time to time, and evacuated from place to place, while brought so much joy to the British people especially the children, lifting spirits all over the world.

When she died of unknown disease tragically in 1944, the Times ran an obituary, “She could die happy in the knowledge that she gladdened the universal heart and, even in the stress of war, her death should not go unnoticed.”

Ming 明 got a great name in Chinese that has multiple meanings for a Happy New Year. 

Ming 明 means tomorrow 明天. 

Ming 明 means bright 光明. 

Ming 明 means happy 明快. 

Together, it makes: Happy Bright Tomorrow. 

Also, the character Ming 明 is composed of 日 Sun and 月 Moon, or 日 day and 月 month.

Therefore, Ming 明，literally means 1 月 1 日, January 1st, ie. 元旦, New Year’s day. 

As the world has gone through 2 years of dark time of COVID-19 pandemic, as we mourn those lost lives because of the pandemic, I wish this panda cub Ming 明 would bring the world a Happy Bright Tomorrow. 

Happy New Year 2022 

元旦快乐