Title

Liang Qichao and Hu Shih：Two Discourses on Women

Author

Hui-chi Hsu

Genre

Article  

Pages

Download

Language

Key words

political tutelage, revolution, nation-building

Abstract

      As result of the initiation, support and participation of some liberal-minded men, modern Chinese women’s movement was able to get off the ground and had itself sustained. During the last years of the Qing Dynasty and the early days of the Republic, some of the major concerns of the Chinese intellectuals seemed to be the integrity of the nation and the survival of its people. A lot of thought was given to ways of reversing the deteriorating situation of the time. Educationfor women and abolition of foot-binding were among the priorities. As a consequence, many women were able to receive education. And the importance of women’s rights thus dawned upon them, paving the way for a healthy growth of a women’s movement.

    This articles focuses on two important liberals－Liang Qichao and Hu Shih－as representatives of their respective generations（the Late Qing and the early Republican eras）. Through an investigation of their views on women and the solutions offered by the two thinkers, I wish to lo ok at how they address women’s issues. Specifically this paper provides a textual analysis of Liang’s and Hu’s essays on women and concentrates on some of the salient features of their writings on women. I hope this approach is helpful in highlighting the impact of their discussionsof Chinese women and the significance of such discussions in men’s overall deliberations on such general concerns as nation an d community. I hope, too, that some light could be thrown on the limitations such views impose on women as well as potential breakthroughs.