Xu Guangping

Last updated


Xu Guangping
Xu Guangping.jpg
Portrait of Mrs. Xu Guangping.
Born(1898-02-12)12 February 1898
Panyu County, Guangdong, China
Died3 March 1968(1968-03-03) (aged 70)
Nationality Qing dynasty (1898-1912) Republic of China (1912–1949) People's Republic of China (1949-1968)
Political party China Association for Promoting Democracy
Chinese Communist Party
Partner Lu Xun (1927–1936)
ChildrenZhou Haiying (周海婴)

Xu Guangping (simplified Chinese :许广平; traditional Chinese :許廣平; Jyutping :heoi2 gwong2 ping4, 1898 – 1968), courtesy name Shuyuan (simplified Chinese: 漱园; traditional Chinese: 漱園), infant name Xia (simplified Chinese: 霞; traditional name: 霞), [1] was a Chinese female writer, politician, and social activist. [2] She was well known as the partner of Chinese writer Lu Xun.

Contents

Biography

Early life

On February 12, 1898, Xu Guangping was born into the prestigious Xu family in Guangzhou, but her family was already in decline and needed to borrow money to maintain their dignity. [3] Her father was the son of a concubine who had served as an official but lacked life stories. [4] Her mother was the daughter of a merchant in Macau who was good at medicine and poetry. Xu Guangping had three brothers and two sisters, one of her sisters was the daughter of her father's concubine. [4] When she was born, she cried loudly and left urine in her mother's womb, which was considered a sign of inauspiciousness. Then her father planned to give her to someone else, but her father got drunk and betrothed her to the evil gentry Ma family as his daughter-in-law. [3]

In 1906, when Xu Guangping was eight years old, her mother wanted to bind her feet. Her mother's hometown was very particular about foot-binding. Her mother was chubby but had a pair of small feet that needed the help of a servant for walking. [5] Xu Guangping was unwilling to bind her feet and wanted to seek her father's protection. Her father agreed that he would not bind her feet and sent her to her grandmother's place to hide. [3]

In April of the same year, she entered the private school at home and began studying with the boys. Her mother supported this because she also studied with her brothers at home. She asked them to help Guangping with her studies. [6]

When the 1911 Revolution broke out, Xu Guangping's family moved to Macau. Afterwards, her mother passed away and was taken care of by her older brother Xu Chongyi. Under the influence of her older brother, she began to make ideological progress and wanted to contribute to the country and nation. For example, she followed the suggestion in Women's Daily not to wear earrings. This aroused the father's disgust because it represented bereavement in local customs. [7]

In 1915, Yuan Shikai declared himself emperor. Xu Guangping believed that it was a time of loyalty to the country. She wrote a letter to a female revolutionary hoping to join the fight against Yuan Shikai. However, this matter was leaked and her family prevented her from doing so. [8]

In 1917, at the age of 19, Xu Guangping's father passed away. She wanted to resist her arranged marriage. According to Shunde's custom of "not leaving her husband's house" (不出夫家), to marry a concubine for her husband to replace her. Her second brother helped the Ma family marry a concubine and dissolved their engagement. Then she and her second brother defected to their aunt in Tianjin. [7]

Education

Beijing Women's Normal School Beijing Women Normal School.png
Beijing Women's Normal School

In 1917, she was admitted to the First Women's Normal School in Beiyang, and the following year she was promoted to a bachelor's degree in Guangzhou. During this period, she served as the editor in chief of the Tianjin Women's Patriotic Comrade Association magazine "Awakening Weekly"(醒世周刊). In December, Xu Guangping contributed four short essays in classical Chinese to the school magazine. She participated in a rally of ten thousand people in Nankai Square led by Zhou Enlai and others on October 10th and went to the police station to condemn Yang Yide, the director of the department who assaulted patriotic people. [9]

In 1919, She experienced firsthand politics when China began to boycott Japanese goods as a result of the May Fourth Movement. [10]

In 1921, Guangping then graduated from the Girls’ Normal School and she enrolled in the Chinese department of Women’s Normal College in Peking in the autumn. Guangping then decided to become the general secretary of the Student Council. While Guangping continued to write, her works would often be featured in the schools’ various media channels. She continued her courses as normal, becoming interested in various fields of study. However, the political turmoil that was evident in China at the time made Guangping feel uneasy. The principal of her school was being asked to step down, as China rapidly became politically divided. [11]

In 1925, Xu Guangping began her first communication with Lu Xun as a "primary school student", requesting clear guidance from Lu Xun. From then on, Lu Xun became her mentor. Between March and July, they exchanged over 40 letters, and at the end of the year, Xu Guangping and Lu Xun established a romantic relationship. [9]

Career

In 1926, Xu Guangping graduated from school and returned to Guangzhou. She served as the training master and social supervisor of Guangdong Provincial First Women's Normal School and engaged in the women's movement under the leadership of Comrade Deng Yingchao. However, due to the intervention of some members of the guomintang, he school owed wages and then Xu Guangping resigned. [12]

In January 1927, Lu Xun reached at Sun Yat-sen University. Xu Guangping is his teaching assistant. She accompanied Lu Xun to give speeches in Hong Kong and served as a Cantonese translator. [13]

On October 3rd of the same year, Xu Guangping and Lu Xun went to Shanghai to get married. She helped Lu Xun purchase books and consult materials in his work, and took care of Lu Xun in his daily life. [13]

On October 19, 1936-1937, Lu Xun passed away. Xu Guangping organized of Lu Xun's relics for publication. [14]

On December 15, 1941, Japanese gendarmes broke into the Xu family to investigate. The Japanese army arrested Xu Guangping on the same day in search of clues from Shanghai's anti-Japanese intellectuals. They tormented Xu Guangping into a coma three times, but she never gave in. [15]

On February 27, 1942, Xu Guangping was arrested for 76 days and was released with the help of underground Chinese Communist Party (CCP) worker Yuan and Japanese friend Nishiyama Manzao. When she came out, her hair turned white. She spared no effort to protect the safety of many friends. [15]

Political Life

In the winter of 1948, Xu Guangping and a group of well-known progressives secretly went to Hong Kong at the invitation of the CCP and transferred to the Northeast Liberated Area. [16]

In the spring of 1949, after Peiping was liberated, he arrived in Peiping. The All-China Women's Federation was held in Peiping, and Xu Guangping was elected as an executive member of the All-China Women's Federation; at the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, she was elected as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xu Guangping was appointed deputy secretary-general of the Government Affairs Council. [16]

After 1950, Xu Guangping donated Lu Xun's former residences in Shanghai and Beijing, as well as Lu Xun's collection of books, antiques, manuscripts, letters, manuscripts and other relics to the country for the people's government to establish the Lu Xun Museum and Lu Xun Memorial Hall. [16]

In September 1954, Xu Guangping was elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. [16]

By 1960, after Xu Guangping applied many times, she was approved by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party to become a CCP member. Xu Guangping has served as a leader of central delegations for many times, leading or participating in delegations to visit Japan, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, etc., and engage in foreign cultural exchange activities. [16]

Death

In 1968, Qi Benyu, a member of the Central Cultural Revolution Group, stole all of Lu Xun's precious manuscripts and made them missing. Xu Guangping suffered a heavy blow and died of a heart attack. [17]

Xu Guangping's last words Xu Guangping's last words.png
Xu Guangping's last words

Pen Names

Xu Guangping worte under the pen names including Jing Song (simplified Chinese: 景宋; traditional Chinese: 景宋), [18] Ping Lin (simplified Chinese: 平林; traditional Chinese: 平林), [19] KP, [20] Lu Mei (simplified Chinese: 陆寐; traditional Chinese: 陸寐), [21] Xu Xiu (simplified Chinese: 许秀; traditional Chinese: 許秀), [22] Gui Zhen (simplified Chinese: 归真; traditional Chinese: 歸真), [23] Shang Shi (simplified Chinese: 伤时; traditional Chinese: 傷時), [24] Huang Bing (simplified Chinese: 黄竝; traditional Chinese: 黃竝), [25] Zhou Hao (simplified Chinese: 周浩; traditional Chinese: 周浩), [26] and etc. Jing Ping was the most frequently used one.

Family Member

Xu Family Genealogy Part of Xu Family Genealogy 2.png
Xu Family Genealogy

Grandfather: Xu Yingrong (许应鑠).

Father: Xu Bingyun (许炳橒); alternate name: Xu Bing Yao (许炳瑶), the sixth son of a concubine. [27]

Mother: Lady Song, the daughter of a businessman from Macau. [27]

Sisters: Xu Dongping (许东平); Xu Yueping (许月平), the daughter of the concubine. [28]

Brothers: Xu Chongyi (许崇憘); Xu Chonghuan (许崇權); Xu Chongyi (许崇怡). [28]

Partner: Lu Xun (鲁迅).

Son: Zhou Haiying(周海婴).

Daughter-in-law: Ma Xinyun (马新云).

Grandson: Zhou Lingfei (周令飞); Zhou Lingfei (周令斐); Zhou Lingyi (周令一).

Granddaughter: Zhou Ning (周宁).

Xu Guangping and her descendant Xu Guangping, his Son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.png
Xu Guangping and her descendant

Literature Works

Former Residence

Xu Guangping's Former Residence Xu Guangping's Former Residence.jpg
Xu Guangping's Former Residence

The former residence is located in the "Xu Di" of Gaodi Street, Beijing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City today, with the house number being No. 33-34. According to the memories of descendants of the Xu family, Xu Guangping spent most of her time here before she was admitted to Beiyang Women No.1 Normal School in 1917. [38]

From the appearance, the former residence is a blue brick building with two bedrooms and a courtyard that is characterized with Lingnan furniture features. It has a brick and wood structure and an area of about 100 square meters. According to the memories of Xu's descendants, the building has a history of more than 160 years and is still occupied by Xu Guangping's nephew and her descendants. [38]




Monument

The Monument of Xu Guangping was built in Fu Shou Yuan Humanism Memorial Park, Shanghai on September 27, 2011. [39]

Further reading

Denton, Kirk A. Love-Letters and Privacy in Modern China: The Intimate Lives of Lu Xun and Xu Guangping. vol. 64, Harvard-Yenching Institute, 2004. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25066731?saml_data=eyJzYW1sVG9rZW4iOiI2ZWNmZDdmNC02MWUwLTQwY2YtOGMzOS1kMTJhMWM1Nzc3YjMiLCJpbnN0aXR1dGlvbklkcyI6WyIxMjJiMTFjOS00YWE5LTQzY2UtYWQzZS0xMmUyYTE4YmU3ZWUiXX0&seq=9

Hang, Suhong. “Rootless ‘Collectives’: Xu Guangping and the New Women’s Spiritual Dilemma in the Republic of China.” Sociological Studies, June 2015, pp. 193–214, http://shxyj.ajcass.org/Magazine/show/?id=74488.

Letters Between Two: Correspondence Between Lu Xun and Xu Guangping. https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Between-Two-Correspondence-Guangping/dp/711901997X

Liu, Chun-yong. "A Glance over Lu Xun's Marriage and Love." Journal of University of Science and Technology Beijing, vol. 23, no. 4, 2007, pp. 112-116. http://bkds.ustb.edu.cn/en/article/id/b7cca579-e846-4573-b2c6-1dcf4ba0b6f8

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lu Xun</span> Chinese novelist and essayist (1881–1936)

Zhou Shuren, known by his pen name Lu Xun, was a Chinese writer, literary critic, lecturer, and state servant. He was a leading figure of modern Chinese literature. Writing in vernacular Chinese and classical Chinese, he was a short story writer, editor, translator, literary critic, essayist, poet, and designer. In the 1930s, he became the titular head of the League of Left-Wing Writers in Shanghai during republican-era China (1912–1949).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhao (surname)</span> Surname list

Zhao is a Chinese-language surname. The name is first in the Hundred Family Surnames – the traditional list of all Chinese surnames – because it was the emperor's surname of the Song dynasty (960–1279) when the list was compiled. The first line of the poem is 趙錢孫李.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monguor people</span> Mongolic people of Northwest China

The Monguor, the Tu people, the White Mongol or the Tsagaan Mongol, are Mongolic people and one of the 56 officially recognized ethnic groups in China. The "Tu" ethnic category was created in the 1950s.

The Lu Xun Literary Prize 鲁迅文学奖 is a literary prize awarded by China Writers Association. It is one of China's top four literary prizes and is named after Lu Xun and has been awarded every three years since 1995. Its predecessor, the National Outstanding Short Story Award and National Outstanding Novella Award, was established since the beginning of the new-era literature in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emperor Wen of Song</span> Emperor of the Liu Song Dynasty

Emperor Wen of Liu Song, personal name Liu Yilong (劉義隆), childhood name Che'er (車兒), was an emperor of the Liu Song dynasty of China. He was the third son of the dynastic founder Emperor Wu. After his father's death in 422, Liu Yilong's eldest brother Liu Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao. In 424, a group of officials, believing Emperor Shao to be unfit to be emperor, deposed Emperor Shao and placed Liu Yilong on the throne as Emperor Wen.

<i>Romance of the Three Kingdoms</i> (TV series) Chinese television series

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese television series adapted from the classical 14th century novel of the same title by Luo Guanzhong. The series was produced by China Central Television (CCTV) and was first aired on the network in 1994. It spanned a total of 84 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long. One of the most expensive television series produced at the time, the project was completed over four years and involved over 400,000 cast and crew members, including divisions of the People's Liberation Army from the Beijing, Nanjing and Chengdu military regions. Some of the dialogue spoken by characters was adapted directly from the novel. Extensive battle scenes, such as the battles of Guandu, Red Cliffs and Xiaoting, were also live-acted.

China Table Tennis Super League is the top table tennis division under the Chinese Table Tennis Association.

Yuanhai Ziping is the first comprehensive and systematic book on the theory of Four Pillars of Destiny. The book was compiled by Xu Dasheng of the Song Dynasty of China. It is a recording of various Zi Ping's fortune-telling methods. The method involves manipulation of the Four Pillars, each consisting of the two Chinese characters for the date and time of a person's birth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lu (surname 魯)</span> Surname list

is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname written in simplified character and in traditional character. It is also spelled Lo according to the Cantonese and Hokkien pronunciation, and Luu in the Gwoyeu Romatzyh romanization of Mandarin. Lu 鲁 is listed 49th in the Song dynasty classic text Hundred Family Surnames. As of 2008, Lu 鲁 is the 115th most common surname in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qian Daosun</span>

Qian Daosun (1887–1966) was a Chinese writer and translator. His renowned translations include the Inferno part of the Divine Comedy, Man'yōshū and The Tale of Genji. Qian was born in a family of officials and scholars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xu (surname 許)</span> Surname list

Xu is a Chinese-language surname. In the Wade-Giles system of romanization, it is romanized as "Hsu", which is commonly used in Taiwan. It is different from Xu, which is represented by a different character.

<i>The Advisors Alliance</i> Chinese TV series or program

The Advisors Alliance is a 2017 Chinese two-part television series based on the life of Sima Yi, a government official and military general who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of China. The series starred Wu Xiubo as the main character, with Liu Tao, Li Chen, Janine Chang, Tang Yixin, Yu Hewei and Wang Luoyong playing supporting roles. The first part of the series started airing on Jiangsu TV and Anhui TV on 22 June 2017. The second part started airing on Youku on 8 December 2017.

<i>Serenade of Peaceful Joy</i> 2020 Chinese period drama series

Serenade of Peaceful Joy, or previously known as Held in the Lonely Castle, is a 2020 Chinese period drama series loosely based on Milan Lady's novel of the same name. It is directed by Zhang Kaizhou, and stars Wang Kai as Emperor Renzong of Song and Jiang Shuying as Empress Cao. The series aired on Hunan TV starting April 7, 2020.

<i>Lion Pride</i> 2017 Taiwanese television series

Lion Pride is a 2017 Taiwanese television series created and produced by Eastern Television. Starring Yen Tsao, Amanda Chou, Kevin Liu and Peace Yang as the main cast. Filming began in October 2017 and ended on February 12, 2018. The first original broadcast was on TTV every Saturday at 10:00 pm starting December 2, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomb of Lu Xun</span> Historic site in Shanghai, China

The tomb of Lu Xun is the burial place of the Chinese writer Lu Xun (1881–1936), located in the northwestern corner of the Lu Xun Park in Hongkou District, Shanghai. Covering an area of 1,600 square metres (17,000 sq ft), the tomb of Lu Xun was built in 1956, and in the same year, the remains of Lu Xun was moved to this tomb from the Wanguo Cemetery of Shanghai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lu Xun Native Place</span> Childhood home of Lu Xun in Zhejiang, China

Lu Xun Native Place is the childhood home and neighborhood of Lu Xun. Lu Xun is his pen name; his legal name was Zhou Zhangshou, and later renamed himself Zhou Shuren. Lu is one of the foremost writers of Chinese literature in the early 20th century. Lu Xun Native Place is located at 241 Lu Xun Middle Road, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China, and has been collected as a national museum and cultural education area. It is the hometown where Lu Xun was born and lived, and it been repaired and protected in 1953.

<i>Forever and Ever</i> (TV series) Chinese television series

Forever and Ever is a 2021 contemporary Chinese romantic television series, starring Ren Jialun and Bai Lu. The series is based on the novel Yi Sheng Yi Shi Mei Ren Gu (一生一世美人骨) by Mo Bao Fei Bao. It's available on iQiyi and iQ.com from September 6, 2021. The series is part of iQIYI's Sweet On Theater (恋恋剧场), an iQIYI original lineup of romantic television series. The series is a themed companion and sequel to One and Only, and both shows were released back to back. Both series were adapted from the same novel and features the same characters in different eras. The drama was a commercial success and one of iQIYI's most popular show of 2021.

<i>A Little Mood for Love</i> Chinese TV series or program

A Little Mood for Love is a 2021 Chinese romance drama television series based on Yi Bei's novel of the same name, directed by Wang Jun and starring Zhou Xun, Huang Lei, Tang Yixin, Tu Songyan and Liu Lili. It aired on Hunan TV and Youku on December 11, 2021. It is also available for streaming on Disney+ in selected regions on February 1, 2023.

<i>Imperfect Victim</i> Chinese TV series or program

Imperfect Victim is a 2023 Chinese legal drama television series directed by Yang Yang and starring Zhou Xun, Liu Yijun, Lin Yun, Elane Zhong, Chen Shu, Liu Ying and Dong Jie. It aired on Dragon Television, Beijing TV and IQIYI on July 17, 2023.

References

  1. Li, Tingxian, ed. (1992). 广州高第街许氏家族. 广东人民出版社.
  2. "妇女活动家许广平-上海档案信息网". www.archives.sh.cn. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 李, 廷贤, ed. (1992). 广州高第街许氏家族. Guang Dong Ren Min Chu Ban She. p. 75.
  4. 1 2 张, 竞 (2004). "广州许氏家族的历史风云人物". 上海鲁迅研究. p. 295.
  5. 陈, 漱渝 (1981). 许广平的一生. Tian Jin Ren Min Chu Ban She. pp. 3–4.
  6. 陈, 漱渝 (1981). 许广平的一生. Tian Jin Ren Min Chu Ban She. p. 4.
  7. 1 2 李, 廷贤, ed. (1992). 广州高第街许氏家族. Guang Dong Ren Min Chu Ban She. p. 76.
  8. 陈, 漱渝 (1981). 许广平的一生. Tian Jin Ren Min Chu Ban She. pp. 7–8.
  9. 1 2 李, 廷贤, ed. (1992). 广州高第街许氏家族. Guang Dong Ren Min Chu Ban She. p. 77.
  10. McDougall, Bonnie S. (2002). "Xu Guangping 'in the Front Row': 1898–1925". Love-Letters and Privacy in Modern China: The Intimate Lives of Lu Xun and Xu Guangping. Oxford. p. 15.
  11. McGougall, Bonnie S. (2002). "'Xu Guangping 'in the Front Row': 1898–1925'". Love-Letters and Privacy in Modern China: The Intimate Lives of Lu Xun and Xu Guangping. Oxford. p. 17.
  12. 李, 廷贤, ed. (1992). 广州高第街许氏家族. Guang Dong Ren Min Chu Ban She. pp. 79–80.
  13. 1 2 广州高第街许氏家族. Translated by 李, 廷贤. Guang Dong Ren Min Chu Ban She. 1992. p. 80.
  14. 李, 廷贤, ed. (1992). 广州高第街许氏家族. Guang Dong Ren Min Chu Ban She. p. 83.
  15. 1 2 李, 廷贤, ed. (1992). 广州高第街许氏家族. Guang Dong Ren Min Chu Ban She. p. 84.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 张, 竞 (2004). "广州许氏家族的历史风云人物". 上海鲁迅研究. pp. 299–300.
  17. 张, 竞 (2004). "广州许氏家族的历史风云人物". 上海鲁迅研究. p. 300.
  18. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 12.
  19. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 6.
  20. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 103.
  21. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 140.
  22. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 143.
  23. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 226.
  24. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 230.
  25. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 252.
  26. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. p. 324.
  27. 1 2 陈, 漱渝 (1981). 许广平的一生. Tian Jin Ren Min Chu Ban She. p. 3.
  28. 1 2 张, 竞 (2004). "广州许氏家族的风云人物". 上海鲁迅研究. p. 295.
  29. Lu, Xun; Xu, Guangping (1973). Liang di shu. Ren Min Wen Xue Chu Ban She.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  30. 景宋 (1948). 遭难前后. Shang Hai Chu Ban Gong Si.
  31. 许, 广平 (1951). 欣慰的纪念. Ren Min Wen Xue Chu Ban She.
  32. 许, 广平, ed. (1953). 鲁迅书简. Ren Min Wen Xue Chu Ban She.
  33. 许, 广平 (1961). 鲁迅回忆录. Zuo Jia Chu Ban She.
  34. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She.
  35. 许, 广平 (1998). 海婴 (ed.). 许广平文集. Jiang Su Wen Yi Chu Ban She. pp. preface.
  36. 许, 广平 (2001). 十年生死共艰危:许广平忆鲁迅. He Bei Jiao Yu Chu Ban She.
  37. 许, 广平 (2019). 我与鲁迅. Jiang Su Feng Huang Wen Yi Chu Ban She.
  38. 1 2 "越秀区图书馆". www.gzyxlib.cn. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  39. "许广平纪念碑在上海落成-光明日报-光明网". epaper.gmw.cn. Retrieved 9 November 2023.