THE AWAKENING OF CHINA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 4

THE AWAKENING OF CHINA

FAMOUS WOMAN MARTIT?, " In tho-course of an interesting article in the last issue of "The Forum," Joan White dispels many popular illusions regarding tho position of women in ChinaShe writes;—" When tho Eepublio was appointed in China in 1911, seven women wero appointed as active members in the Assembly o£ Canton. Such, an appointment would on tho face of it have been impossible had not the6o women beon equipped mentally to feel adequately tho high position to'-which they were elected. A rather amusing fact in connection with tho selection of ono of these women was that ker husband begged her not to use his name when in office, for lo do 60 would reflect upon Ids personal ability, ho having been among the 'also rans, , and of tho opinion that have been chosen instead of a woman.

/'The- appointment of these soven women, gives tho lio to tho opinion gonorally accepted by the peridental : mind that the woincm of China avo poor, downtrodden beings, held as mero chattels and treated aa drudging nonentities whose 6ole reason for being is their ability to breed sons and look after purely tlomestio affairs. Tho" Chinese ivoman,' states this writer, "has never been a chattel in tho true sonso of tho word. Her spirit has always boon free, and she has frequently translated this same freo Bph-it into acts. In the Shen Tock district of Canton, although it is a 'sino qua non.' that a woman must' marry to posses any status, she is not compelled to live with hot husband after marriage, cither by law or force of public opinion. A striking example that proves -womaii'e participation in matters of national welfare is that of liO Chiow Chin. This remarkable woman was ono of tho leaders of tho Chinese revolution which resulted in tho downfall of the Manchu dynasty and tho formation of tho Hepublic. Her father, a civil mandarin and noted scholar, gavo her -when but a child the same opportunity for education that Chinese customs accord to nmlo offspring alone. She soon became .well known aa ,an author. During the Boxor troubles she was living at Poking, and iras so impressed by the corruption of tlio Manchu Government that she began to advocate radical reforms. Her_ husband, a Conservative Government official, oppos. ing her advocacy, she had her marriage annulled. In 1901 she went to Japan to study conditions, and there met the great rebel lender, Sun Tat Sen, and many others of the party whoso object was tho overthrow of the Manclnifl and tie establishment of a republic similar to that ot tho United States. Chew Chin immediately joined thia party, and enthusiastically began to spread its propaganda. She established a Chineso suffrage magaKino in Totio called 'Tho Justice," which, aroused many of hor follow countrrmen to take an interest in tho fight for rights and liberty so soon to begiuV in China. In 1906 she returned to China and began tho publication in Shanghai of a woman s paper, and established a large school for girls in order that they might grasp tho principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Sho frequently disguised herself ris a man so that oho might mix with the common people and sound.their views"A plot having been instigated to Kill the Governor of Anhui Province, by her cousin, Chiow Chin raised many volunteers to assist in tho fighting which took place after tho Governor's assassination. Tho rising was quelled after her consul was killed in. actiou, and Chiew Chin whs arrested. Tho names of tho conspirators wern demanded of her, but she refused to tell, though sho knew her lifo was nt sialic. "'I Trill tell yo" nothing,' sho said. Though I am but a woman I can dio for my country, but cannot betray my frienda. . She was beheaded that night. isuring tho revolution and einco tho Republic has been declared in operation women have been heads of co-educational institutions, principals of girls' schools, •.α-tists. politicians, authors, playwrights, as well as actresses, iJie Inst forbidden by tradition for many centuries; they lwvo headed Amazon regiments newspapers. Tho women of Hcnnjj Shan district (Canton Province) establishing a newspaper, which with marked success both during and after tho revolution."