Episode 42: Eastern and Western, Traditional and Modern - Lü Bicheng's Legendary Life Story

In the early 1900s, Chinese women were entering the public space and shaping society like never before. At a time when a Chinese identity was emerging, women activists and leaders had to navigate the shifting sands that was Chinese society at the time. Striking a balance between meeting the expectation of the traditional Confucian ideal of a women’s role and finding their own place in a modern society as a citizen was tricky. 

In this episode, we talked about one such woman, born into the late Qing dynasty, who had a fantastic character arc that impressed many not just at the time, but for years after. Lü Bicheng(吕碧城), the main character in our story today, was an educator, poet, journalist, writer, activist, business women and a buddhist, a woman who wore many hats. Her life story and trajectory reflected China at the time. What did it mean to be a modern Chinese woman living in the early 1900s? What did it mean to be both a feminist and a nationalist? What was a woman’s experience seeking education and better opportunities for herself while challenging the very foundation of a patriarchal society?

Recommended Books and Reading:
1. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume 2. By Sue Wiles, Clara Wing-chung Ho · 1998.
2. "女界"之兴起 - 晚清天津女子教育与女性形象建构 By 秦方
3. Alternative Modernities, or a Classical Woman of Modern China: The Challenging Trajectory of Lü Bicheng's (1883-1943) Life And Song Lyrics. Author: Grace Fong