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ABSTRACT
This article challenges the standard historiography of the New Culture Movement by tracing the important role played by Pu Dianjun, a key member of the Constitution Research Group, in the broader cultural reform movement in early Republican China. It examines Pu’s years as the president and chief editor of Chenbao (1918–1922), which he transformed from a little-read partisan paper to a widely circulated and intellectually influential newspaper in Beijing. It demonstrates that Pu’s cultural endeavors, which consisted of efforts at societal change through individual awakening, were geared toward his political ideal – the transformation of Chinese commoners into capable voters in a constitutional system. Despite his absence from the standard historiography, Pu left important legacies affecting life in China today.
Glossary
| Anfuxi | = | 安福系 |
| Bingxin | = | 冰心 |
| Cai Hesen | = | 蔡和森 |
| Cao Kun | = | 曹锟 |
| Cao Rui | = | 曹锐 |
| Chen Dabei | = | 陈大悲 |
| Chen Duxiu | = | 陈独秀 |
| Chenbao | = | 《晨报》 |
| Chenbao fukan | = | 《晨报副刊》 |
| Chenzhong zhi shiming | = | 晨钟之使命 |
| Chenzhongbao | = | 《晨钟报》 |
| congrong lifa | = | 从容立法 |
| Duan Qirui | = | 段祺瑞 |
| fatong chongguang | = | 法统重光 |
| fei yidang yixing di bao | = | 非一党一系底报 |
| Fu Sinian | = | 傅斯年 |
| Guomin gongbao | = | 《国民公报》 |
| Huguo yundong | = | 护国运动 |
| jieji fenhua | = | 阶级分化 |
| Jingbao | = | 《京报》 |
| Lan Gongwu | = | 蓝公武 |
| Li Dazhao | = | 李大钊 |
| Liang Shuming | = | 梁漱溟 |
| Lin Changmin | = | 林长民 |
| Liu Chongyou | = | 林崇佑 |
| Liu Yifen | = | 刘以芬 |
| Luo Jialun | = | 罗家伦 |
| Makesi yanjiu | = | 马克思研究 |
| Minzhong xiju she | = | 民众戏剧社 |
| minzhong zhengzhi | = | 民众政治 |
| Minzhu zhuyi de lianhe zhanxian | = | 民主主义的联合战线 |
| Peng Yihu | = | 彭一湖 |
| Pu Boying | = | 蒲伯英 |
| Pu Dianjun | = | 蒲殿俊 |
| Qu Qiubai | = | 瞿秋白 |
| Renyi xiju zhuanmen xuexiao | = | 人艺戏剧专门学校 |
| Shihua | = | 实话 |
| Shishi xinbao | = | 《时事新报》 |
| Su Mei | = | 苏梅 |
| Sun Hongyi | = | 孙洪伊 |
| Tang Hualong | = | 汤化龙 |
| Wang Jingzhi | = | 汪静之 |
| wenhua yundong | = | 文化运动 |
| Wu Jinglian | = | 吴景濂 |
| Wu Peifu | = | 吴佩孚 |
| Wu Ruiyan | = | 吴瑞燕 |
| xian xian hou xuan | = | 先宪后选 |
| Xianfa jijin hui | = | 宪法急进会 |
| Xianfa qicao weiyuanhui | = | 宪法起草委员会 |
| Xianfa shangque hui | = | 宪法商榷会 |
| Xianfa yanjiu hui | = | 宪法研究会 |
| xin jiu tiaohe lun | = | 新旧调和论 |
| xin wenhua yundong | = | 新文化运动 |
| Xinchao | = | 《新潮》 |
| Xinming da xiyuan | = | 新明大戏院 |
| Xinqingnian | = | 《新青年》 |
| Xin zhonghua xiju xieshe | = | 新中华戏剧协社 |
| Xu Fosu | = | 徐佛苏 |
| xuan xian bingxing | = | 选宪并行 |
| xuesheng di jiguan bao | = | 学生底机关报 |
| yanjiu rensheng | = | 研究人生 |
| Yanjiuxi | = | 研究系 |
| Yanjiuxi de zuopai | = | 研究系的左派 |
| yundong qilai | = | 运动起來 |
| Zhang Dongsun | = | 张东荪 |
| Zhang Guotao | = | 张国焘 |
| Zhang Ruoming | = | 张若名 |
| Zhang Shizhao | = | 章士钊 |
| Zhang Songnian | = | 张崧年 |
| Zhang Xun | = | 张勋 |
| Zhang Zuolin | = | 张作霖 |
| Zheng Zhenduo | = | 郑振铎 |
| zhengzhi chongjian | = | 政治重建 |
| Zhishui | = | 止水 |
| zhong xia shehui | = | 中下社会 |
| Zhou Zuoren | = | 周作人 |
| ziyou luntan | = | 自由论坛 |
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1 Guotao, “Women duiyu xiao zichan jieji heping pai de quangao,” 105–106.
2 Qu Qiubai, “Xinqingnian zhi xin xuanyan,” 1–3. See also Hu Sheng, “Wusi yundong lun”; Peng Ming, Wusi yundong shi; and Chen Wanxiong, Wusi xin wenhua de yuanliu.
3 Hu Shi, “Xin wenhua yundong yu guomindang,” 5. Hu defines the New Culture Movement as one against traditional Chinese culture, specifically stressing the literary and intellectual aspects of it. Even though the Nationalist Party was critical of the content of the New Culture Movement, it accepted Hu’s rendering of the term.
4 Chow, The May Fourth Movement. Many works about the May Fourth Movement have been published since Chow, with Chen Pingyuan and Xia Xiaohong’s Chu mo lishi being one of the most important, but few have directly challenged Chow’s metanarrative.
5 Wang Qisheng, “Xin wenhua shi ruhe ‘yundong’ qilai de,” 23–27.
6 Kuo, “The Making of the New Culture Movement,” 55.
7 Chen Duxiu’s “Gao xin wenhua yundong zhu tongzhi” [To the Comrades of the New Culture Movement] in Dagong Bao (L’Impartial) in February 1920 and “Xin wenhua yundong shi sheme?” [What is the New Culture Movement?] in the April 1920 issue of Xinqingnian explicitly addressed “xin wenhua yundong” (New Culture Movement) in this new light.
8 Zhongxia, “Zhongguo xianzai de sixiang jie,” 2–6.
9 Zhou Yuefeng, “Wusi hou ‘xin wenhua yundong’ yici de liuxing yu zaoqi hanyi yanbian,” 41–46.
10 Hu Chongshu, “Pu Dianjun yishi,” 35.
11 Lin Dun and He Yili, “Raoyou huanghua wanjie xiang de Pu Dianjun,” 182.
12 Zheng, The Politics of Rights and the 1911 Revolution, chapters 2–3.
13 Ibid., chapters 4–7.
14 Ding Wenjiang and Zhao Fengtian, eds., Liang Qichao nianpu changbian, 658.
15 Geng Yunzhi and Cui Zhihai, Liang Qichao, 241–242.
16 Hua Jueming, “Jinbudang he Yanjiuxi,” 115–118.
17 Hao Xingyan, “Li Dazhao yu Tang Hualong minchu guanxi tanwei,” 3.
18 Wang Zheng, “Li Dazhao zai Chenzhongbao benshi kaoxin shuyao,” 80. The money came from the initial 500,000 yuan given to the Progressives by Yuan Shikai.
19 In the anti-Yuan revolt, Liang Qichao worked with his student Cai E and other Southwestern warlords, while Tang Hualong and Pu Dianjun worked with relatives in their respective provinces, namely Tang Xiangming of Hubei and Chen Huan of Sichuan.
20 Li Zhonggong, “Huguo zhiyi shide Tang Hualong jiqi jituan,” 107 and 112.
21 Shouchang, “Chenzhong zhi shiming” [The Mission of the Morning Bell], Chenzhongbao [Morning Bell], Aug. 15, 1916.
22 On August 22, Tang Hualong and Liu Chongyou organized the Constitution Draft Research Association (Xianfa’an yanjiu hui), and on the same day, Liang Qichao’s supporters organized the Constitution Research Comrades Association (Xianfa yanjiu tongzhi hui). For the merger, see Chenzhongbao, Sept. 12, 1916.
23 Hao Xingyan, “Tang Sun fenlie yu minchu zhengju,” 115–119.
24 Wang Zheng, 81–83.
25 According to “Li Shouchang qishi” [Notice of Li Dazhao] and “Chen Guangtao qishi” [Notice of Chen Guangtao], which appeared side by side in Chenzhongbao from Sept. 5, 1916 to Sept. 9, 1916, Li was the main editor (bianji zhuren) in the first 22 days, and Chen then succeeded him. Up until March 1918, Tang Hualong was still the leader of Chenzhongbao. Pu Dianjun became the leader of the paper after Tang left China. Pu’s first official piece as the president of Chenzhongbao appeared on Aug. 15, 1918, for paper’s second anniversary. Noticeably, Pu Dianjun was rather removed from the political struggles within the Tang Hualong group. He maintained a good relationship with Li Dazhao after Li’s resignation and helped advertise Li’s works. In 1919 Li was also using Chenbao’s printing house for his own journals. See Zhou Fang, Li Jihua, Song Bin, eds., Li Dazhao shuxin ji, 91.
26 Shen Yubai, “Pu Dianjun,” 853.
27 Geng Yunzhi and Cui Zhihai, Liang Qichao, 311.
28 Hua Jueming, “Jinbudang he Yanjiuxi,” 124.
29 Ibid., 124–125.
30 Lin Dun and He Yili, “Raoyou huanghua wanjie xiang de Pu Dianjun,” 185.
31 Nathan, Chinese Democracy, 133.
32 Ibid., 139.
33 “Fakanci” [Inaugural Editorial], Chenbao [Morning Post], Dec. 1, 1918.
34 Ibid.
35 Ibid.
36 Chenbao, Feb. 7, 1919, 7.
37 Ouyang Junxi, “Lun wusi yundong yu Qinghua,” 14–15.
38 Tan Guanghui, “Wusi yu baihua xiaoshuo,” [May Fourth and the Vernacular Language Novels], Beijing wanbao, Apr. 29, 2019.
39 On July 15, 1923, Chenbao reported that the monthly volume of its literary supplement had reached ten thousand copies. On Jan. 22, 1925 and Apr. 12, 1925, Chenbao stated that the first printing of its sixth-year anniversary issue had sold five thousand copies in the first three days and that three months later, fifteen thousand copies had been sold.
40 Wu Xiaotong, “Nikkanshi ‘Chenbao’ no seikaku ni tsuite,” 24.
41 “Pu Boying dui wanbao jizhe qishi” [Pu Boying’s Announcement for the Evening Newspaper], Chenbao, Sept. 4, 1921. Pu Boying was a name often used by Pu Dianjun in his publications.
42 Yuanquan, “Benbao sizhou jinian ri” [The Fourth Anniversary of Our Newspaper], Chenbao, Dec. 1, 1922.
43 Yifen, “Suowei ‘shu zhi sixiang’ jiang fengmi yishi” [The So-Called “Ideology of the Masses” Is the Trend), Chenbao, January 14–16, 1919.
44 Shouchang, “Zhanhou shijie zhi chaoliu” [Global Trends after the War], Chenbao, February 7–9, 1919.
45 Yihu, “Xin shidai zhi genben sixiang” [The Basic Trend in the New Era], Chenbao, February 18–19, 1919.
46 Zhishui, “Che de jieji” [Classes of Vehicles], Chenbao, May 23–25, 1919. Zhishui is Pu Dianjun’s pen name, which he often used.
47 Pu Boying, “Xinan zizhi yu heping de wojian” [My Opinions on Self-Governance and Peace in the Southwest], Chenbao, July 29–30, 1919.
48 “Jishui Tang gong zhounian jishu gan” [Commemorating Mister Tang of Jishui after the Passing of a Year], Chenbao, Sept. 1, 1919.
49 Xiao Xiang, “Guang’an Pu jun Boying xingzhuang,” 614.
50 Hao, “Du Shihua” [Reading Shihua], Chenbao, Mar. 8, 1920.
51 Zhishui, “Jinhou di yanlunjie” [Public Opinion from Now On], Chenbao, Dec. 1, 1919.
52 Hu Shi et al., “Women de zhengzhi zhuzhang” [Our Political Proposals], Chenbao, May 15, 1922. Originally published in Nuli zhoubao [Endeavor Weekly].
53 Zhishui, “Zhengzhi zhuzhang di genben yiwen” [Fundamental Doubts about Our Political Proposals], Chenbao, May 16, 1922.
54 On March 3 and 4, Chenbao published Li Dazhao’s polemic “Xin jiu sichao zhi jizhan” [Heated Battle between New and Old Thoughts]. This was followed by Chenbao editor Chen Bosheng’s “Jinggao shoujiu dang” [Admonition to the Conservatives] later that month.
55 Zhishui, “Yi xin jiu tiaohe lun” [Questioning the Amalgamation of the Old and the New], Chenbao, Oct. 5, 1919.
56 Tan Guanghui, “Wusi yu baihua xiaoshuo.”
57 Ibid.
58 Pu’s introduction to Su Mei’s counterargument, Chenbao, May 6, 1921.
59 Su Mei, “Da Luo Dunwei jun zhi budeyi de dabian” [A Response That Has to Be Made to Mr. Luo Dunwei], Chenbao, May 12, 1921.
60 On May 20 and May 21, 1921, Chenbao published Hu Shi and Gao Yihan’s support for Su Mei, which finally saved her reputation. Chenbao, May 20–21, 1921.
61 Ding Jingtang and Wen Cao eds., Qu Qiubai zhuyi xinian mulu, 1–19.
62 Zhonggong zhongyang Makesi, Engesi, Lening, Sidalin zhuzuo bianyi ju yanjiu shi, Wusi shiqi qikan jieshao, 1:136.
63 Zhang Fen, “Zhang Fen zhi Hu Shi.”
64 The other was Shishi xinbao.
65 Pu Boying, “Xiju zhi jindai de yiyi” [Modern Meaning of Dramas], 11–14.
66 Lin Dun and He Yili, “Raoyou huanghua wanjie xiang de Pu Dianjun,” 186.
67 Pu Boying, “Xiju yao ruhe shiying guoqing,” 10–18.
68 Pu Boying, “Zhongguo xiju tianran gaige de qushi,” 5–13.
69 Pu Boying, “Wo zhuzhang yao tichang zhiye de xiju,” 10–15.
70 Liu Weigen, “Beijing renyi: Woguo zuizao de sili huaju xuexiao,” 209.
71 Ibid., 210.
72 Jin Zhangming, “Guanyu xinming da xiyuan de yiqie” [Everything about the Xinming Playhouse], Shijie ribao, Mar. 19, 1963. Quoted in Yi Dan, Zuoyuo yu luoxuan, 296.
73 Liu Weigen, 211.
74 Ibid.
75 Fang Hui-fang, Cao Kun huixuan zhi yanjiu, 53.
76 Ibid., 60–61.
77 Pu Boying, “Zhixian he tongyi shi liangjian shi ma!” [Are Drafting the Constitution and Unification Two Different Matters!), Chenbao, May 28, 1922.
78 Ibid.
79 Pu Boying, “Zhixian he zuge di xian hou huan ji” [To Draft a Constitution or to Form a Cabinet], Chenbao, July 25, 1922.
80 Guotao, “Women duiyu xiao zichan jieji heping pai de quangao,” 105–106.
81 Ibid., 106.
82 “Zhongguo gongchandang dierci quanguo daibiao dahui xuanyan,” https://www.marxists.org/chinese/reference-books/ccp-1921-1949/01/019.htm. Accessed on Oct. 22, 2019. See also Luo Zhitian, Jibian shidai de wenhua yu zhengzhi, 169.
83 Duxiu, “Liansheng zizhi yu zhongguo zhengxiang,” 3.
84 Hesen, “Wuli tongyi yu liansheng zizhi: Junfa zhuanzheng yu junfa geju,” 14–16.
85 According to “Pu Boying qishi” [Notice of Pu Dianjun], Pu had left the chief editorship of Chenbao by the end of 1922 and had not visited the press since March of 1923. Chenbao, July 1, 1923.
86 “Zaijing budao zhe zhiyou wuren” [Only Five Beijing-Based Parliamentary Men Did Not Go to Vote] and “Yiyuan you shengming wei shou yundong zhe” [There Is a Parliamentary Member Who Claims That He Had Not Been Campaigned for], both in Chenbao, Oct. 6, 1923. Pu did cast his vote for Cao on October 5, yet he also made the announcement that he was not “mobilized.”
87 Pu Boying, “Duiyu yizhang lianzhi shijian di shenlun” [An Argument Concerning the Issue That the Parliamentary Chairman Has Been Staying on the Job Too Long], Chenbao, Nov. 7, 1923.
88 “Nanbei yiyuan ji cheng yiqiu zhihe” [Northern and southern parliamentary men are almost equally bad.] Chenbao, July 27, 1923.
89 Nathan, Chinese Democracy, 108–109.
90 Schwarcz, The Chinese Enlightenment, 145–194.
91 Qu Qiubai, “Guomin geming zhong zhi jieji fenhua,” 21–25.
92 Fitzgerald, “‘Wu dang’ shuo: Lun zhongguo xiao ershi shiji de lixian jichu,” 71.
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Xiaowei ZHENG
Xiaowei ZHENG is associate professor of modern Chinese history at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of The Politics of Rights and the 1911 Revolution in China, published by Stanford University Press in 2018. Her works have appeared in Late Imperial China, Twentieth-Century China, and other publications, and have been translated into German and Japanese. Xiaowei Zheng is interested in Chinese revolution, the modern political discourse of China, and Sino-Japanese intellectual exchange.