Liberalism in China
Liberalism (Chinese: 自由主義; pinyin: zìyóu zhǔyì) in China is a development from classical liberalism as it was introduced into China during the Republican period[1] and, later, reintroduced after the end of the Cultural Revolution.[2]
Chinese liberalism
中國自由主義
中国自由主义
zhōngguó zìyóu zhǔyì
zhōngguó zìyóu zhǔyì
ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄧˋ
中國自由派
中国自由派
Chinese liberal groups
zhōngguó zìyóupài
zhōngguó zìyóupài
ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄞˋ
History[edit]
Republic of China[edit]
During the Republican period, translations of John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, Immanuel Kant, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and many other works were produced in China. These writers had a cumulative effect, as did the ascendancy of liberalism in world powers like Britain, France and the United States. The establishment of the Republic of China in 1912 signaled the acceptance (at least in principle) of these models and the liberal values with which they identified, such as constitutionalism and the separation of powers.
The writings of Liang Qichao (1873–1929) played a major role, despite his leanings to a conservative outlook in latter years. The New Culture Movement (1915) and its immediate successor the May Fourth Movement (1919) initially were strongly liberal in character, with key figures like Hu Shih (1891–1962) as the preeminent exponent of liberal values.[3] Other important liberals were Zhang Dongsun (1886–1973) and Zhang Junmai (1887–1969).
Liberalism was to suffer in the wake of the immense challenges China faced from Japanese militarism and the impact of the Chinese Communist Revolution. By the 1930s, many of the younger generation felt that only radical, authoritarian doctrines could save the country. Liberalism increasingly seemed to serve as a forlorn "third force", able only to admonish authoritarian regimes of the Left (Maoism) and Right (Chiangism).
Writers such as Chu Anping, however, made a strong case against the Kuomintang; educators and scholars such as Fei Xiaotong and Tao Xingzhi made a case for revolution as a cause worthy of liberal support; while many more liberals left China, including the rural reformer James Yen, the university president Chiang Monlin, and many less well known figures.
Later under its newly adopted 1947 Constitution of the Republic of China, the 1947 National Assembly election, 1948 Legislative Yuan election, and 1948 presidential election took place in China.