Chen Xiefen facts for kids

Chen Xiefen (Chinese: 陳擷芬; pinyin: chén xié fēn; Wade-Giles: ch'en hsieh fen; pen name: Chu‘nan nūzi; 1883 – 1923) was an amazing Chinese woman. She was a journalist, a fighter for change, and a pioneer for women's rights during the Qing dynasty. She is known as one of the first Chinese women to use newspapers to speak up for women.

From 1899 to 1903, Chen Xiefen published a newspaper called Nübao (later Nüxuebao). In her paper, she strongly supported girls getting an education, equal rights for everyone, and women being able to earn their own money. Her writings, like "Duli pian" (published in 1903), are seen as some of the earliest feminist writings by a Chinese woman. She also wrote about how physical exercise was important for women's freedom. After her newspaper was banned, Chen Xiefen moved to Japan. She continued to fight for change against the Qing government until 1911.

Chen Xiefen's Life

Early Years

Chen Xiefen was born in 1883 in Hengshan, Hunan Province. She grew up in Yanghu, which is now Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. Her family was well-known and her father, Chen Fan, was a progressive thinker.

Her father moved to Shanghai in the late 1800s. There, he bought and improved a newspaper called Subao. This newspaper was very forward-thinking and spoke out against the Qing government.

In 1899, when Chen Xiefen was just sixteen, she took over Nübao (English: Women’s Journal). This was China’s first newspaper made for women. Her father helped and encouraged her. At the time, she was also a student at the McTyeire Home and School for Girls. She quickly became famous among other reformers for her articles in the newspaper.

Between 1901 and 1902, Chen Xiefen helped her father and other reformers, like Cai Yuanpei, start the Patriotic Girls' School. This school had very new and radical ideas for its time. In early 1903, Chen Xiefen even started her own girls' school in the Nübao office.

Nübao (Nüxuebao) Newspaper

Soon after Chen Xiefen started working at Nübao, the government stopped its publication. But it successfully started printing again on May 8, 1902. Only the issues from May 1902 to October 1903 have been found today.

Nübao was first given away for free with Subao. This meant both men and women read it. In October 1902, Nübao began to be sold on its own. This happened because of new reforms that made people more interested in women's education. The newspaper was sent to big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin.

In June 1903, the Qing government banned Subao because it spoke out against them. Chen Xiefen, her younger sister, and her father escaped to Tokyo, Japan. There, Chen Xiefen started publishing Nübao again, but under a new name: Nüxuebao (English: Women’s Studies Journal). In Tokyo, she started writing under the pen name Chu‘nan nūzi.

What Was in the Newspaper?

For all the years it was published, Nübao (and Nüxuebao) mainly focused on promoting education and rights for women. It started as a paper that pushed for women's rights, education, and ending foot binding. After it became independent from Subao in October 1902, it covered many more topics. Each month, it included essays, speeches, letters, women's history, translated articles, and poetry.

Chen Xiefen wrote many articles where she shared the newspaper's ideas about feminism and progress. Some of her famous articles include "An exhortation to cease footbinding," "We must have patriotic minds," "Do not overdo it with adornment," "On independence," and "Women need to discuss physical exercise."

Even with her new pen name, Chen Xiefen continued to express her strong feelings against the Qing government.

Life in Japan

In Japan, Chen Xiefen continued her studies at Tokyo's Chinese School. She also became the president of a student-run women's group called Gong Ai Hui (English: Mutual Love Society). This group was for Chinese female students in Japan who wanted to fight against the Qing government. It was the first group of its kind.

Gong Ai Hui wanted to "improve the status of China’s two hundred million women." They also wanted to help women get their natural rights back. This way, women could become good citizens who cared about their country. Chen Xiefen worked with her friends and fellow revolutionaries, Qiu Jin and Lin Zongsu, to achieve these goals.

Her connections from her journalism and activism were very helpful. Soon after arriving in Tokyo, Chen Xiefen faced a difficult situation arranged by her father. But with the support of Chinese female students in Tokyo and Qiu Jin, she successfully resisted it.

In 1905, Chen Xiefen joined a group led by politician Huang Xing. This group was preparing for an uprising against the government. She helped with these preparations alongside other revolutionaries.

Chen Xiefen continued her studies at Yokohama Public School for Christian Women. Later, she met and married a man named Yang Jun. Soon after they married, they left Japan to study in the United States. When she returned to China in 1911, Chen Xiefen joined the Association of Chinese Women. This group supported women getting the right to vote, linking it to nationalism and reform. Not much is known about Chen Xiefen’s activities after 1911.