"Old Events in the Southern City" unfolds from the innocent and adorable perspective of Yingzi, depicting the folk life and female images of the early 20th century, recording the joys and sorrows of women during this era. This era coincided with the critical juncture of old-new transition in Chinese society. Although the 1911 Revolution had overthrown the imperial system, the remnants of feudal rites still lingered, and the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures gave birth to new ideological sprouts. The book portrays female representatives such as Xiuzhen, Lan Yiniang, and Song Ma. This article focuses on female characters as the main analytical subjects, delving into issues such as the survival predicaments of women under the dual oppression of patriarchy and traditional rites in the 1920s and 1930s, the budding of subjective consciousness, and the latent resistance. It reveals the deep connection between women's fate and the changes of the times. By depicting the fragmented fates of women, this article expresses the living conditions and spiritual demands of women in the current historical stage, providing an important textual reference for understanding the modern women's liberation and offering practical insights for advocating gender equality.
Research Article
Open Access