Conservative social attitudes in modern China : a study exemplified by cases in Shanghai, Tientsin, and Hong Kong, 1917-1932

Abstract

The modernization of China is a perpetual problem confronting Chinese politicians and intellectuals alike. This problem involves the question of defining and implementing changes in Chinese politics, economy and society. Because of the diversity and disparity of these changes, modernization is not easily achieved. This further raises the important issue of the acceptance of changes in Chinese society. The 1920s was a period which held much promise for modernization. However, Chinese political and economic developments were limited in success. By focusing attention on Shanghai, Tientsin and Hong Kong -- the three Chinese cities at the forefront of modernization -- this thesis shows that the conservative social attitudes at that time increased the difficulty of social modernization. For that matter, political and social institutions went against some programmes of modernization by supporting these attitudes. Urban Chinese society was still heavily impregnated with the idea of running itself according to family and moral values. The stress on these values was reflected by the attitudes towards sex and law, which in turn affected the organization, stability and control of private and public lives. An analysis of some relevant cases, which are gathered from several contemporary newspapers, indicates that social attitudes towards marriage, divorce, the use of law, and crime were expressive of these two dominant values. Family and moral values also subjected Chinese individuals to the larger concern with social harmony and moral order. As a result, much inequity and irrationality were perpetuated against some individuals. This contradicted one of the basic tenets of social modernization -- a progressive outlook of the status of an individual vis-a-vis society. As a conclusion, this thesis argues that unless there is a fundamental change in Chinese social attitudes, modernization will be confined to the more tangible aspects of political and economic changes. Moreover, the basic response of Chinese society to any form of change is conditioned by an adherence to traditions. The realization of this attitudinal factor will enhance the chance for modernization to succeed by lessening the iconoclastic elements.