Qiu Jin: The Story of One of China's Best Hidden Treausures

Hello RebelRoses,

We hope you’re having a great start to the week. Today we wanted to feature someone who has long been hidden from the pages of history. Someone who spoke out against social injustices and atrocities against women in a time when to do so would mean being ostracized by society or worse. Her name was Qiu Jin.

She was a late 19th century poet, writer, activist, revolutionary, and feminist. Born in 1875 to a relatively well-off family. She was always writing throughout her childhood, and adolescence. Her poems at the time were joyful, and lively, many about female warriors and soldiers of China.

At the age of 19 she agreed to be married off to the son of a wealthy merchant. Her life was miserable with him. She still wrote but instead of joy her writing was filled with pain, self-doubt, and overall despair. It was also during this time she began reading and learning more about current events and the fate of China. As her learning progressed she longed to serve her country, and help change the fate of China and the women of the country.

She had two children during the course of the marriage. She also joined the Triads and Tongmenghui. These were secret organizations which advocated the overthrow of the ruling Qing Dynasty in favour of the restoration of the more modern Han Chinese Government. Alas due to her marriage and its conventions and restrains she knew she could never accomplish her goals, and bring her dreams to life.

In 1903 she and her husband shifted base to Beijing for his work. It was here she began a deeper involvement in feminist writings, teachings, women’s education, and the movement as a whole. In the same year she finally left her husband. Her marriage was a major reason for her becoming a feminist and revolutionary. After leaving her family she went to Japan for further education. It was in this time she became vocal about her support of women’s rights. She spoke out against the ritual of foot binding, improving access to education for women, and much more.

Also while in Japan she edited (on her own) a journal called Vernacular Journal. In it they published revolutionary propaganda. In the same journal Qiu Jin also published a manifesto, a plea to the 200 million women of China, her sisters, to join together against foot binding and oppressive marriages.

In 1905 she returned to China, and one year later she founded her own Chinese Women’s Journal. It featured national and feminist writings. In 1907 she was appointed the head of the Datong School. On the outside it seemed as a place to teach sports, but it was really a cover for what they really did: The trainings of revolutionary soldiers. She trained alongside her students. She became known for helping the poor and weak.

Her cousin was also involved in the uprising, but was found out and tortured for information. He was executed one day later. It was then Qiu Jin received information that they were coming for her next, and yet she stayed. She wrote to her sword sister Xu Yunhua saying she was determined to die for the cause.

She was then arrested, tortured for two days, and yet did not divulge any information. She was publicly beheaded in her home village at the age of 31. Many throughout the nation by such a brutal execution of a woman, and it only served to further their growing anger at the dynasty. She soon after became a national hero, and became the work of many poems, stories, and other works of fiction.

Many of her works were published after her death. She was buried in the West Lake in Hangzhou where a statue of her marks her grave.

Qiu Jin was an amazing young woman who did not stand for the atrocities against women and the people of her country. She has been hidden for far too long and it our honour to help bring her story to light. The first in our feminist icons feature we could not be more excited to tell her story of courage, bravery, rebellion, activism, and feminism.

We’ll see you all next week with another incredible feature. If you know of someone we should feature please let us know. Until then connect with us on Facebook/Instagram and stay tuned for our first event! We love you guys.

Signed,

The RebelRoses

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