South Society
Encyclopedia
The South Society (Chinese
: 南社, Pinyin
: Nán Shè), was the largest literature and poetry organization during the late Qing Dynasty
China and the early period of the Republic of China
.
, Jiangsu Province. The name of the society was from the phrase “操南音，不忘其旧” (speak Wu dialect, not to forget the tradition). The founding members were all from the Tongmenghui
, an influential revolutionary organization during the late-Qing era. Chen Qubing (陳去病, 1874–1933, a native from Suzhou), Gao Xu
(高旭, 1877－1925, a native from current Shanghai
Jinshan District
), and Liu Yazi (柳亞子, 1887－1958, a native from Suzhou) are three founding fathers of society.
The society had many branches in different cities in China especially in Yangtze River Delta
region, such as Shanghai
, Nanjing
, Hangzhou
, Shaoxing
. The society also expended to Guangzhou
(the capital city of Guangdong Province) and Shenyang
(the capital city of Liaoning province). It had 1180 members in 1911. The society had its own press
and a series of publication
s.
The society was dissociated in 1923 for the first time. Its activities were remained until 1940s.
s, especially those anti-Qing Dynasty
and then anti-Yuan Shikai
movements.
The society also maintained close ties with organizations in Japan
and Korea
.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 南社, Pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Nán Shè), was the largest literature and poetry organization during the late Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
China and the early period of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
History
The society was founded on November 13, 1909 in SuzhouSuzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
, Jiangsu Province. The name of the society was from the phrase “操南音，不忘其旧” (speak Wu dialect, not to forget the tradition). The founding members were all from the Tongmenghui
Tongmenghui
The Tongmenghui, also known as the Chinese United League, United League, Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, Chinese Alliance and United Allegiance Society, was a secret society and underground resistance movement formed when merging many Chinese revolutionary groups together by Sun Yat-sen, Song...
, an influential revolutionary organization during the late-Qing era. Chen Qubing (陳去病, 1874–1933, a native from Suzhou), Gao Xu
Gao Xu
Gao Xu , was a Chinese poet, writer, revolutionary, political activist. Gao is one of the three founders of the South Society which was the largest organization of literature and poetry during the late Qing Dynasty China and the early period of the Republic of China...
(高旭, 1877－1925, a native from current Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
Jinshan District
Jinshan District
Jinshan District of Shanghai is neighbouring Zhejiang and near Hangzhou Bay. It has a land area of 586.14 km² and a population 536,900 as of 2001....
), and Liu Yazi (柳亞子, 1887－1958, a native from Suzhou) are three founding fathers of society.
The society had many branches in different cities in China especially in Yangtze River Delta
Yangtze River Delta
The Yangtze River Delta, Yangtze Delta or YRD, also called Yangzi, or Chang Jiang Delta, Rive Chang Delta Tai Lake Region or the Golden Triangle of the Yangtze, generally comprises the triangular-shaped territory of Wu-speaking Shanghai, southern Jiangsu province and northern Zhejiang province of...
region, such as Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, Shaoxing
Shaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
. The society also expended to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
(the capital city of Guangdong Province) and Shenyang
Shenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
(the capital city of Liaoning province). It had 1180 members in 1911. The society had its own press
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
and a series of publication
Publication
To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary among countries, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or electronic publishing forms such as websites, e-books, Compact Discs and MP3s...
s.
The society was dissociated in 1923 for the first time. Its activities were remained until 1940s.
Political activities
The society was closely involved in many political movementPolitical movement
A political movement is a social movement in the area of politics. A political movement may be organized around a single issue or set of issues, or around a set of shared concerns of a social group...
s, especially those anti-Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
and then anti-Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
movements.
The society also maintained close ties with organizations in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.