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Title: Representative Figures Advocating for the Abolition of Chinese Characters and Their Viewpoints During the Republican Era in China (1912-1949)

Abstract

The Republican Era in China marked a time of substantial social, cultural, and political transformations, with the proposal to abolish Chinese characters in favor of a phonetic alphabet being one of those changes. This article aims to analyze the representative figures who supported this reform and their viewpoints, shedding light on the linguistic atmosphere surrounding the movement towards the replacement of Chinese characters during the Republican Era.

Keywords: Republican Era, China, Chinese characters, language reform, phonetic alphabet, modernization.

1. Introduction

The proposal to abolish traditional Chinese characters as part of China’s modernization efforts was brought forth by several influential intellectuals during the Republican Era. These figures and their corresponding viewpoints shaped the discussion of language reform, advocating for the adoption of a phonetic and more accessible writing system as a means of fostering national unity, improving literacy rates, and emulating Western progress. This article will explore some of the most representative figures and their respective perspectives on language reform during the Republican Era in China.

2. Lu Xun

As a prominent writer and thinker, Lu Xun was a staunch advocate for language reform. He believed that the Chinese writing system was inherently flawed and, as such, contributed to the stagnant intellectual climate in China. By promoting the idea of a phonetic script, Lu Xun aimed to eliminate the symbolic and stylistic barriers that hindered communication and discussion, paving the way for a more open and progressive society.

3. Chen Duxiu

Chen Duxiu, a founding member of the Chinese Communist Party and a leading figure in the New Culture Movement, similarly championed the cause for language reform. He argued that the complexity and cumbersome nature of the Chinese writing system were major contributors to China’s social and economic underdevelopment. Drawing inspiration from Western alphabetic scripts, Chen Duxiu believed that adopting a simplified, phonetic writing system would propel China’s modernization efforts and facilitate nation-building.

4. Hu Shi

Hu Shi, a respected philosopher and scholar, was another influential figure who supported language reform. He emphasized the necessity of a more functional and accessible writing system, noting that the inherent limitations of Chinese characters made them ill-suited for the demands of a modernizing society. Furthermore, he advocated for learning from the Western experience in language innovation and adopting a more versatile and flexible writing system.

5. Qian Xuantong

A prominent linguist in the Republican Era, Qian Xuantong echoed the calls for language reform by advocating for the Latinization of the Chinese script. By replacing Chinese characters with a phonetic alphabet derived from the Latin script, Qian believed that China would be able to enhance its ability to absorb Western knowledge, technology, and culture, thus propelling societal progress.

6. Conclusion

The Republican Era in China saw various influential figures pushing for the abolition of Chinese characters and the adoption of a phonetic alphabet, inspired by Western models, modernization, and the vision of a more inclusive, accessible language system. Although these individuals’ collective effort did not lead to the complete dismantling of the Chinese writing system, their viewpoints and advocacy have left a significant impact on the trajectory of language reform throughout China’s history, continuing to generate discussion and influence language policy in subsequent periods.