History Reading annotation

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Document 9.2: Excerpts from “The Guidelines of New Life Movement”, by Chiang

Kai-shek, Central Daily News, May 15, 1934

Chiang Kai-shek, with the significant involvement of his wife, launched the New Life Movement in

1934. The goal was to improve citizens’ behavior and morals and to minimize the appeal of Communist

ideology by promoting the Guomindang’s own social-welfare program. The movement was spread by

Guomindang organizations throughout China by, among other means, lectures, pamphlets, and plays.

Women, in particular, were the targets of zealous enforcers of “correct” behavior and dress.

I. The Main Principles of the New Life Movement

The New Life Movement aims to revolutionize the lives of our citizens. Through the simplest

and yet the most effective methods, it will rid our citizens of customs that are not suitable for this

age and environment and move them toward lives that are suitable for this age and environment.

In other words, it is to ground our citizens’ lives with basic Chinese morals: li, yi, lian, chi as the

foundations.

We Chinese originally were a nation that valued li (propriety) and yi (righteousness), and

understood lian (modesty) and chi (a sense of shame). Li, yi, lian, chi are especially important and

urgent for the purpose of establishing and building our country today.

Our nation has a 5,000-year-old civilization with refined practices of shi, yi, zhu, xing (dining,

attire, dwelling, and conduct)…. Our nation has 400 million people with deep-rooted shi, yi, zhu,

xing traditions. The reason that the current conditions of these traditions have become chaotic,

confused, even inhuman is because the influence of li, yi, lian, chi has diminished.

Today, the New Life Movement will replace these barbaric and vulgar customs with elegant and

beautiful culture and will replace fighting, stealing, and begging behavior with long-held morals.

We certainly need to wait for li, yi, lian, chi to reestablish itself; however, under such chaotic and

confused conditions, the social order is disturbed, evil ideologies pervade the society, and the

common people are at a loss, not knowing whom to follow. To improve the situation through

politics and education has been as ineffective as trying to wrestle with sand or capture wind. “To

correct one’s garment, you should start with his collar.” To improve our lives today, we must start

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with this chaos and confusion. This is why the New Life Movement is the only way to build our

country and educate our citizens….

IV. The Content of the New Life Movement

1.The Theory of the New Life Movement

The New Life Movement promotes life based on li, yi, lian, chi. [People should] practice li, yi,

lian, chi in their daily lives and accomplish their goals and ambitions through moral behavior. Li,

yi, lian, chi should be the central principles to which people refer when they interact with others,

when they do business, and when they cultivate themselves. Whoever fails to follow these

principles will suffer defeat on individual, national, and ethical levels.

There are two kinds of people who are skeptical of the New Life Movement. One considers li, yi,

lian, chi no more than a set of polished behaviors. They argue that if our knowledge and

technology are below other nations, no matter how beautiful and benevolent our behavior may be,

our country still will not be saved. This kind of argument is a result of reversing the importance of

moral conduct with that of knowledge and technology, because knowledge and technology are

by-products of the pursuit of perfect moral conduct. Otherwise, knowledge and technology will

be used for ill purposes, harming others and not necessarily benefiting oneself. Therefore, li, yi,

lian, chi will not only save the country, but will also strengthen our country.

The second group of skeptics argue that li, yi, lian, chi are just virtues that are useless when one is

hungry and cold. This argument is a result of misunderstanding Guanzi’s saying, “First have

adequate clothing and food, and then know the difference between honor and shame; first fill

your barn with grain, and then learn etiquette and manners.” What is not understood is that li, yi,

lian, chi are the foundation of being human—for why does one need clothing and food if one is

not human? Therefore, a society based on li, yi, lian, chi makes up for the lack of clothing and

food with hard work, while a society without li, yi, lian, chi makes up the deficiency by stealing,

cheating, robbing, and begging, yet still fails. In such a society, even if people have enough

clothing and food and their grain storage is full, one cannot enjoy the prosperity because it is

achieved through stealing, cheating, robbing, and begging. An obvious proof of this is that the

most affluent cities in the world are often infested with thieves and robbers. In our country,

traitors, foreigners’ running dogs, communist bandits, and corrupt officials all do their evil deeds

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out of hunger, cold, and a failure to live by li, yi, lian, chi. In conclusion, we must live our lives

according to the principles of li, yi, lian, chi.

2. The Elaboration of li, yi, lian, chi

The interpretations of li, yi, lian, chi change from time to time. We should interpret them as

follows: li, [propriety], the intention to do things the right way; yi [righteousness], upright and

proper behavior; lian [modesty], to be innocent and guilt free; chi [sense of shame], to realize

one’s wrong doings.

Li [propriety] applied in the natural world is principle; applied in the social world, it is order;

applied in a country, it is rule and discipline. To do things according to li is to do things right.

Yi [righteousness] is being appropriate or having appropriate behavior. It cannot be considered yi

if one behaves inappropriately, or knows what is appropriate but fails to do it.

Lian [modesty] is being able to distinguish right from wrong. Following natural and social rules is

being right; straying from natural and social rules is being wrong.

Chi [sense of shame] is to know when one’s behavior is wrong or inappropriate, and feel shame

about it….

Attachment: What One Must Know in Order to Live a New Life

6. Food in New Life

While it is basic human instinct to eat and drink in order to sustain life, it is important to eat

meals at set times as opposed to eating to satisfy one’s taste buds and eating whenever one feels

like it. Eating utensils should be clean and food should be washed. One should eat local produce

and keep the profit within one’s community. One should not abuse alcohol and eat moderate

amounts. Keep quiet when drinking and chewing, and sit straight and properly. When there are

bones in your food, try not to make a mess. When dining with a group, be careful not to spread

germs by using chopsticks correctly. One should eat raw and cold food as little as possible, and

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abstain from opium and cigarettes. Make one’s own living, and see eating off of others as

shameful.

7. Clothing in New Life

While it is basic etiquette to wear clothes, one should not chase after the latest fashions or treat

plain clothing as shameful. Choose simple styles, and use domestically produced fabric. Women

in the household should make clothing for the family. Wash them frequently and mend when

needed. One should wear clothing properly, and not reveal too much skin. Keep hats off when

indoors. Air quilts and sheets in the sun often, and pack lightly when traveling. Give clothes to

the poor when you no longer need them.

8. The Home in New Life

The home is where one establishes one’s family and career. When gathering for family time,

maintain harmony and keep voices down. Get up early and wash and sweep daily. Use

domestically produced materials to build your home. Keep walls clean and furniture simple. Open

windows and shades often to vent and light the rooms. Cherish family time and work hard.

Watch out for fire and guard your doors. Remove trash instantly and keep the home dust-free.

The kitchen and bathroom should be kept especially clean. Trap rats and kill flies. Keep pipes and

passages unclogged. Maintain harmony with neighbors and keep the public interest in mind.

Help each other out during hard times. Take vaccinations to prevent diseases. Observe the flag

ceremony and be respectful during national holidays.

9. Conduct in New Life

Behave in proper and mature ways. Do not rush and push when getting on and off buses or boats.

Give seats to the elderly and women and help people who are weak or sick. Walk away from

traffic and hold your posture straight. Keep your eyes sharp and ears alert. Return found items to

the original owners and greet others when you meet them. Show sorrow at funerals and do not

gloat at others’ misfortunes. Avoid people when you sneeze and aim at the ground when you spit.

Make public urination a taboo and always follow the rules in public. Enter and exit smoothly and

quietly. Do not interrupt conversations. Rise for the national anthem. Be honest and keep your

appointments. Live a simple social life and abstain from gambling and prostitution.

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10. The Implementation of New Life

Transforming one’s life involves freeing oneself of vulgar customs and practices. Start with simple

rules and progress to more complicated ones, from easy steps to difficult ones. Serve the public

first, then yourself. Start with yourself and then require the same of others. Start in your

immediate vicinity and then go beyond. Start with small affairs and then move on to big issues.

Establish habits gradually and carry them out with persistence. Civil servants and school students

should lead and set the example. Support each other, and then support family and community.

Fathers discipline sons, while older brothers guide younger brothers. Husbands and wives support

each other and so do friends. No money or time is wasted, yet when the Movement accomplishes

its goals, old customs will have changed. We encourage our citizens to launch this effort all

together.

Source: Chiang Kai-shek, “The Guidelines of New Life Movement.” Central Daily News, May

15, 1934. Trans. Nan Ye.