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Cultural and Religious Studies, December 2021, Vol. 9, No. 12, 559-565

doi: 10.17265/2328-2177/2021.12.002

 

On Characters in Cities in the Late Qing Dynasty:

Taking Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial (1884-1898) as the

Core Research Object

ZHAO Hong-fei, ZHANG Pei

Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing, China



Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial (1884-1898) is the earliest and most influential news pictorial in modern China, creating a

new form with pictures and text. Taking Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial as the research object, this paper mainly studies

how the pictorial uses words to shape the image of characters in cities, especially the image of women, and

analyzes the shaping of urban characters’ identity, personality, social status, and behavior in different news reports,

so as to understand the image of urban characters and civil activities in the late Qing Dynasty. At the same time, the

accurate use of words and the attitudes and values contained in pictorial have important reference significance for

modern media.

Keywords: Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial, characters in cities, late Qing Dynasty, the category of collected literary

Preface

In 1884, Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial, founded by British businessman Ernest Major in Shanghai in the late

Qing Dynasty, is the first pictorial of news and current affairs in modern Chinese history. The creation form of

pictorial, which is mainly based on pictures and supplemented by articles, has brought about a historic

change in the status of images in news reports. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the closed door foreign policy

was broken, and Shanghai, as a concession, poured into a large number of Western things and ideas, so the

image of urban characters was also changing. In recent years, with the strengthening of social research

and mass culture in the late Qing Dynasty, the research on Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial has been deepened,

involving many disciplines, including literature, fine arts, design, journalism and communication, architecture,

economics, and so on. At present, there are few literatures about the image of “urban characters” in Dian-shi

Zhai Pictorial.

Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial is a pictorial of news and current affairs, so its content is objective. This paper

studies the characters in pictorial and analyzes the shaping of urban characters’ identity, character, social status,

This paper is the periodic research result of the research project: Planning of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Guizhou

Province in 2018-Individually Listed Studies of Chinese Ancient Civilization (贵州省 2018 年度哲学社会科学规划国学单列课

题阶段性成果), “Research on the Compilation and Publication of the Anthology of Special Collections of the Works of Scholars

of Song Dynasty in Song and Yuan Dynasties” (宋元时期宋人别集的编纂与刊刻研究) (Serial Number 18GZGX25).

Zhao Hong-fei, undergraduate, School of Journalism and Publication, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing,

China.

ZHANG Pei, Ph.D., post-doctoral of law, associate professor, master instructor, School of Journalism and Publication, Beijing

Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing, China.

DAVID PUBLISHING

D

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and their behavior in different news reports, which is of great significance to understand the social environment

and urban characters in the late Qing Dynasty.

Female Images

The first group is maidservants and maids. In the late Qing Dynasty, the small-scale peasant economy

gradually disintegrated, with the separation of farming and weaving and textile, making a large number of

women move from the countryside to the city. They are bound by their own level of knowledge, talents, and

traditional feudal ethics. The occupations that are relatively low requirements and easy to choose are female

maids and maids. In a report On the Abuse of a Female Maid (虐婢报女) (WU,SUN,CHEN,2018,p.4, Wen

collection ), “whip marks, stick marks, shear marks, cone marks, branding marks, claw marks and tooth marks

are all over the body” shows the picture of the maid being abused and bruised by her master. In addition,

because private maids can be bought and sold freely, they will also be used as a bet. For example, in the chess

competition for beautiful maids, it is said that “the servant has a pet, and the maidservant Lan Ying has unique

talent and color. He is willing to take this as a lonely bet, and the winner will return”. “So he ordered his family

to call Jiang Nanchun, and the maidservant was as rich as God, and the fruit was no less than Lan Ying. The

first childe carried beautiful tourists”. This article is about a salt merchant in Yangzhou who played chess with

people, betting on the beautiful maidservant around him, the story of giving your maidservant to others after

losing chess. The maidservant became a gamble in playing chess, which shows the tragic experience and low

status of the maidservant.

Figure 1. the Chess Competition for Beautiful Maids (Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial—Ge collection).

The second group is prostitute. Prostitutes have a long history in ancient occupations. It is said that they

originated in the spring and autumn period. With the continuous changes of the policies of the dynasty,

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prostitutes gradually changed from the earliest geisha to sex prostitutes. In Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial, there are

many reports on the role of prostitutes.

Figure 2. the Prostitute Soliciting (Dian-shi Zhai pictorial—Ren collection).

For example, in the Prostitute Soliciting (流妓拉客) (ZHANG,GAO,2018,p.85,Ren collection), the

number of brothels in the late Qing Dynasty was reflected by the “residents and walkers, such as the number of

sand in the Ganges, and so were the rows of brothels”. At the same time, Western prostitutes began to prevail.

In The Poem of a Western Prostitute (西妓弹词) ZHANG,GAO,2018,p.102,Ren collection ), it is written that

“another Western prostitute will be invited. It will be a few days later”. The song “Eighteen Touch” in the

Chinese pornographic words: It is not very acceptable to hear it. In the Song and Dance of a Japanese

Prostitute (日妓歌舞)(ZHANG,GAO,2018,p.2,Ren collection), it also describes the forms and actions of a

Japanese prostitute. “The prostitute is dancing together, dressed in fresh clothes, with her hair in a bun like a

cloud, and her face covered with white powder” (ZHANG,GAO,2018,p.2,Ren collection), which depicts the

beautiful clothes of a Japanese prostitute, headwear details.

One holds a folding fan and the other holds a wooden stick. The tip of the stick is sticky like a dust tail. It is

accompanied by an orchestral string to preach all the way, playing songs and dances, which is very audio-visual

entertainment. (ZHANG,GAO,2018,p.2,Ren collection)

which shows the performance process of Japanese prostitutes’ songs and dances.

The third group is female workers. With the development of commodity economy, the disintegration of

small-scale peasant economy, and the separation of textiles, many foreign businessmen come to China to make

factories, and a large number of poor women come to textile factories to apply for jobs to supplement their

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families. However, in Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial, the description of industrial women workers is often biased and

negative. For example, in the story Being Punished for Being Frivolous (轻薄受惩)(ZHANG,2018,p.13,Gui

collection), the author laments that women are molested because of their own “frivolity”; in the view of some

traditional people, women’s going out to work is the root cause of obscenity.

The fourth group is chivalrous women. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was very common for women to

practice martial arts and men to compete. In A Female Swordswoman Vented Her Anger (女侠泄愤)

(WU,SUN,CHEN,2018,p.31, Wen collection), it describes the picture of men and women fighting each other in

Beijing.

My girlfriend angrily said, “although you are strong, you are straight and free, please fight with a weapon to decide

whether you are male or female”… At the end of the period, each holding a sharp blade and fighting in the garden, the

women’s army will show great power. (WU,SUN,CHEN,2018,p.31, Wen collection)

In the article of Siamese Female Soldiers (暹罗女兵) (ZHANG,2018,p.52,Chou collection ), “fragrant and

emerald sleeves wave a willow leaf knife, and the wind rolls a red skirt to control the ride of peach blossoms…

You call yourself the women’s army, which is majestic and does not win the seat alone”. It shows the woman’s

powerful image. At the same time, the author praised women’s martial arts practice, and did not sigh that

women’s martial arts practice was obviously contrary to etiquette.

The fifth group is female teachers and students. Women’s private school education in the late Qing

Dynasty was not uncommon. After the Opium War, Western missionaries opened many missionary schools,

which provided many girls with learning opportunities. In the report Establishment of Women’s Schools (女塾

宏开) (XING,ZHANG,2018, p.91, Ge collection ), it was written that “another girls’ college was set up in the

Western children’s College”. “Every girl in the embroidered Pavilion is beautiful, or she is old and broken, or

she looks like Hua Yan. She goes to the school and has a good tour, and each takes a career”

(XING,ZHANG,2018, p.91, Ge collection ), which reflects the importance she attaches to women’s studies. The

story Women’s University (女立大学)(HOU,2018,p.105,Xin collection) also tells about the equal rights of men

and women in Japan and attaches importance to women’s education. Quoting a sentence from Su Bao (It was

originally a business tabloid seeking profits, and later became a newspaper creating agitation in the course of its

following currents),

there are no women’s universities in Japan. Now there are sets and Tibetans. They say that the Japanese atmosphere is

open, men and women have the same power, and there is no women’s university. How can we cultivate them? The idea of

son preference is indeed contrary to the equality of men and women. (HOU,2018,p.105,Xin collection)

The establishment of the missionary women’s school provides a model for Chinese people to run women’s

schools themselves.

Finally, it is particularly noteworthy that women’s activities and scope of activities in the late Qing

Dynasty were gradually increasing. For example, women go out to burn incense and worship Buddha. In the

report Trapped When Burning Incense (烧香被围) (WU,SUN,CHEN,2018,p.85, Wen collection ), it is written

that “there is a young woman with a surname of about 30 years old, with heavy makeup, taking Lanyu to the

Taisui hall in Wushan…” It can be seen that women begin to come out of their home and move towards society,

and the spiritual society is constantly satisfied. In addition, carriage, charter, and other new tools provide

convenience for women to travel. Western women also have some recreational activities, such as Cuju (ancient

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game of kicking a ball). The report named Western Women Playing Cuju (西女蹴鞠)( WU,DIAO,2019,p.2,Wu

collection) is described in detail in Western women’s Cuju.

There are more than ten wine bottles in the field, which are intricate and randomly arranged. A ball is as big as a fight

and occupies the center. When a woman comes out, she climbs with tweezers, and the ball rotates with her feet. The gap

around the bottle changes from east to west, from north to south, and twists and turns like an ant penetrating a hole. It is

already there. Another plate is like a flower wall, about two feet high, standing upright… (WU,DIAO,2019,p.2,Wu

collection )

The above two articles show that women’s activities are increasing and their fields are expanding.

Male Images

In Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial, he criticized and satirized officials and idle people. For example, in The Absurd

Sentry (哨官荒谬)(ZHANG,2019,p.57,Zhu collection), the sentry neglects his duty and does not seek his post

in his position.

Gun boats are densely distributed in inland rivers, and the governor is a sentry officer, so he is also a plan to arrest

thieves for the people. However, recently, the harm of gun boats is unspeakable. They are connected with thieves, or they

are no different from thieves, and turn to harm the people instead of thinking of the people… however, it is said that

soldiers are brave enough to steal, and those who sleep with cats and mice are crying. What nonsense!

(ZHANG,2019,p.57,Zhu collection )

It is also written in The Crazy Officials Are Ridiculous (疯官可笑)(ZHANG,2019,p.66,Zhu collection).

Now, I saw those in power today. Regardless of their humble origins, they despise the Tao. They sit high and sit in the

emperor’s seat. They judge right and wrong upside down and whip horizontally, which is not particularly amusing at home

and abroad. However, those who have their own knowledge view it, which is no different from Crazy officials…

(ZHANG,2019,p.66,Zhu collection)

The two stories both express the author’s satire on confused officials.

An interesting news Romantic Nature (风流跌宕) (ZHANG, 2018, p.53, Gui collection) describes an idle

man who “wants to go to the gentle countryside by himself, neither like Li Ye waiting on the screen, nor like Yang

Ziyun throwing himself into the pavilion”. However, it is not difficult to find that the men, whether officials,

monks, or others, like looking for flowers and asking willows. For example, Officials and Monks Are Suffering

(官酸僧苦) (ZHANG,GAO,2018,p.24,Ren collection ) goes like this, “Having the habit of becoming an apprentice

as a Buddhist disciple” and “a member of a certain department also looked for flowers and asked Liu Ke”.

Children Images

It can be seen from Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial that children in the late sunny period are versatile. For

example, The Four Girls Compete (四女比武) (ZHANG,2018,p.77,Chou collection) tells a picture of four girls

competing in martial arts in their hairpin years. There are many action descriptions, environmental descriptions,

and side descriptions, such as “a woman takes hundreds of money, pinches its two ends with her two fingers

and grabs it, but she can’t take it off, but laughs and throws it to the ground” (ZHANG,2018,p.77,Chou

collection ).

There are dozens of rows of piles, five feet above the ground, about three feet away from each other, with sharp nails

between them, and the pile wood is slightly next to half a foot. Jade sees this, and jumps up. (ZHANG,2018,p.77,Chou

collection )

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“four pairs of embroidered soles are made, which are magnetic, tied to each foot, climbing together, and

making every move with determination. Each makes his best use of his strengths”, “because of courage, no one

dares to hire”, all reflect the high martial arts of the four women. Foreign children are also extremely talented.

Figure 3. A Clever Little Girl in England (Dian-shi Zhai pictorial—Ge collection).

A nine year old girl named McGrady, who is extremely intelligent and proficient in phonology, is

described in the story A Clever Little Girl in England (英京慧女)(XING,ZHANG,2018, p.74, Ge collection).

The girl plays the piano in the prime minister’s house. Her skills are particularly superb, and the sound of the piano is

particularly harmonious and beautiful. Suddenly, a lot of people came around to listen to her playing the piano, and the

room became very crowded. (XING,ZHANG,2018, p.74, Ge collection )

The report continued the traditional expression of ancient Chinese prose and set off the girl’s exquisite piano

playing skills with the surrounding people competing to listen to music.

In terms of education, girls have access to education. As Shanghai is a trading port, many foreign

businessmen come to China with their children and are taught by priests. For example, it is written in the report

Establishment of Women’s Schools (女塾宏开)(XING,ZHANG,2018, p.91, Ge collection) that “In schools

where children in the West are educated, additional colleges are set up to teach girls”, and so on. Private

schools were privately run schools in ancient China, as opposed to official schools. Private learning originated

in the Spring and Autumn Period. Although Confucius was not the initiator of private learning, Confucius’

private learning has the largest scale and the deepest influence, which lasted more than 2,000 years and

occupies an important position in the history of Chinese education. This form of education had developed very

fully in the Qing Dynasty. During this period, private schools for female students were not uncommon, and

there were even formal women’s schools that charged tuition fees.

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Figure 4. Establishment of Women’s Schools (Dian-shi Zhai pictorial—Ge collection).

Conclusion

This pictorial shows all kinds of urban figures to people at that time and later. It is a pictorial of news and

current affairs, mainly based on pictures and supplemented by words, with strong objectivity. Through Dian-shi

Zhai Pictorial, we can study the characteristics and changes of urban characters in the late Qing Dynasty. At

the same time, it also reflects the continuous changes of society and citizens’ living conditions, which provides

an intuitive perspective for us to understand the late Qing society.

References

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The master of Dian-shi Zhai Pictorial. (1983). Pictorial advertisement. Shanghai: Shanghai Classics Publishing House.

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