Shi Liang, who served as a member of the Standing Committee of the All-China Federation for the Salvation of the Nation from All Walks of Life, a member of the First and Second National Committee for Participation in the Political Affairs, a member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League, the first Minister of Justice of New China, the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and the Chairman of the China Democratic League, was one of the ten talented women of the Republic of China, one of the famous "Seven Gentlemen" of the Anti-Japanese Struggle to Save the Country, and one of the pioneers and leaders of the Chinese women's movement, and died of illness on September 6, 1985 at the age of 85.
Shi Liang, born on March 27, 1900, a native of Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, was admitted to the Changzhou Female Teacher in 1915, participated in the "May Fourth" Movement in 1919 as the vice president of the Changzhou Student Union, and was admitted to Shanghai Hosei University in 1923, becoming a lawyer after graduation.
In 1931, Shi Liang served as an executive member of the Shanghai Lawyers Association, joined the Communist Party's peripheral organization in Shanghai, the "Revolutionary Humanitarian Mutual Aid Association", and handled many cases of rescuing Deng Zhongxia and other underground CCP members.
In 1936, she became a member of the Standing Committee of the All-China Federation for the Salvation of the Nation. At the end of the year, she, together with Shen Junru, Zhang Naiqi, Zou Taofen, Li Gongpu, Sha Qianli, Wang Zaoshi, and others, participated in leading the anti-Japanese salvation movement and was arrested and imprisoned by the Kuomintang government, becoming one of the famous "Seven Gentlemen" of the anti-Japanese national salvation in history, and she was the only woman. Later, with the solidarity of the people of the whole country and the urging of the CPC Central Committee, he was rescued from prison by Song Qingling, He Xiangning, Hu Yunzhi and others.
At the beginning of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Shi Liang served as a member of the National Women's Steering Committee and director of the Liaison Committee, a member of the First and Second National Committees for Participation in political affairs, a member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League, and the director of the Organization Department of the Chongqing Municipal Branch.
In the Republic of China, Shi Liang was a famous lawyer in Greater Shanghai, an active participant in the national salvation movement, and was praised by Mao Zedong as a "heroic master among women".
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Shi Liang dedicated to the state more than ten houses in Shanghai that he had obtained in 1948 by undertaking a large inheritance case, and used a three-story building for the office of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the China Democratic League.
Shi Liang served as the first minister of justice, a member of the Political and Legal Committee of the State Council, vice chairman of the All-China Women's Federation, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Fifth and Sixth National People's Congresses, and vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. She was the Vice Chairman of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Central Committees of the NLD and the Chairman of the 4th and 5th Central Committees.
The Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China, promulgated on May 1, 1950, was the first law in New China. After Shi Liang became the minister of justice, the first major thing he did was to promote the introduction of the marriage law. The Marriage Act has influenced generations of Chinese.
In January 1976, at a memorial service of the democratic parties to mourn the death of Zhou Enlai, Shi Liang's husband, Lu Diandong, legal adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, died that night because of excessive grief and sudden cerebral hemorrhage.
Nine years later, on September 6, 1985, Shi Liang died of illness, and his ashes were placed in the Columbarium of Babaoshan Cemetery in Beijing. She had no children and left no inheritance to her relatives.
Shi Liang's former residence is located in Heping South Road, Changzhou City, which is a brick and wood structure in the late Qing Dynasty, and was announced as a cultural relics protection unit of Changzhou City in December 1987. In July 2018, the restored former residence of Shi Liang was opened into an exhibition hall of Shi Liang's life deeds, which is now the traditional education base of the Chinese Democratic League.