During the Republic of China period, celebrities spent so much money, why were they so extravagant? Start with the "Southern Tang Dynasty and Northern Land"
The Republic of China is a very special historical stage, which has the courage and determination to eliminate the old and innovate and recreate its glory, but also has its lingering drawbacks and bad habits.
Under the influence of this special social and cultural background, all kinds of people living in the society of the Republic of China have been engraved with unique historical characteristics.
Because the existence of the Republic of China was relatively short, and the social environment at that time was relatively chaotic, many people were not particularly impressed by it. If you have to use a few keywords to define the Republic of China, the author believes that it is not the long shirt and qipao, the combination of East and West, and the integration of the old and the new.
Although the Xinhai Revolution completely overthrew the Manchu feudal rule, the ideological concepts of the Qing remnants were not completely changed. In this situation, there will be a phenomenon of alternating old and new ideas, and the phenomenon of mutual exclusion and integration of old customs and new cultures. Elegant culture and vulgar customs, Western foreignism and ancient traditions have formed a very obvious dispute between yangchun white snow and the lower riba people.
At the same time, due to the special national conditions at that time, a large number of Western ideologies were imported. This has caused many People of the Republic of China to have the idea of admiration and flattery, and although they are dressed in yellow human appearances, their hearts have long been Westernized.
Noble princes and celebrities with high social status and prominent families began to emerge, and brewed a lifestyle and thinking consciousness in the form of a combination of Chinese and Western styles.
The lifestyle of the "celebrities" of the upper class of the Republic of China
Most people's understanding and cognition of the history of the Republic of China basically stems from books written by Republic of China or modern writers, or from film and television dramas set against the background of people or events in the Republic of China. If we look at these ways from an objective point of view, in fact, they cannot truly reflect the unique historical panorama of the Republic of China.
The history of the Republic of China is relatively close to modern society, so in a big way, the way of life of the people of the Republic of China should be similar to that of modern society. However, due to the very different social environment and ideology, if you explore from the details, you can find that the "celebrities" who lived in the upper class society during the Republic of China period have long been immersed in the dust of history with the Republic of China.
1. The provenance of celebrities and their meanings
Perhaps many people will think that the word "mingyuan" comes from the Republic of China, but after reviewing the historical materials, the author found that as early as the pre-Qin period, the "Book of Poetry and National Style" had used the word "Yuan" to praise the beautiful people who fell into the country. From this point of view, "celebrity" should refer to a famous beauty, or a talented and beautiful woman.
"Guofeng, Guofeng, Gentleman and Elder" said: "The exhibition of the Guofeng, the Wind of the Country, the Gentleman and the Elder" says: "The exhibition of the Emperor is also the same." Montpius crepe, is crepe also. The son of the Qing Yang, yang and the face also. Zhan Ru ren Xi, Bang Zhi Yuan also! ”。
The general idea is that the costumes are gorgeous, the eyes are bright, the eyebrows are long, and the women are described as beautiful and feminine, and they have the beauty of the country.
The interpretation of "Yuan" in the "Shuowen" is "beautiful women, people are also aided", which is literally understood to mean that everyone favors and loves beautiful women, but in essence, it is a praise for the beauty of ancient women. "Yuan" can be interpreted separately as beauty and jade, which means "Bang Zhi Yuan" and "people help also".
The first Chinese dictionary, Erya, records that "beautiful women are yuan", and this dictionary has a more straightforward interpretation of "yuan". It shows that in ancient society, people were also very fond of beautiful women and other beautiful foods.
Although the term "famous yuan" did not appear at that time, "yuan" generally referred to the young wives of princes and nobles, or the daughters of them who were regarded as pearls in their palms.
Although the status of women in ancient society was relatively low, the poetry of the literati did not fail to appreciate their beauty or boast of their wisdom. Li Yannian, a court musician of the Western Han Dynasty, once composed the "Song of Beauty", in which there were clouds "there are beautiful people in the north, unique and independent." One looks at the city of the people, and then looks at the country of the people." Although there are only a few words, it depicts the image of a beautiful northern woman who has fallen in love with the country.
2. "Celebrities" in the Republic of China Period
(1) The famous ladies of the Republic of China are the famous women's shows
The life of the upper class during the Republic of China period was basically in line with the West, and women who broke away from feudal constraints could not only show their faces, but also enter and exit various fashionable social occasions at will. "Celebrity"
After thousands of years of inheritance and evolution, in the Republic of China period, "famous women" were not only given a new meaning, but also became an unattainable "unique treasure".
If you analyze it from the actual sense of "famous woman", it can be found that "famous woman" refers to a woman with a name, talent, and posture. However, in the 1930s of the last century, it specifically referred to the famous bridesmaids who were born into famous people, had both talents and appearances, and were famous and rich. From this point, it can be seen that the "famous women" in the Republic of China period are actually women in high society.
The composition of high society in the Republic of China period was actually very complicated, mainly composed of bureaucrats who held military and political power, as well as chaebol groups that were rich and enemy of the country. Women or wives from high-society families were actually the main members of the "celebrity" group in society at that time.
Most of them have the outward beauty of grace and the inner beauty of being full of economy and exporting chapters. Even many people have had the experience of staying in the West, not only can they speak fluent English and French, but also their lifestyle and attitude to life are basically engraved with lingering Western branding.
The author believes that the "celebrity" group in the Republic of China period was not only a beautiful scenery in the society at that time, but also a faithful practitioner of the combination of traditional ideas and Western culture. On the one hand, it is because they were born in a family with a particularly strong characteristic of the times, and on the other hand, it is closely related to their own experience of staying abroad.
(2) The famous ladies of the Republic of China are the inevitable products of society
After the collision of Chinese education and Western thought, the result is often the beauty of the common appreciation of the common customs. It is no exaggeration to say that the "famous women" of the Republic of China are not only the products of the times, but also the inevitable products of China's exchanges with the world at that time. Although they have a face with a very oriental classical beauty, their dress and their thoughts and souls have long been Westernized.
The author believes that the Republic of China is a special stage in the process of China's historical development, whether it is politics, economy, culture, or social consciousness, lifestyle, thinking mode, in fact, it has always been in the embarrassing situation of the integration of tradition and Westernization.
The group of "celebrities" produced under this social background is actually full of contradictions between elegance and nobility and vulgar debauchery.
In the 1930s, the group of "celebrities" gradually grew, and began to be popular in the high society of the time. If we analyze the characteristics of the "celebrities" in the Republic of China, it can be found that the "celebrities" in the society at that time actually refer to those beautiful women who were born famous, talented and socialized frequently.
The author believes that even in modern society, "celebrities" have never left everyone's sight. It is just that the meaning of modern "celebrity" is more extensive, in addition to intersecting or overlapping with the famous women of the Republic of China, in fact, it also refers to the fashion industry, celebrity circles and rich people with status and taste in society.
However, compared with the "celebrities" of the Republic of China period, the "celebrities" in modern society will always give people a sense of flashiness and impetuosity. Or that the modern "celebrity" always makes people feel that there is a lack of a connotation, and this so-called connotation is talent and cultivation. During the Republic of China period, when most of the "celebrities" had no one to match their identity and status, their beauty and wisdom could also match it.
During the Republic of China period, although the "famous women" were both talented and beautiful, they also spent money like dirt
Born in the late Qing Dynasty and raised in the Republic of China, the literary master Ba Jin once wrote in his novel "Love Trilogy" and the second part "Rain": "In the big casino ... Gentlemen and ladies are indulging in revelry." From this sentence, it can be seen that the gentlemen and celebrities of the Republic of China period relied on the social status of their famous origins and lived a luxurious life of spending money.
During the Republic of China period, not only talents but also countless famous women were born, and the "Three Sisters of the Song Family", "Southern Tang and Northern Land", Wang Yuling, Jiang Ying, Tang Ying and others were among the most famous women in the Republic of China period.
According to the "Chunshen Old News", "Shanghai celebrities are known for their communication, starting from Tang Ying and Lu Xiaoman, followed by Zhou Shuping and Chen Haoming."
Of course, many female writers in the Republic of China period are actually called celebrities. For example, Zhang Ailing, Lin Huiyin and others, who are well known to everyone, are highly respected celebrities in the literary circles of the Republic of China. They were either from prominent backgrounds or born in Shuxiangmendi, and they all had an enviable social status and fame in the society at that time.
These famous ladies of the Republic of China with prominent families and talents and complete appearance not only want to be windy and rainy in life, but also in the greater Shanghai at that time, they were also more famous "social celebrities", I believe that many people will have the image of "social flowers" in their minds when they hear the word "communication". In fact, there is an essential difference between the "socialite" and the "social flower" in the Republic of China period.
"Social flowers" refer to women who are active and famous in social situations, and most of these women have to socialize in order to make a living. Although there is also a type of woman with high artistic attainment in the "social flower" group, because they are not from a famous family and cannot become famous, they cannot be compared with "famous women".
Famous Ladies of the Republic of China Period "Southern Tang Dynasty And Northern Land"
1. There is a beautiful Lu Xiaoman in the north
I believe that when Lu Xiaoman is mentioned, many people will take it for granted that she is just an ordinary painter in the Republic of China period. The main reason why her name will be passed down to future generations is that her successor husband is Xu Zhimo, the most famous literary artist in modern times. In fact, this woman who combines power and temperament is herself a landscape in the Republic of China period.
Born in 1903, Lu Xiaoman was born into a family of eunuchs, and his father, Lu Ding, studied at Waseda University in Japan, and after returning to China, he became the director of taxation of the Republic of China through many transfers. Because Lu Ding's medical achievements were particularly high, he was specially designed for the famous and prestigious people at that time. This made him have a fairly high political status and social prestige in Peiping at that time.
It is no exaggeration to say that during the Republic of China period, Lu Xiaoman's family was definitely a family of super-rich people in high society. She herself grew up in a French school and is fluent in English and French.
Lu Xiaoman's life can be described as poor and extravagant, and later after marrying Xu Zhimo, due to economic conditions, Xu Zhimo will travel around to collect gold, and eventually die in another air crash.
2. Shanghai celebrity Tang Ying
Compared with Lu Xiaoman, Tang Ying's luxury is even greater, it is said that in order to make her life carefree. His father specially hired four chefs and many servants for him, and every day he needed to match the nutritional package according to Tang Ying's actual needs, and the food of each meal was diverse and reasonable.
Usually, whether at home or out, there are servants and bodyguards to accompany her, and this precious lady is simply living a fairy-like life. As a famous "socialite" in Shanghai during the Republic of China period, Tang Ying's social status and personal fame were much higher than Lu Xiaoman's.
Conclusion
The author believes that from ancient times to the present, "famous women" are the products of social development, and in ancient society, "famous women" were the daughters or wives of princes and nobles. In the Republic of China period, most of the "celebrities" were also prominent misses of thousands of gold, and from this point of view, "celebrities" were not only qualified to live a life of poverty and luxury, but also had the ability to pay for their own luxury.
【Reference】
Wu Anning, "Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream: The Past of famous ladies of the Republic of China"
Chen Ningjun,"The Marriage Of famous ladies of the Republic of China"
"This famous lady on the sea is actually the first generation of female oil painters in China"
Lu Dixue "Not a Rich Flower in the World: The Love Affair of famous ladies of the Republic of China"