Commentary on the Suicide of Miss Zhao153
(November 16, 1919)
When something happens in society, we should not underrate its importance. The
background of any event contains the multiple causes of its occurrence. For example, the
event of a “person’s death” can be explained in two ways. One is biological and physical,
as in the case of “passing away in ripe old age.” The other goes against biological and
physical factors, as in the case of “premature death” or “unnatural death.” The death
of Miss Zhao by suicide belongs to the latter category of “unnatural death.”


A person’s suicide is determined entirely by circumstances. Was it Miss Zhao’s
original intent to seek death? No, it was to seek life. If, in the end, Miss Zhao chose
death, it was because circumstances drove her to this. The circumstances in which
Miss Zhao found herself included: (1) Chinese society, (2) the family living in the Zhao
residence on Nanyang Street in Changsha, (3) the Wu family of the Orange Garden in
Changsha, the family of the husband she did not want. These three factors constituted
three iron nets, which we can imagine as a kind of triangular construction. Within
152 The third and last of the “three bonds” (san gang) or ethical relations was that between husband
and wife. (The first two referred to the relation between sovereign and minister, and between father and
son.) Mao’s relationship with his father was notoriously stormy, and he often took his mother’s side in
their quarrels. Among the many sources on this, see in particular Mao’s own account, as told to Edgar
Snow and published in Red Star over China.
153 Mao’s mother had always been a fervent Buddhist. This line must mean, not that she had
returned to her faith after turning away from it, but simply that like many people she had sought
particular consolation in religion at the end of her life.


these triangular iron nets, however much Miss Zhao sought life, there was no way for
her to go on living. The opposite of life is death, and so Miss Zhao was obliged to die.
If one of these three factors had not been an iron net, or if one of the iron nets had
opened, Miss Zhao would certainly not have died. (1) If Miss Zhao’s parents had not
used excessive compulsion, but had acceded to her own free will, she would certainly
not have died. (2) If, while exercising compulsion, Miss Zhao’s parents had allowed
her to put her point of view to her fiance’s family, and to explain the reasons for
her refusal, and if in the end her fiance’s family had accepted her point of view, and
respected her individual freedom, Miss Zhao would certainly not have died. (3) If, even
though neither her own parents nor
her husband’s family could accept her free will, there had been in society a powerful
segment of public opinion to back her, and if there had been an entirely new world
to which she could flee, in which her act of flight would be considered honorable and
not dishonorable, Miss Zhao again would certainly not have died. If Miss Zhao is dead
today, it is because she was solidly enclosed by the three iron nets (society, her own
family, her fiance’s family); she sought life in vain, and finally was led to seek death.


Last year in Tokyo, Japan, there was the case of the double suicide of the wife
of a count and a chauffeur who had fallen in love. The Tokyo Shimbun published a
special issue, following which a number of writers and scholars discussed the incident
for several months straight. Yesterday’s incident was very important. The background
to this incident is the rottenness of the marriage system, and the darkness of the
social system, in which there can be no independent ideas or views, and no freedom of
choice in love. As we discuss different kinds of theories, we should discuss them in the
light of real, living events. Yesterday, Mr. Tianlai154 and Mr. Jiangong155 have already
provided a short introduction. In continuing this discussion and presenting some of
my own views, I have done so with the express hope that others will earnestly discuss
the case of this young woman, a martyr to freedom and to love, from many different
perspectives, and will cry “Injustice!” on her behalf. (See yesterday’s issue of this paper
for details.)


154 On November 14, 1919, Miss Zhao Wuzhen (1896–1919), a native of Changsha, had committed
suicide in protest against a marriage arranged by her parents. She was to have been the second wife of
Wu Fenglin, the son of a wealthy antique dealer, but though the first wife was dead, she rejected this
status. She also objected to the fact that Wu was old and ugly. When her parents refused to change the
wedding arrangements, she therefore slit her throat with a razor in the bridal sedan chair. These events
were reported in the press on November 15, and inspired intense discussion for the next fortnight. Mao
was moved to write no less than ten articles on this topic, and there were many other contributions to
the debate, some of which are mentioned below by Mao.
155 Mr. Tianlai’s article entitled “The Pernicious Influence of the Old Marriage System” was published
in the Dagongbao on November 15, 1919. His identity is unknown.