RESOLUTION ON THE MARRIAGE LAW--ADOPTED AT THE FIRST SESSION OF CENTRAL
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

28 November 1931

[Text] Under the feudal rule the marriage system was so barbaric as to be
inhuman. The oppression and distress suffered by women were even worse than
those by men. Only when the workers' and peasants' revolution is won and
men and women have attained primary emancipation economically will marriages
unavoidably undergo changes and marriages based on freedom of choice be realized. At present, marriages have acquired a foundation of freedom. We
should really establish a marriage system based on freedom of choice and
abolish the feudal marriage system based on arbitrary and compulsory arrangements and on pecuniary considerations.

However, women who have just been emancipated from feudal oppression, have
not yet recovered from the many serious injuries (e.g., bound feet) to their
bodies or achieved complete independence economically. Hence, in the question
of divorce, emphasis for the time being should be placed on the protection
of the interests of women, leaving most of the obligations and responsibilities
arising out of the divorce for the men to undertake.

Children are the masters of the new society. Particularly in the old society,
it was the custom not to pay heed to the caring of children. Therefore, special
stipulations are made for the protection of the interests of children.

This Law will be promulgated on 1 December 1931 and come into force immediately.

Central Executive Committee
Chairman:
Vice-chairmen:
Hsiang Ying
Chang Kuo-t'ao

*"Marriage Law," Directive of the Chinese Soviet Republic, Provisional Central
Government, December 1931