Graham R (Ed.) - Anarchism - A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas Volume One - From Anarchy to Anarchism (300 CE to 1939)

Chinese Anarchism /34 1
ruling group: elite women. Even ifthe oppression remains the same, the majority of
women are still taken advantage of by the minority of women ...
When a few women in power dominate the majority of powerless women, unequal
class differentiation is brought into existence among women. If the majority of
women do not want to be controlled by men, why do they want to be controlled by
women Therefore, instead of competing with men for power, women should strive
for overthrowing men's rule. Once men are stripped oftheir privilege, they will become
the equal of women. There will be no submissive women nor submissive men.
This is the liberation of women. This is radical reform. Why should we be content
with the existing parliamentary system and the suffrage movement as the ultimate
goal Only if interested women could transform their movement from that of entering
the government to exterminating the government! (NaturaIJustice, Vo1.7-1 0, September-October
1907)
97. Chu Minyi: Universal Revolution (1907)
Around the same time that He Zhen and Liu Shipei began publishing anarchist material from out
of Tokyo, another group of Chinese anarchists in Paris started publishing the New Era, ajoumal
containing their own original work as well as extensive translations of the writings of European
anarchists such as Kropotkin, Reclus, Malatesta and Bakunin. Chu M inyi (1884- 1946) was a regular
contributor to New Era. The following excerpts are taken from his article, "Universal Revolution,
" originally published in New Era in the fa ll of 1907. The translation is by Guannan Li of the
University of Oregon (History Department). Chu Minyi's view of revolution as part of a broader
process of social evolution can also befound in Reclus and Kropotkin's writings.
NO REVOLUTION, NO SOCIAL PROGRESS. When justice flourishes, revolution approaches
justice as well as peace. In the past, bloody destruction was called revolution.
Nowadays, ideas in speeches and books can result in revolution. Everybody
knows justice. Everyone will resist that which does not accord with justice. Therefore,
might cannot arbitrarily repress the masses; the rich cannot enslave people.
Government cannot abuse its power; money cannot buy ease. If nobody wants to be a
soldier, armies cannot fo rm, and war ends automatically. If nobody wants to accept
the law, reward and punishment will be ineffective, and people will automatically
break away from regulation. When might is overthrown, everybody can fulfill his position
and get what he needs. They can work and study freely and enjoy freedom ...
Revolution relies on justice. Might does not accord with justice. So revolution is
against might. Government is the most powerful location of might. So to oppose
might is to overthrow government. However, opposition to government must be ap-