On Chen Quzhen And The Xiangxi Autonomy Movement (1921-1936)

This thesis discusses the Xiangxi autonomy movement, led by the local warlords of Chen Quzhen in the 1920s and 1930s. It analyzes the relevant files, the legatary documents of Chen Quzhen and historical data of different counties of Xiangxi, tries to reconstruct and rebuilt the history of Xiangxi autonomy movement, and to discuss relevant issues.This thesis points out, on one hand, the state political power at that time was unable to maintain political order, therefore, the local elites which controlled the social power, took the opportunity to trespass the legitimate power of the state. On the other hand, since the founding of the Republic of China, the institutional contact between the elites and the state power had ceased, the traditional and legitimate resources of power had declined, the elites needed to strengthen the forces of their regency to eliminate the threat of other external forces. They relied on the localism, nationalism and modernism to provide legality for their reign. This shows the diversified development trend of the political authority of contemporary China.When examining the situation of autonomy of that period of time comprehensively, one can find that the local warlords not only care about the maintain of their own region, the strengthen of their military forces, but they also make the good wish and try their best to search a way to save the crisis of their country, to enlighten the masses of people and to develop and progress the civilization.The concept of the autonomy of Xiangxi is not the same as the contemporary sense, which means a place is governed by its people. The autonomy of Xinagxi led by Chen Quzhen, although took over the name and some forms from modern Western, the spiritual essence is still Confucian. That is, to educate and civilize people with morality and ethics, which embodies the ideal of the traditional scholar-bureaucrat, to cultivate oneself well helps to harmony a family, and only after that, a country can be stable and peaceful. Therefore, this conception is quite different from the contemporary sense of autonomy, which means people have the right to make decisions, participate in politics to govern a place.Chen Quzhen lived at the time when China was on the decline, the authority was at its weak point. The historical background provided relatively loose environment for the coming up of the elites. The range of Xiangxi autonomy was limited. It was carried out under the complex background of the warlord era. Therefore, it is the outcome of the contemporary China, which experienced the transition from authority decline to authority rebuilt.