The New Life Movement And Citizen's Quality Education

Facing the increasing crises of the Japanese invasion and the expansion of the CPC's force in 1930's, and in order to deal with the challenges of the local powers and different factions inside of the KMT, the National Government of Nanjing was inspired to take a new guideline to break away from the adverse conditions. And the new policy set forth later was called "to pacify the interior before to resist the external aggression". Based on this guideline the New Life Movement was put foreword to ease the tense situation, which focused on the reviving of the Chinese traditional values, such as courtesy, justice, honesty and honor. By reforming citizen's daily life and remoulding social customs, the main aim of the movement was to realize the revival of Chinese nation and to construct a new country. In detail the New Life Movement was carried outfrom five aspects--the national spirit, habits & customs, sense of the society, culture &education and the awareness of national defense, to improve citizen's quality and better Chinese people's image.From 1934 to 1949 the New Life Movement underwent the original period, general expanding period and the final period. During these years various social works were carried out to act together with government's other policies. And the results it achieved were also very remarkable. The New Life Movement not only endowed citizens with the consciousness of the modern civilization but also advanced women's movement and the popularization of science & education. Especially in the Anti—Japanese War period it made a great contribution to defeat the fierce enemy. But restricted by the class interests of the KMT, some principles of the New Life Movement also meant to strike the CPC's force and help JiangJieshi to launch the civil war. Taking the citizen's quality education as the example, this article tried to probe the background, development course and social influence of the New Life Movement comprehensively.