One hundred years ago, the May 4th Movement started the new democratic revolution, and the spread of new ideas also promoted the further awakening of women in China. People of insight at that time believed that women must receive higher education in order to achieve the goal of real liberation. 1920, "coeducation" was first opened in the university campus of the Republic of China, followed by the love between teachers and students under the banner of freedom and liberation.

/kloc-in the autumn of 0/930, Xu Beihong drew a sketch for his favorite disciple Sun Duoci. Sun Duoci in the painting has short hair, a full moon face and a cold expression. In the painting, she is young and immature, belonging to the female students of that era. Xu Beihong wrote an inscription in the lower right corner of the painting: "Ci Xue was painted in March, with unparalleled wisdom and sensitive talent, which is rare in China." May you be brave and diligent all your life and carry forward real art ... "

Self-portrait of Sun Duoci

1930 In September, 35-year-old Xu Beihong taught in the Art Department of Central University. One day, several observers came to his studio. Their painting level was mixed, but one of the talented and smart female students quickly caught his attention. She is Sun Duoci.

Sun Duoci was born in a scholarly family, and Sun Duoci's grandfather Sun Jiading was the top scholar in Xianfeng. During the Guangxu period, he served as four ministers of the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Government and the Ministry of Household Affairs, with the best official position. Sun Duoci was originally named Kevin Suen, and his father Sun Chuanai was a university professor and provost. Because of her good family education, dignified and delicate appearance and artistic temperament, she quickly caught the attention of her teacher Xu Beihong.

193 1 one day, Xu Beihong invited his friends Sheng Cheng and Master Yi Huang to visit his studio. Sheng Cheng and Master Yi Huang happened to meet Xu Beihong's wife Jiang Biwei at the gate of Central University. Sheng Cheng remembered that Xu Beihong had told himself that he and Jiang Biwei wanted to bypass Jiang Biwei because of the emotional estrangement between Sun Duoci. But Jiang Biwei saw them with keen eyes and came over to greet them enthusiastically. Master Yi Huang didn't know the inside story, answered the reason honestly, and invited Jiang Biwei to visit Xu Beihong's studio. Jiang Biwei hesitated, then nodded in agreement.

Xu Beihong's works

A group of people came to Central University. When Xu Beihong saw his colleagues in Jiang Biwei, he said nothing, but his expression began to be unnatural. When Jiang Biwei walked into the art studio, Sun Duoci recognized her at a glance. Jiang Biwei was born in a noble family, and his gestures were elegant. With women's unique sensitivity, Jiang Biwei also recognized Sun Duoci standing on the side of the classroom. Walking into Xu Beihong's studio, Jiang Biwei saw her husband's portraits of Sun Duoci and Taicheng jathyapple at a glance, and his heart was full of mixed feelings. She remembered a letter written by Xu Beihong, which said, "Biwei, hurry back to Nanjing! If you don't come back, I'm afraid I will fall in love with someone else! "

Xu Beihong and his wife Jiang Biwei.

Jiang Biwei has his own judgment. In her later years, she wrote in her memoirs: "Although xu teacher kept explaining to me that he only loved Kevin Suen's talent and wanted to cultivate her into a useful talent. But in my feeling, there is definitely not a simple teacher-student relationship between them, because xu teacher's behavior is becoming more and more abnormal. I am bitter and tearful, and I feel that he is gradually unable to control the torrent of feelings. "

1931July, Sun Duoci was officially admitted to the art department of Central University with the first place. When she was a freshman, Sun Duoci felt that their feelings were getting deeper and deeper. Xu Beihong takes her affairs as his own. First, she recommended Sun Duoci to print in Zhonghua Book Company. In order to encourage Sun Duoci's creation, Xu Beihong took out 2,500 yuan of private money and deposited it with his friend Shu Xincheng, entrusting Shu Xincheng to buy Sun Duoci's works anonymously.

1930 Sun Duoci is in the Art Department of National Central University (second from the right).

After graduating from Sun Duoci University, Xu Beihong and I were not in the same place, so we had to exchange gifts to express our love. /kloc-in the winter of 0/935, Xu Beihong painted "Flying Swallows" and presented it to Sun Duoci. The picture shows a woman dressed in ancient costume, with a sad face and looking up at the soaring swallow. The title is: "Yi Haidong, write Yan Yan to send her heart to Fei." Show deep affection for Sun Duoci. The following year, Sun Duoci sent Xu Beihong red beans to show his lovesickness.

Xu Beihong

1936 During the spring and summer, Sun Duoci lived in Anqing. Her parents are firmly opposed to her daughter's association with Xu Beihong, and even her relatives disapprove. Every time, when Sun Duoci visited his little cousin Liu Jia, his parents advised Sun Duoci to get lost. Sun Duoci just listened quietly, made no comment, and looked sad.

1937, when War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression broke out, the Sun Duoci family took refuge in Changsha and ran into Xu Beihong. Xu Beihong moved Sun Duoci's home to Guilin through a friend and got a job for Sun Duoci in the Guangxi provincial government. Then Zhong Da returned to Chongqing for class. 1In July, 938, Sun Duoci was hired as a lecturer in the summer workshop of middle school teachers in Guangxi Province. 1938 During the summer vacation, Xu Beihong returned to Guilin and often went to Lijiang to sketch with Sun Duoci. This period is probably their happiest day, and they have created many works.

Sun Duoci

1938 During July, Xu Beihong published a notice of divorce with Jiang Biwei in Guangxi Daily. Xu Beihong's notice said: I have been divorced from Ms. Jiang Biwei for a long time. I hereby declare that he is personally responsible for all his social undertakings.

Their friend Shen Yijia took this newspaper to see Sun Duoci's father, trying to promote the marriage between Sun Duoci and Xu Beihong. However, Mr. Sun resolutely opposed it and left Guilin with his family for Lishui, Zhejiang. Sun Duoci, who has always been timid and introverted, finally succumbed to his father at this critical moment. In the era of war, Sun Duoci finally gave in to the secular. Under the introduction of a friend, he met Xu Shaodi, then director of Zhejiang Education Department, and finally married him, and since then he has forgotten Xu Beihong in the Jianghu.

The above content is taken from the documentary "Phoenix Vision".

Li Xiaoyi, the author of A Woman with a Fragrant Soul, said in the documentary: "In Sun Duoci, you can clearly feel the conflict between the old and the new times. From the macro environment, the Republic of China is an era of alternation between the old and the new; In fact, women in that era were faced with many problems and puzzles, and many yearnings for love: I very much hoped to pursue freedom and passionate love, and the other was the shackles that I couldn't get rid of: I knew my feet were still in the mud and I couldn't walk too high or too far, but my heart was painful ... "

"Phoenix Vision" Li Xiaoyi talks about Sun Duoci's love.

Women in the May 4th period experienced the alternation between the old and the new. No matter what the emotional outcome is, educated women dare to pursue their own happiness, and love and marriage become a way for them to break the old morality.

"Phoenix Vision" Li Xiaoyi talks about Sun Duoci's love.

Whether in the Republic of China or now, women's free choice and commitment to love choice are all progress in breaking the shackles.