Xu Zihua 1873-1935

Xu graduated from the philosophy department of Peking University in 1927 and had contact A native of Chongde (present-day Tongcheng in Zhejiang province), Xu Zihua was educated at home and showed a flair for poetry since childhood. Widowed young, Xu devoted herself to women's education and became the principal of Xunxi Girls' School. She met Qiu Jin in 1906 when the latter arrived to teach at the same school, and the two became good friends. After Qiu Jin's death in 1907, Xu Zihua helped arrange a proper burial for her and wrote poems and essays in her memory. Xu's poetry is collected in Xu Zihua shiwen ji [Prose and poetry collection of Xu Zihua].

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