Qiu Jin

Qiu Jin (born in 1875), was a Chinese revolutionary.[1] She was a feminist, heroine, and martyr.[1][2] Qiu fought for women's rights and fought against the ruling Qing Dynasty.[1] She was beheaded by the Qing Dynasty's army in 1907 when she was 32 years old.[3]

When she was a child, Jin did not like the stereotypes of women.[1][3][2] Qiu read books about Chinese women warriors.[1] For example, she read about Hua Mulan.[1]

Qiu did not agree with the Confucian values saying men were more important than women.[1] Many of her activities only acceptable for men.[4] For example, Qiu learned to use swords and martial arts.[4] She wrote poetry.[1][4] She liked wine.[1] Qiu also learned to make bombs.[1][4]

Qiu's parents picked a man for her to marry.[4] They moved to Beijing.[4] Qiu was 28 when she left her kids and husband to study abroad.[1][3][2] She started a magazine called the "Chinese Women’s Journal" (Zhongguo Nübao).[1][3][2] Qiu also joined a secret criminal Chinese gang, known as the Triads.[2][5] She started a school, but it really was a way to get students to fight in the revolution against the Qing Dynasty.[4]

Another person who helped start the school was arrested and executed.[4] Qiu knew she would be arrested.[4] She did not run away to another country.[4] Qiu also got arrested because she hid weapons and saved students from getting in trouble.[1][3][2] Qiu was asked to write something before she died. She chose to write about the meaning of her name: Autumn.[1][3][2] She was executed by the army.[3]