Collected Works of Fang Zheng: Volume I Essays

The new edition of the "Collected Works of Fang Zheng" includes more than 270 articles in two volumes. Volume I consists of her essays on various topics, for example, social issues, love, marriage, education, and health. Mostly originally published in the 1940s, Ms. Zheng's writing was passionate, humorous, or sarcastic. Many of her works focused on ordinary people's daily life. Some translated articles are also included in this volume, through which Fang shared perspectives from overseas with readers in China. She also advocated for changes in women's social status through her works when being a good wife and mother was considered the most important duty for women during the Republic of China. She provided suggestions for women on love, marriage, and family life, and offered fresh insights into women's roles and social status.

新编再版《郑芳文集》精选了二百七十余篇文章，分为《杂文卷》与《小说散文卷》。其中，《杂文卷》收录的文章涉及社会问题、人物、女性、恋爱、婚姻、教育等十个方面的内容。郑芳以幽默、讽刺的文笔或褒或贬、或扬或抑，或为民生而建言，或为女性而畅言，在日常的生活中寻求为人处世的智慧。作为珍贵的民国文学遗产，这些作品不仅是对郑芳女士文学成就的回顾，更展现了那一代人的家国情怀，为读者研究民国时期知识女性的觉醒与百姓生活推开了一扇窗，并对今天的青年女性依然有积极的指导意义。

追求经济独立是妇女应有的权利，但在民国时期"贤妻良母"仍然是妇女不可推卸的天职，据统计当时知识女性婚后参与社会工作的不足两成。在那个新旧时代交替的时期，郑芳是利用媒体呼吁改变妇女社会地位的倡导者之一。她对女性在恋爱、婚姻、家庭生活中细致入微地剖析与建议，明确提出对女性角色转变及社会地位改变的独到见解。在那颠沛流离的年代中，郑芳每一期的文章都能以坦诚的话语激励着尚在迷茫中的读者。