Republican-era China

Epoch: Republican-era China. In this era, remnants of feudalism still linger. Men are valued over women, whose voices are silenced. Those in power act with impunity, sowing chaos at their whim. Many women aspired to marry military men—for in this era, joining the army meant a chance to change one's fate. Of course, relationships and the rules beneath the surface never shift. The people of this era were deeply superstitious, despite the fact that superstitious practices had been officially banned. The government urged the populace to place their faith in science, yet most still firmly believed in ghosts and spirits. Each year, a few educated youths were sent to some villages, but most villages didn’t get any. Many locals deceived them into marrying, ruining their honor and forcing them to stay for life. People these days are so into the West that they study just to snag a Western husband, they’re highly sought after; marrying a Western husband is seen as living the dream. The only way to sell stuff was on the black market, and that had to be done carefully to avoid arrest so most of normal family would keep it to eat it. In these days, most households never ate meat; daily meat was an absolute luxury. Gender discrimination was still strong, so some people even sold their daughters for money, let alone go to school. Girls were still judged heavily on their virginity and most of girl marry very soon.

Urban Areas: Major cities like Shanghai and Beijing feature old quarters, foreign settlements, and Western-style buildings interwoven with traditional architecture.

Rural Areas: Deeply rooted in traditional culture with villages and ancient customs, yet beginning to feel the influence of new policies and modern education.

Conflicts arise between the old aristocracy, emerging intellectuals, warlords, merchants, and the impoverished masses.

Warlords and local lords wield independent power, frequently clashing with one another.

The central government is weak and struggles to maintain control over the entire country.

Foreign powers such as Japan, Britain, France, and the United States intervene heavily in both economic and political affairs.

Revolutionary movements, patriotic uprisings, and struggles for democracy and social reform emerge fiercely.

Automobiles, trains, and telephones begin to spread in urban centers.

Attire ranges from traditional clothing (Long shirt, Hanfu, Tangzhuang) to modern Western-style suits.

The nightlife includes red-light districts, casinos, theaters, and Western-style cafés alongside folk singing venues and traditional plays.

Newspapers and lantern newspapers serve as vehicles for spreading new ideas and information.

Powerful warlords with their own soldiers and armored vehicles.

Merchants, smuggling kingpins, and underground gangs operate in the shadows.

Revolutionary intellectuals and young scholars embrace new ideologies, patriotism, and militancy.

Foreigners pursue their own missions and schemes amid the chaotic political landscape.

Bustling cities marked by drizzling rain, crowded streets, filth, and dim street lamps.

Pristine mountains and rural areas where folklore and mysterious customs still endure.

🏙 Urban Dwellers Clothing: Men wore long robes or changshan, though Western suits and newsboy caps became trendy in cities. Women wore qipao (cheongsam) — early versions were loose, but by the 1930s, they became slim, stylish, and modern.

Lifestyle: Many worked as rickshaw pullers, shopkeepers, factory workers, domestic help, or street vendors. Streets were noisy and alive with the sounds of radios, rickshaws, opera houses, and Western-style cafés.

Mindset: Torn between Confucian tradition and the rising waves of modern ideas — women's rights, nationalism, education, political reform.

🏞 Rural Folk Clothing: Simple, dark-colored homespun cloth. Life: Farming, raising livestock, living under oppressive landlords or local gangs. Beliefs: Deeply rooted in ancestor worship, folk gods, and rural superstitions. Hardships: Illiteracy, famine, warlord exploitation, forced conscription, and natural disasters.

🪖 Lifestyle Uniforms: Often inspired by Japanese or Western military — caps, boots, khaki or olive green coats. Discipline: Varied drastically — elite troops of powerful warlords lived lavishly, while poorly paid troops looted civilians. Daily Life: Marching, guarding towns, looting supplies, fighting rival factions. Morality: Many soldiers became bandits in peace time; others were just conscripts fighting for survival. Presence: Their arrival in a town could mean protection — or pillaging, rape, and terror.

🎩 Upper-Class Civil & Military Officials Clothing: Western suits, leather shoes, fedoras — some still wore Confucian scholar robes, especially older generations. Lifestyle: Lavish homes with courtyards, Western furniture, chauffeured cars, servants. Politics: Many were opportunists who aligned with whoever held power. Some pursued genuine reform, but most were corrupt — “feeding on the people to fatten themselves.” Others played double roles — appearing loyal while working for foreign powers or warlords. Vices: Gambling, opium, women — many consorted with gang leaders and operated dens or casinos behind closed doors.

Triads and secret societies flourished — Qing Bang, Green Gang, and others controlled entire districts. Officials and gangsters often shared profits from drugs, prostitution, and weapons. The line between law and crime was thin — a local official by day might be a crime boss at night.