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Chinese teenagers returning to school this month have encountered an unexpected addition to their mandatory reading list, Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre. The classic English novel, widely regarded as an important work on female independence and personal dignity, has been selected by Chinese authorities at a time when the country is paying increasing attention to how young people understand relationships, love and marriage.
The decision reflects a broader effort by Beijing to shape the values presented to children through the education system. State run Beijing Daily has promoted the novel as a story capable of offering young people an alternative to what it describes as superficial attitudes toward appearance and wealth that have become increasingly visible on social media.
The choice comes amid concerns about online entertainment in China, particularly short dramas and internet novels built around extravagant displays of wealth, complicated romantic relationships, revenge and powerful billionaires. In June, the country's broadcasting regulator launched a campaign against content it described as harmful and lowbrow, arguing that some material could encourage distorted understandings of relationships and marriage.
Jane Eyre follows an orphaned girl who experiences hardship, develops independence and eventually falls in love with Edward Rochester, her wealthy employer. Chinese authorities have suggested that the novel could help 14 year olds develop healthier values at a stage when many teenagers are beginning to experience romantic feelings.
The novel has enjoyed a long history in China. It first became available to Chinese readers in 1925 and has since been translated and adapted numerous times for theatre and film. Its central character has also historically been viewed by some Chinese readers as a symbol of resistance to oppression.
However, the decision has generated questions among parents and academics. One parent wrote on Xiaohongshu that her son questioned whether the novel might suggest that young people should allow romantic feelings to influence their judgment. He also struggled to understand Jane's eventual marriage to Rochester.
Some scholars have raised another concern. Sociologist Yan Hairong of Tsinghua University has argued that the novel contains problematic elements, including its treatment of the so called "mad woman in the attic" and underlying themes connected to colonialism.
Despite these criticisms, Chinese literature graduate Qin Shiwen said introducing classics such as Jane Eyre into education could help address an area often overlooked in China's highly academic school system: emotional and character development.
The novel's inclusion therefore represents more than a literary choice. It reflects an ongoing debate in China over how education should prepare young people not only for academic achievement, but also for relationships, values and adulthood.
