Abstract: Before the foundation of the Republic of China, the character “shen (gentry)” was often used together with “shi (scholar)”, and referred to a powerful social stratum that stood for a kind of political privilege and social glory. But in the Republic and after, “shen” was often associated with “nie (bad)” and “hao (despotic)”, and referred to the reactionary social stratum in opposition to the people, therefore, “nie shen” and “hao shen”became the synonyms of reactionaries. In a few decades time, “shen” changed from those of social glory to reactionaries, even the targets of revolutionaries.
余进东. 民国时期“劣绅”话语源流考略[J]. 江苏大学学报(社会科学版), 2012, 14(1): 41-44.
Yu Jindong. Etymology of the Expression “Nie Shen” in the Republic of China. Journal of Jiangsu University(Social Science Editi, 2012, 14(1): 41-44.