Xiao Bo Zeng

  

Volume 9 | Issue I | March 2025

Collingwood School ’26

British Columbia, Canada

  

When I learned about the ancient Chinese practice of foot-binding in grade eight, I was fascinated by how cultural beliefs could profoundly impact the lives of millions of women. At that time, I was unaware that my fascination was known as anthropology, but I knew that I wanted to understand cultural practices and the factors shaping them. My research focuses on a lesser-known practice in traditional Chinese society, the tongyangxi. Tongyangxi is a practice where families adopted and raised their intended daughter-in-law; it was prevalent in the countryside during the first half of the 20th century until it was outlawed after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. In my paper, I investigate why Chinese families practice the tongyangxi. In particular, I analyze the cultural influences of Confucianism, the economic influences of an agrarian and family-labor-focused society, and the legal policies and social norms that shaped the unique nature of the custom. My extracurricular interests include debate and writing. As a three-time qualifier for the provincial debate team and a national debate finalist, I am proud to represent Canada at the prestigious Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition. Beyond debating, I enjoy creative and analytical writing. My work has been recognized by The New York Times, The Harvard International Review, and The John Locke Institute. I am grateful for this opportunity to publish my work, and to the editors at The Schola for their feedback – it has helped me take my findings from a draft to a polished paper.