Abstract: Etiquette custom serves as an important perspective to study Chinese history and culture. This thesis focuses on the books and statements on etiquette custom by CHEN Guofu, a famous Guomingdang politician during theNational Government period of the Republic of China as a case study of the etiquette custom in modern China. As a loyal member to his political party, CHEN's reform was mianly for governing by utilizing etiquette in reforming social education and ideology formation and joining in the New Life Movement and the Confucianized ideology of Three People's Principles in daily politics. On the other hand, due to his education background, political career and cultural belief in “westernized Chinese style” (zhong ti xi yong), CHEN's reform was pretty down-to-earth in his approval for folk belief and customs rather than criticism, and his empathy with the irrational spiritual demands of folk people. CHEN's attempt to explore the political and cultural power distinguished his reform from enlightening methods of other intellectuals, and meanwhile his firm support for folk population made him outstanding from mainstream political propaganda. As far as the effect is concerned, CHEN's reform plan was inevitably marginalized due to the lack of practicability during the period of nationality reconstruction emphasizing social consolidation and political mobilization.

Key words: reform of etiquette custom, National Government period of the Republic of China, CHEN Guofu