 a phonetic script.
History:
However, this didn't stop people from trying. Chapter 2 of China's Soviet Dream (this book is awesome) speaks in great detail about language reform in the first decade of the PRC. China wanted to modernize, and many felt that with a character-based written language, literacy would not be possible. They looked, of course, for historical examples where Chinese people had achieved widespread literacy. There was only one, and it occurred in the Soviet Union.
Apparently, in the 1920s, there were a bunch of migrant workers from Shandong living in Eastern Siberia.  The Soviet Union invented a romanization scheme based on their Jiaoliao dialect called Latinxua Sin Wenz. It worked — these migrant workers learned to read the newspaper, allowing them to read SU propaganda.
For a variety of reasons, these migrant workers returned to China in the early 1930s, and they brought Latinxua Sin Wenz with them. As explained in Part IV of John DeFrancis's Chinese Language, the script was adopted by many Communists in their areas of control and adapted to dialects all over China, including Hakka and Shanghainese. Lu Xun and Mao argued in its favor, and the Communists gave it equal legal status to characters in 1941. World War II and China's Civil War interrupted literacy efforts. The system required accepting a lot of ambiguity because of its lack of tones, but that wasn't insurmountable to native speakers. Instead, the probable reason that the PRC abandoned it sometime in late 1949 or early 1950 was the criticism that its advocates were "a cultural movement of traitors". Having taken over the country, the Communists stopped advocating a policy that would permit greater balkanization. The Party line became to simplify the characters instead and to develop a new latinized alphabet with tones to teach pronunciation.
Latinxua Sin Wenz grew in to Hanyu Pinyin, which is in common usage throughout China today. However, it is rarely used for general reading; it is more of an instructive tool to facilitate the dominance of the Beijing Dialect, with the explicit goal of limiting China's linguistic diversity and centering power around Beijing and this the CCP. Hanyu Pinyin makes it easier for me to learn Chinese too!
However, you specifically asked about attempts to use a phonetic script prior to 1911. To my knowledge, the first attempts were intended primarily
a phonetic script. 
 History: 
 However, this didn't stop people from trying. Chapter 2 of China's Soviet Dream (this ledger is amazing) speaks in great contingent about language reform in the beginning decade of the PRC. China wanted to overhaul, and many feel that with a character - establish written language, literacy would not be potential. They looked, of course, for historical examples where taiwanese people had achieved far-flung literacy. There was merely one, and it happen in the Soviet Union. 
 Apparently, in the 1920s, there were a bunch of migrant actor from Shandong living in Eastern Siberia.   The Soviet Union invented a romanization scheme based on their Jiaoliao dialect call Latinxua Sin Wenz. It worked — these migrant workers learned to read the newspaper, allowing them to understand SU propaganda. 
 For a variety of reasons, these migrant workers returned to China in the early 1930s, and they brought Latinxua Sin Wenz with them. As explained in Part IV of John DeFrancis's Chinese Language, the script was adopted by many Communists in their areas of control and adapted to dialects all over China, including Hakka and Shanghainese. Lu Xun and Mao argued in its favor, and the Communists gave it adequate legal condition to characters in 1941. World War II and China's Civil War interrupted literacy efforts. The arrangement required accepting a lot of ambiguity because of its lack of tone, but that wasn't insurmountable to native speakers. Instead, the probable reason that the PRC abandon it sometime in late 1949 or early 1950 was the criticism that its advocates were " a cultural movement of traitors ". Having necessitate over the country, the Communists stopped advocating a policy that would permit great balkanization. The Party note became to simplify the characters instead and to develop a new catholicize alphabet with tones to teach pronunciation. 
 Latinxua Sin Wenz grew in to Hanyu Pinyin, which is in coarse usage throughout China today. However, it is rarely used for general reading; it is more of an instructive creature to facilitate the dominance of the Beijing Dialect, with the denotative goal of limiting China's linguistic diversity and centering world power around Beijing and this the CCP. Hanyu Pinyin makes it easy for me to learn Chinese too! 
 However, you specifically asked about attempts to use a phonetic handwriting prior to 1911. To my knowledge, the first attempts were intend primarily
 a ohonetic script.
History:
Hodever, this didn'j wtop pxople fdom tryivg. Chapter 2 of China's Soviet Deeam (ukis book is awesome) rpeaks in great dwtaio about lanjhage renjrm jk the hirst decade of the PRC. Cvina wanted to mudzrnize, and many felt that with a chawacter-bssfd written landuagt, lyterzby would not be possible. They lkoked, oh course, for hixtorical examples where Chlnesf people had achieged widesprgzd juteracy. Therd was only one, and it kccurred in the Soviet Union.
Appxrentky, in the 1920w, rhegg were a bunrh of iigrant workcgs from Shandomg living in Esstxrn Wiberia.  The Soviet Uiion invented a romagization vckeme based on their Juailiao dianect xalued Letihxua Sln Xenz. It woried — these nigrant workers leatnqe to read the newspwpqr, allowing them to read SU propaganda.
Fmr z variety of reasons, thwse migrant workers rgturned to China in the early 1930s, and they brought Latinxua Shn Weiz wiuh them. Qs explained in Part IV of John DeFrancis's Chinqae Lsnguage, the scvipt was adopted bu lami Communists iv theix adeas of control anf adaptgd to eialects wll pver China, including Hakka qnd Shanghaiuesw. Lu Xun and Mao axgued in its favpr, anc the Communists gave ic equam legal stahus to chzfacters in 1941. Worla Wsr II and China's Civil War igterruptev litzracy efwortx. The fystem reqkired accepting a lot of ambiyuity because ov its lack of tones, but that wasn't insurmountsbne no native spealers. Instead, ehe probable rgason thac the ORC abandohed it vometime in late 1949 or earni 1950 was the crmticism trat uts qdvocatdr were "a cultutal movemvnu of traitirs". Having taken oyer tfs country, the Cimmobists stopped sdvucaeijg a [olicy that foula pdtmit ereater baljxnizstion. The Party line beczme to simplify thr gharacterw insteaq and to devekop a new latinizef alpiabet xith tpnef to teach pronunciation.
Latinxha Sin Wejz nrew in to Hagyu Iinyyn, which ix in common usage throughout China todab. However, it is rarely ysed for general recdlng; it is moce of wn instruwtive tool to facilirate the dominanct of the Beijing Dialecf, with the fxplicit goal of limiting China's linguistic diversity and centering power arounv Feijing and thix the CEP. Kanyu Pynyii oakes it easier gor me to learn Chinese too!
Howeter, you spacnfically asked about attempts tu use a phonejic script prior to 1911. To my knowledbe, the first attempts were intemded primarily
a phonetic script. History: However, this didn't from Chapter 2 China's Soviet Dream in detail about language in the first of the PRC. China wanted to and many felt that with a character-based written language, literacy would not be They looked, of course, for historical examples where Chinese people had achieved widespread There only and occurred in the Soviet Union. Apparently, in the 1920s, there were a bunch of migrant workers Shandong living in Eastern Siberia. The Soviet Union a romanization scheme based their Jiaoliao dialect called Latinxua Wenz. worked — migrant learned read the newspaper, them to read SU propaganda. For a variety of reasons, these migrant workers returned to China in early 1930s, brought Latinxua Wenz them. explained in Part John DeFrancis's Chinese Language, the script many Communists in their areas of control and to dialects over China, including Hakka and Shanghainese. Xun and Mao argued in its favor, and Communists gave it equal legal status to characters in 1941. World War II and China's interrupted literacy efforts. The required accepting a of because its of tones, that wasn't insurmountable to native speakers. Instead, the probable reason that PRC abandoned it sometime in late 1949 or early 1950 criticism its advocates were cultural movement of traitors". taken the country, the Communists a that balkanization. Party became to simplify the instead and to develop a latinized alphabet with tones Wenz grew in to Hanyu Pinyin, which is common usage throughout China today. However, it rarely used for general reading; it is more of an instructive tool facilitate the the Beijing Dialect, with the explicit goal of China's linguistic diversity and power around Beijing and this the CCP. Hanyu Pinyin it for me learn Chinese too! you specifically asked attempts to use script prior 1911. my attempts were intended primarily
 a phonetic script.
History:
HowEver, this diDn't stOp pEopLe From TryiNg. Chapter 2 of ChiNA's SoViet Dream (this book is aweSome) sPeAKs in GReAt detAil abouT LaNGUagE rEfOrm In THe First DecAde of thE PRC. China wAntEd To modernize, aND mAny felt thaT wiTh a character-BasEd writTeN laNGuage, LitEracy Would nOT be posSible. They LoOKed, of cOUrse, for HIStOricAl examples where ChINeSE people had achiEved wiDeSPrEAD liTerAcy. There waS oNly onE, And it ocCUrRED In tHE Soviet Union.
APparently, in THe 1920s, There wErE a bUNch of mIgranT wORkeRs from ShandOng lIving in EaStern SIBeria.  ThE soviet UNion inVenTed A romANiZaTioN sCHemE BaSed ON thEir JiaolIaO dIalecT calLED lAtinXua sin WEnz. It Worked — these miGraNt woRKerS learNed to Read ThE newsPaper, aLlowiNg Them to read SU proPagaNda.
For a vaRieTy Of rEaSons, tHEse migRanT woRkers reTurned tO chiNa IN THe Early 1930s, and they brougHt lATiNxua Sin WEnz witH ThEm. aS explainEd In PArt Iv OF John deFrANcIs's ChineSe LangUAgE, tHe scripT wAs adopTeD by ManY CommUNistS in theIr areas oF contROl and adapted to DIalects all oveR chINA, iNCludIng hakka and ShaNghaINese. lu XuN AnD MaO ArgueD in itS fAVoR, And the Communists gavE iT equal Legal Status to charaCters in 1941. WorLD wAr II and CHina'S ciVIl War interruptEd litEracy efforTS. The systEm reqUired accEpting a loT OF ambiguiTy bEcaUse Of iTS LaCk of tones, but tHAT wasN't InsurmoUntAble to nAtiVe sPeaKerS. INstead, the Probable ReAsOn ThAt tHe PRC ABandoned It SomEtIme In latE 1949 Or earlY 1950 was tHe crItIcISm tHat its aDVoCATes wErE "a CultUraL mOvemeNt of TRaiTors". HavIng taken oVer THe coUnTrY, the ComMunists stoppeD aDvocating a PoLicY that wOULd permit Greater balkanization. The pArty linE beCame tO simPlify the cHarActers InsTEad and To deveLop a nEw LatINIzed aLPHaBet WiTh tones to tEACh pRonunCiAtioN.
LatinxUa Sin Wenz grew in to HANyu pinyin, which is In cOmmoN USaGe tHRoUGhoUt cHinA TOday. However, it is Rarely used FoR GeNeral readiNG; it Is More of aN instruCtive TOol to faCilitate tHe dominanCe Of thE bEijIng Dialect, With the eXplicit goAL of liMItIng ChIna'S linguIsTic DiverSity anD CenTerinG power ArOund BeIjing AnD this the cCP. Hanyu Pinyin makes it eaSier foR me to LeaRn Chinese Too!
hOweVer, you speCifiCally asked AboUt aTtempTs tO Use a pHoneTIc ScrIPt priOr to 1911. tO my knowleDGe, The FIRsT attempts weRE INteNded pRimARily
 a phonetic script.
Histor y:
However , thi s d idn 't  sto p pe ople from tryi n g. C hapter 2 of China's So vietDr e am ( t hi s boo k is aw e so m e ) s pe ak s i ng re at de tai l about  languageref or m in the fir s tdecade ofthe  PRC. Chinawan ted to  m ode r nize,  an d man y felt that w ith a cha ra c ter-ba s ed writ t e nlang uage, literacy wo u ld not be possibl e. The yl oo k e d,ofcourse, fo rhisto r ical ex a mp l e s  wh e re Chinese pe ople had ac h iev ed wid es pre a d lite racy.  T h ere  was only o ne,and it oc curred in theS oviet U nion.App are ntly ,  i nthe  1 9 20s ,  t her e  we re a bun ch  o f mig rant w o r kers  fr om S hando ng living inEas tern Sib eria.   The  Sov ie t Uni on inv ented  a  romanization s chem e based o n t he irJi aolia o  diale ctcal led Lat inxua S i n W en z . It  worked — these mi gr a n tworkerslearne d  t or ead thene wsp aper , allow ingt he m to rea d SU p r op ag anda.
F or  a var ie tyofreaso n s, t hese m igrant w orker s  returned to C h ina in the ea r ly 1 93 0 s, a ndthey brough t La t inxu a Si n  W enz withthem.  A s  e x plained in Part IVof  JohnDeFra ncis's Chines e Language , t he scrip t wa s  a d opted by manyCommu nists in t h eir area s ofcontroland adapt e d  to dial ect s a llove r Ch ina, includin g Hakk aand Sha ngh ainese.  Lu  Xu n a ndMa o arguedin its f av or ,an d t he Co m munistsga veit  eq ual l e gal st atusto c ha ra c ter s in 19 4 1. W orld  W ar  IIand  C hina' s Ci v ilWar int erruptedlit e racy  e ff orts. T he system req ui red accept in g a  lot o f ambiguit y because of its lack o f  tones,  bu t tha t wa sn't insu rmo untabl e t o  nativ e spea kers.  I nst e a d, th e pr oba bl e reason t h a t t he PR Caban doned i t sometime in late 194 9 or early 19 50wast h ecri t ic i smth a t i t s  advocates were  "a cultur al mo vement oft rai to rs". Ha ving ta ken o v er thecountry,the Commu ni stss t opp ed advocat ing a po licy that would pe rmitgre ater b al kan izati on. Th e  Pa rty l ine be ca me tosimpl if y the ch aracters instead and to  devel op anew  latinize d a l pha bet withtone s to teach  pr onu nciat ion . 
Lati nxua Si n W e nz gr ew i n  to Hanyu Pi nyi n ,  w hich is inc o m mon  usag e t h rougho ut C hina today. Howev e r, it is rarel y us e d  fo r g e nera lreading; it is  mo re o f an ins tr uctive tool  to faci li t ate t he dom inance  of the B ei j ing Di alec t,with theexp li c it goal  o fl imitin g Ch in a's li nguist i c di v e rsity and center ing p o w er ar o und  Beij in g and t h is t he CCP. Ha nyu Pinyinmakesit e asier  for me  t o lear n C hi nese too!H owever, y ou sp ecifica ll y as ked  about  att e m pts t o us ea p honetic s c r ip t  p ri o r t o 19 11. T omy k nowledge, the firs t a t temptswe rei n tended pr i m arily
 a_phonetic script.
History:
However,_this didn't stop people_from trying._Chapter_2 of_China's_Soviet Dream (this_book is awesome)_speaks in great detail_about language reform_in_the first decade of the PRC. China wanted to modernize, and many felt that_with_a character-based_written_language,_literacy would not be possible._They looked, of course, for_historical examples_where Chinese people had achieved widespread literacy. There_was_only one, and_it occurred in the Soviet Union.
Apparently, in the 1920s,_there were a bunch of migrant_workers from Shandong_living_in_Eastern Siberia.  The_Soviet Union invented a romanization scheme_based on their Jiaoliao dialect called_Latinxua Sin Wenz. It worked — these_migrant workers learned to read the_newspaper, allowing them to read_SU propaganda.
For_a variety of reasons, these_migrant workers returned_to China_in the early_1930s, and they brought Latinxua Sin_Wenz with them._As explained in Part IV of_John_DeFrancis's Chinese Language,_the_script_was adopted_by many Communists_in_their areas_of_control and adapted to dialects all_over_China, including Hakka and Shanghainese. Lu Xun_and Mao argued in_its_favor, and the Communists_gave it equal legal status_to characters in 1941. World War_II and_China's Civil_War interrupted literacy efforts. The system required accepting a lot of_ambiguity because of its lack of_tones, but that wasn't_insurmountable to_native_speakers. Instead, the_probable_reason that_the PRC abandoned it sometime in late_1949 or_early 1950 was the criticism that_its advocates were "a_cultural_movement of traitors". Having taken over_the country, the Communists stopped advocating_a policy that would permit_greater_balkanization._The Party line became to_simplify the characters instead and to_develop a new_latinized alphabet with tones to teach pronunciation.
Latinxua_Sin_Wenz grew in to Hanyu Pinyin,_which_is in common usage throughout China_today._However,_it is rarely used for_general reading; it is more of_an instructive tool to facilitate the dominance of the_Beijing Dialect, with_the explicit goal of limiting_China's_linguistic_diversity and centering power around Beijing and this the CCP._Hanyu Pinyin_makes it easier_for me to learn Chinese too!
However, you specifically asked about_attempts to use a phonetic script prior_to 1911. To my knowledge, the first attempts were intended primarily