Li Yang, one of China's most famous English teachers, apologized for beating his American wife more than a week after she posted photos of her injuries on the web and triggered a wave of condemnation.

"I wholeheartedly apologize to my wife Kim and my girls for committing domestic violence. This has caused them serious physical and mental damage," Li said on his microblog at Weibo.com, the country's most popular social media site, on Saturday.

In another posting, Li said he was receiving counseling at his wife's request.

Li, 42, is a mechanics major but is best known for his "Crazy English," a popular method of language learning that involves yelling at the top of one's lungs.

He was at the center of public condemnation after his wife Kim Lee put up posts on the web accusing him of abuse.

"Li Yang, you need help", she posted on September 4, with a photo showing her bleeding left ear. Earlier posts, the oldest of which was dated August 31, showed her swollen forehead and knees.

She also posted details of the violence, which stopped only after one of her daughters screamed and scratched Li's arm. Kim then ran to the police station with her daughter and was sent to hospital by police officers.

The couple has three daughters. 

@Xuemanzi, angel investor

Anti-domestic violence laws should be enacted as soon as possible, giving protection to the rights of women and children lawfully. Police should not stand back from domestic violence any longer, even if no one reports them. Society, as a whole, should attach greater importance to the crime. Counseling should be encouraged in such a case, which is the radical cure for domestic violence.

@Wuzhihong, psychiatrist and counsellor

Extreme and crazy personality always goes hand in hand with violence and a low degree of tolerance.

@Zhangxiaomei

Chinese are never taught about marital relations, which mean not merely living together. A good marriage needs to overcome three differences: family background, gender and personalities. In addition to these, there is a cultural gap in Li Yang's case. If the effects of these differences are not well understood, after the honeymoon period, they will turn into conflicts and jeopardize the marriage. Li's domestic violence is a reminder that China needs such education. 

@Wuxiaolong, Sina Weibo user

Li Yang's choice to resort to domestic violence really reflects his character. Students who have attended his Crazy English Camp may know what I mean: Li wants his students to worship him as a cult figure. I still remember he once had his students kowtow to him. He always teaches English by imposition, which directly reflects his craving for power.

@Sikaozhe, Sina Weibo user

In the US, the penalties for domestic violence are even harsher than theft. If the police arrive at the wife's call during a fighting between a couple and find bruises on her, they will immediately arrest the husband. Even if the wife doesn't call the police, they may also show up as neighbors could well do their part. 

@ykxin Sina Weibo User

Don't blindly worship anyone, because in every closet there may hide a skeleton. As a famous Chinese saying goes, "Only they who do well in their daily chores can fulfill their dreams on great occasions". Not surprisingly, one who focuses too much on his career and ignores his family, like Li Yang, will fail in both. Don't judge a person by his career success, wealth, or any other material aspect, because what ultimately defines a person is his character. 

Although Li Yang publicly apologized to his wife, promising to love his daughters even if he and Lee divorce, the damage, perhaps permanently, has been done to his wife, his three daughters and the whole family.

Wang Xingjuan, founder of the Maple Women's Psychological Counseling Center, a non-profit organization, said nearly half of domestic violence abusers are people who have higher education, senior jobs and social status. She said this was probably because such people were usually under more mental stress.

Domestic violence occurs in 30 percent of the 270 million Chinese families, with more than 85 percent of sufferers being women, according to a survey conducted by the All China Women's Federation in 2007. About 100,000 Chinese families break up each year as a result of domestic violence, the federation said.

China is yet to draft an independent law on domestic violence, as currently only a few clauses in other laws, such as the Marriage Law, have addressed some aspects of the offence.

The top lawmaking body, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, decided on August 14 it would mull an anti-domestic violence law, but no exact timetable is available as to when the new law will be enacted.