New Intellectual Movement & Modern Poetry
--a brief timeline of major historical events in relation to modern Chinese literature is given below
--please take note that the timespan of modern Chinese literature discussed in this site is from 1911-1949
--the pictures of a boat & dragon on this page are modelled upon traditional Chinese paper cuttings,an art-form not widely learnt.(see the last 2 pictures on Han Dynasty Literature for examples)
--there is also a picture of 2 dolls wearing the traditional Chinese wedding costumes.
- 1911: end of Manchu dynasty,end of dynastic rule in China with the Wuchang Revolution of October 10 by Dr Sun Yat-sen with democracy in mind,establishment of Republic China
- 1911-1916: disunity in Sun's Kuomingtang (KMT party) & factional struggle,betrayal by Yuan Shih-kai
- 1914-1918: World War 1,the Versailles Treaty signed with China's rights undermined,much to Chinese resentment
- 1917-1923: The New Intellectual Movement; May 4th Movement in 1919
- 1916-1927: Warlordism,failure of Republic China,death of Sun in 1925
- 1928-1949: KMT government under Chiang Kai-shek,struggle against Communism
- 1937: 2nd Sino-Japanese War [1st Sino-Japanese War from 1894-95]
- 1939-1945: World War 2
- 1945-1949:Chinese Civil War between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) & KMT with CCP victory on 1st October 1949
- 1949: official leadership role by Mao Zedong,leader of CCP
- 1949: Chiang's escape to Taiwan,KMT rule in Taiwan established
- 1949-present: KMT rule in Taiwan,anti-China stance remains
- 1949-present: CCP rule in China
The Intellectual Movement (1917-1923)
--The whole movement is also known generally as the May 4th Movement/period.
--May 4th Movement is not to be confused with the actual demonstrations on May 4th 1919 itself that is
the May 4th Incident or also May 4th Movement.
1.events before 1919:
--Chen Tu-hsiu founded the 'New Youth' journal,professing his ideas of democracy,Western science against Confucian conservatism
-->the use of 'pai-hua' or the vernacular instead of the ancient classical language of the archaic ('wen yan')
--1917:Hu Shih further promoted the use of the vernacular,called for the total removal of the classical language
--another significant literary journal of the same aims :'New Tide'
2.Aims of May 4th Movement:
--a critical evaluation of Chinese cultural heritage in the light of modern Western ideas
--radical movement to salvage China by parting with the Confucian conservatism that has rendered her so weak & vulnerable as seen in the Ching period with constant assaults of China's rights by the West.
--hence a need to follow the West in order to strengthen herself,a cry for a change in the content & style of Chinese life,with the first changes seen in literature.
-->May 4th Incident,1919: sparked off as a protest against the Versailles Treaty which gave Chinese Liaotung peninsular(Shangtung) to the Japanese,culminated into a nationwide revolt against imperialism & conservatism,& divided ancient literature from modern literature ever since.
Modern Poetry
--very different from that of ancient China,very unlike Tang poetry.
--written in the vernacular & no longer restrained by the quatrains & rhythm & lines
1.Initial Stage:
--most poets were largely influenced by Western literature who studied abroad
--representative poets: Kuo Mo-jo (fiercely Romantic & passionate),Xu Zhimo (modelled his poetry on the form of Western poetry),Wen Yi-duo (similar in style to Xu),Lin Jinfa (excessive use of symbolism) & Bing Xin (female poet influenced by the great Indian literary laurette Tagore & her themes generally are on nature,family kinship,famed for her poetry for children & praising mother's love)
2.Before 1937(Before 2nd Sino-Japanese War)
--patriotic verses that were anti-Japanese,optimistic & inspirational
--examples: Tsang Kejia,Ai Qing,He Qifang
3.1937-49(War period)
--no longer writing about romance or nature but inspirational anti-Japanese poems
--examples:Tian Jian,Yuan Shui-pai,Li Ji
~(Index of Site)~
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Hsia-Shang Dynasties:Myths & Legends
Chou Dynasty Literature
Classical Age of Philosophy In Chou period
Han Dynasty Literature
Tang Dynasty Literature
Sung Dynasty Literature
Yuan Dynasty Literature
Ming Dynasty Literature
Ching Dynasty Literature
New Intellectual Movement & Modern Poetry
Modern Drama
Modern Prose
Modern Novels
Introduction to Site
Exit/Conclusion
Useful Links to Chinese Literature Sites
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