Young people shouldn't read Lu Xun, and the elderly shouldn't read Hu Shi.

Author: Han Shishan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This is a research monograph on the history of modern Chinese literature that "makes the Lu Yan academic circle ashamed." Han Shishan, known as the "literary arena blade," has devoted himself to modern literature research in recent years, and this book is the culmination of his research efforts. It primarily tells the story of the debates in China's cultural circles during the 1930s, revealing the conflicts and struggles between the two major cultural factions represented by Lu Xun and Hu Shi. It showcases the comprehensive rivalry between the two cultural leaders and the voices of disapproval toward Lu Xun since the New Culture Movement. It recreates the vibrant and lively scene of the 1930s cultural circles, analyzing and researching the ideological stances represented by the two academic factions through a series of historical events such as the "withdrawal of articles incident," the struggle over the "books every youth must read," the struggles in the Normal University student uprising, and the "gossip incident." It portrays the conflicts and struggles among a group of cultural elites active in China's literary scene during the 1930s.
Studying Lu Xun has been an academic training for me. As a figure from a bygone era, Lu Xun's life was full of twists and turns, and it was both complex, marked by both steadfastness and transformation. He had his glory, but he also had his sorrow. There are two points I would like to clarify first. One is that my research does not involve Lu Xun's personal morality, meaning it does not delve into his personal character, but rather focuses on his stance and role during that significant historical period. The second is that I have limited this research to before 1927; after that, Lu Xun had already assumed the identity of a revolutionary fighter, which falls outside the scope of my research.
There is another consideration that cannot be overlooked. In the past, out of reverence for Lu Xun, people believed he was always right and those who had debated or stood in opposition to him, labeling them as backward or reactionary. Such an approach does injustice to history and to the individuals who had contributed to the progress of Chinese society. Restoring fairness to Lu Xun is also restoring fairness to history and to many other figures in history.