History of Modern Chinese Literature

Author: Zheng Wanpeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The foundation of modern Chinese liberalism lies in advocating personal freedom. The spirit of personal freedom and the idea of individual liberation formed a grand theme of individualism in modern Chinese literature during the May Fourth Movement. Liberalism draws from the traditional humanistic spirit of both Eastern and Western cultures, hence it has always embodied a profound philosophy rather than indulgence. Liberalism, grounded in rational individualism, has always been closely linked to the traditional Chinese tradition of constant vigilance. The philosophy of personal behavior it expresses belongs to a modern interpretation of the traditional "self-cultivation and harmony" () personality theory. In the history of modern Chinese culture, liberalism inherited the individualistic philosophy of Confucianism and paved the way for contemporary existentialism, serving as the origin of the 20th-century liberal philosophy of humanity. This book examines both the liberal literature represented by Hu Shih, Lin Yutang, and Liang Shiqiu, and the leftist literature represented by Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, and Mao Dun from a humanistic perspective, constructing a diverse and dynamic history of modern Chinese literature and uncovering the rich modernity it embodies as well as the humanistic liberal philosophy it has created. The unique feature of this work is its independent literary perspective on the history of literature. This book examines both the liberal literature represented by Hu Shih, Lin Yutang, and Liang Shiqiu, and the leftist literature represented by Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, and Mao Dun from a humanistic perspective, constructing a diverse history of modern Chinese literature and uncovering the modernity it embodies as well as the humanistic liberal philosophy it has created.