Hu Shi and the Examination of Organizing National Studies (Centered on the Study of the History of Chinese Literature)

Author: Xu Yanping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: Although this book primarily evaluates the pros and cons of Hu Shi in the field of humanities and literature (especially in the study of Chinese literary history) within the context of Chinese academic tradition, it also frequently places the issues in the context of Western influences to examine the catalytic role of Western culture (such as evolutionism, scientism, experimentalism, etc.) on Chinese academia. Additionally, even when restricting the discussion to the topic of "organizing national studies and Chinese literary research," there are still many omissions. The reasons for this are twofold: first, predecessors have already conducted in-depth research on related issues, such as studies on Zhang Taiyan and Hu Shi, or Hu Shi and Fu Siyan; second, the author lacks expertise in certain topics, such as the relationship between organizing national studies and the late Qing Dynasty's national essence movement, or the connection between organizing national studies and the Xueheng School. Therefore, these issues are temporarily set aside, which is also a regret left behind when striving for the "systematic" nature of the work. The specific content of this book includes the transformation of Hu Shi's academic thought, the formation of his research methods and the shift in his research direction, the establishment and influence of the vernacular literary history, as well as the exchange of modern Chinese and Japanese academic studies in relation to organizing national studies.