Hu Shi, as a pioneer of the New Literature Movement, has consistently attracted significant academic attention to his literary concepts. However, previous explorations into the sources of his literary thought have primarily focused on his 1917 essay, “Tentative Suggestions for Literary Reform,” and his subsequent writings on vernacular Chinese and related memoirs. These studies have often adopted various Western “isms” as their starting point, tracing the origins of Hu Shi’s literary propositions. Regrettably, the extensive nature of Hu Shi’s works has led scholars to draw upon disparate source materials. Moreover, these various “isms” can be inherently conflicting, and Hu Shi, in his use of these concepts, often cited them flexibly, adapting them to his own needs rather than strictly adhering to their original Western academic forms. Consequently, most of these explorations may not adequately elucidate the origins of Hu Shi’s literary thought.
To move beyond the debate of abstract “isms,” this paper, adopting a chronological approach and utilizing newly discovered historical materials on Hu Shi from the past two decades, focuses on Hu Shi’s academic journey and literary thought between 1906 and 1916. It examines the influence of his early knowledge and prejudices on his understanding of Western scholarship and literature, thereby reconstructing the historical context of his literary revolution. This paper will begin with Hu Shi’s early academic concerns, systematically collating his literary viewpoints and practical criticisms scattered throughout various works to depict a more complete pre-history of the literary revolution. Furthermore, by analyzing the evolving and enduring elements therein, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of Hu Shi’s literary views and their relationship with traditional Confucian thought.
To move beyond the debate of abstract “isms,” this paper, adopting a chronological approach and utilizing newly discovered historical materials on Hu Shi from the past two decades, focuses on Hu Shi’s academic journey and literary thought between 1906 and 1916. It examines the influence of his early knowledge and prejudices on his understanding of Western scholarship and literature, thereby reconstructing the historical context of his literary revolution. This paper will begin with Hu Shi’s early academic concerns, systematically collating his literary viewpoints and practical criticisms scattered throughout various works to depict a more complete pre-history of the literary revolution. Furthermore, by analyzing the evolving and enduring elements therein, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of Hu Shi’s literary views and their relationship with traditional Confucian thought.
Page：
231-276
Keywords：
Hu Shi, Literary Revolution, literary thought, literary criticism, prejudice
