People: New Class of Young Intellectuals
"If we want China to become strong, Japan is an excellent model for us.”-San Min Chu I, by Sun Yat-sen
At the center of the new cultural current was a new class of young Chinese intellectuals; most of whom were educated in Japan.
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was one of the earliest and prominent Chinese revolutionary. He spread his philosophy, SanMinChuI and established the Nationalist Party of China.
"For forty years I have devoted myself to the cause of the people's revolution with but one end in view, the elevation of China to a position of freedom and equality among the nations. My experiences during these forty years have firmly convinced me that to attain this goal we must bring about a thorough awakening of our own people and ally ourselves in a common struggle with those peoples of the world who treat us on the basis of equality. The work of the Revolution is not yet done. Let all our comrades follow my "Plans for National Reconstruction," "Fundamentals of National Reconstruction," " Three Principles of the People," and the "Manifesto" issued by the First National Convention of our Party, and strive on earnestly for their consummation."-Will of Sun Yat-sen, March 11, 1925 |
Chen Du-xiu
Chen Du-xiu started "New Youth", monthly periodical that spread revolutionary ideas.
“Youth is like early spring, like the rising sun, like trees and grass in bud, like a newly sharpened blade. It is the most valuable period of life...What is the struggle? It is to exert one’s intellect, discard resolutely the old and the rotten, regard them as enemies and as the flood or savage beasts, keep away from their neighborhood and refuse to be contaminated by their poisonous germs...The amount of truth in the universe is boundless, and the fertile arenas in the realm of science awaiting pioneers are immense!”-Call to the Youth, article from "New Youth", written by Chen Duxiu |
Lu Xun
As a leading figure of modern Chinese literature, Lu Xun harshly criticized Confucianism and advocated revolutionary ideas.
"I have only just realized that I have been living all these years in a place where for four thousand years they have been eating human flesh. My brother had just taken over the charge of the house when our sister died, and he may well have used her flesh in our rice and dishes, making us eat it unwittingly. It is possible that I ate several pieces of my sister's flesh unwittingly, and now it is my turn, . . .How can a man like myself, after four thousand years of man-caring history—even though I knew nothing about it at first—ever hope to face real men? Perhaps there are still children who have not eaten men? Save the children. . ."-A Mad Man's Diary, short story written by Lu Xun |