Contemporary Review (Chinese magazine)
 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (June 2024) |
| Editor-in-chief | Wang Shijie (王世杰) |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Publisher | Contemporary Review Publisher |
| First issue | December 13, 1924 |
| Final issue | December 1928 |
| Country | China |
| Language | Chinese |
Contemporary Review (traditional Chinese: 現代評論; simplified Chinese: 现代评论; pinyin: Xiàndài Pínglùn) was a weekly Chinese literary magazine from December 1924 to December 1928.[1][2][3]
Publication history
[edit] |
Contemporary Review debuted in Beijing on December 13, 1924. After 209 issues, it ceased operations in 1928. There were 3 extra issues and a series of specials. Contemporary Review was a weekly publication that spanned many topics, such as politics, economics, law, the arts, philosophy, education, and science. Closely affiliated scholars include Hu Shih (胡適), Gao Yihan (高一涵), Tang Youren (唐有壬), Chen Yuan (陳源), Xu Zimo (徐志摩) and others. Many of them studied in Europe or the United States. Contemporary Review promoted individualism and freedom of style. While it was a general magazine, it published many new literature writers.
Zhang Dinghuang (張定璜) published "Mr. Lu Xun" (魯迅先生), a comprehensive two part review of all of Lu Xun's writings, in the 24 and 31 January 1925 issues of the journal. Zhang's essay defined Lu Xun's historic significance in the transition of modern Chinese literature.[citation needed]
Early Republic of China journals such as Fiction Monthly (founded in 1910), Contemporary Review, along with New Youth (Xin Qingnian) (founded in 1915), Creative Quarterly (founded in 1921), Tattler (founded in 1924) and others played a critical role in modernising the written Chinese language. These intersecting circles of scholars all witnessed the 1911 Xinhai revolution. Their goal was to revolutionise the written language, transforming it from classical to vernacular. Many of these writers and scholars had close relationships with successive education ministries. They helped to established the education system and the curriculum: Hu Shih served as Education Minister for the Republic of China and Cheng Fangwu (成仿吾) of Creative Quarterly set up the Red Army education system for their long march and beyond. The reviews – sometimes very heated – gave theoretical foundation for the works. By the end of the 20th century, the Chinese general population achieved a level of literacy.[citation needed]
Representative issues
[edit]
First Issue Table of Contents
[edit]- Editorial—Current Events
- Government by Law and Revolution, by Yan Shutang
- The Critical Moment, by Wang Shijie
- Generous Settlement Terms for the Qing Imperial Family
- "Beggar", a novella, by Xi Lin
- "November 3rd" a novel, by You Dafu
- "Difficulties of Translation", by Hu Shih
- "Philistines", by Xi Gu
References
[edit]- ^ Hockx, Michel (1999). The literary field of twentieth-century China. University of Hawaiʻi. ISBN 9780824822026. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
- ^ Hockx, Michel (2003). Questions of Style: Literary Societies and Literary Journals in Modern China, 1911-1937. Brill Publishers. ISBN 9789004129153. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
- ^ Shiao Ling (2010). "Culture, Commerce and Connections: The Inner Dynamics of New Culture Publishing in the Post-May Fourth Period". In Cynthia Brokaw, Christopher A. Reed (ed.). From Woodblocks to the Internet: Chinese Publishing and Print Culture in Transition, Circa 1800 to 2008. Brill Publishers. ISBN 9789004185272. Retrieved 17 March 2013.