Between Tradition and Change

Book excerpt: This book explores the reasons for adopting a hermeneutical version of reception theory in discussing modern Chinese culture. Between Tradition and Change is centered around the contributions of Hu Shi, Lu Xun, and Mao Dun to May Fourth Literature. It employs literary theory (hermeneutics) in order to clarify the meaning of cultural change, instead of merely offering a history of May Fourth culture or a discussion of representative figures.Contents: Preface; Acknowledgments; May Fourth Literature Between Past and Present; Problems in May Fourth Interpretation; Hermeneutics and Chinese Literary History; Reception Theory and the May Fourth Reader; The Formation of the Reader in Hu Shi, Lu Xun, and Mao Dun; May Fourth Literature and Dialogue East/West; Notes; Bibliography.