The May 4The May 4thth MovementMovementAn Intellectual An Intellectual

RevolutionRevolution1919-19211919-1921

China 1916 -1927China 1916 -1927Do the two events really pull in Do the two events really pull in

opposite directions?opposite directions?

OriginsOrigins Japan’s 21 DemandsJapan’s 21 Demands Treaty of Versailles - ShandongTreaty of Versailles - Shandong New intelligentsia: 5 million educated in New intelligentsia: 5 million educated in

WestWest Beijing University (Peita) founded 1898 – Beijing University (Peita) founded 1898 –

promoted free expressionpromoted free expression New YouthNew Youth magazine started 1915: edited magazine started 1915: edited

by Chen Duxiu – attacked Confucianismby Chen Duxiu – attacked Confucianism Literary Revolution: attacks on traditional Literary Revolution: attacks on traditional

language led by Hu Shilanguage led by Hu Shi Socialist ideas promoted by Li DazhaoSocialist ideas promoted by Li Dazhao

May 4May 4thth a Movement or an Era? a Movement or an Era?

The period 1915-1922 is referred to as the May The period 1915-1922 is referred to as the May 44thth era because of the far- reaching changes era because of the far- reaching changes

it signalled the near- complete rejection of it signalled the near- complete rejection of Confucian beliefs and the substitution of a Confucian beliefs and the substitution of a variety of western ideas such as democracy, variety of western ideas such as democracy, egalitarianism, nationalism, republicanism, and egalitarianism, nationalism, republicanism, and eventually Marxism.eventually Marxism.

For many this was a period of implementation of For many this was a period of implementation of western ideas and for others this was a betrayal western ideas and for others this was a betrayal

Chen DuxiuChen Duxiu

Founder of New Youth magazineFounder of New Youth magazine

Teacher at Beijing UniversityTeacher at Beijing University

Arrested for actions in May 4Arrested for actions in May 4 thth

While in hiding founded While in hiding founded Communist cell in ShanghaiCommunist cell in Shanghai

May 4, 1919May 4, 1919

3000 student demonstrators at Gate 3000 student demonstrators at Gate of Heavenly Peace against Versailles of Heavenly Peace against Versailles Treaty and JapaneseTreaty and Japanese

Cabinet minister’s house and Cabinet minister’s house and Japanese Legation burnedJapanese Legation burned

Manifesto declared:Manifesto declared:““China’s territory may be conquered, China’s territory may be conquered, but it cannot be given away. The but it cannot be given away. The Chinese people may be massacred, Chinese people may be massacred, but they will not surrender…”but they will not surrender…”

4 May 1919, Beijing4 May 1919, Beijing

Movement SpreadsMovement SpreadsMay-June 1919May-June 1919

Mass demonstrations throughout Mass demonstrations throughout ChinaChina

Warlord cabinet resignsWarlord cabinet resigns Students joined by the press and the Students joined by the press and the

middle classmiddle class Sun Yatsen supported protestSun Yatsen supported protest Japanese goods boycottedJapanese goods boycotted Schools closedSchools closed

Intellectual RevolutionIntellectual Revolution Explosion of new magazinesExplosion of new magazines Attacks on ConfucianismAttacks on Confucianism Western ideas promotedWestern ideas promoted Marxism promoted – New Youth spring Marxism promoted – New Youth spring

1919 edition (CCP founded 1921)1919 edition (CCP founded 1921) Women’s rights (Ding Ling)Women’s rights (Ding Ling) Workers rights, trade union activityWorkers rights, trade union activity Peasant rights and educationPeasant rights and education New educational ideasNew educational ideas New literature, vernacular – Lu XunNew literature, vernacular – Lu Xun

Intellectual RevolutionIntellectual Revolution

Lu XunLu Xun

Intellectual ConflictIntellectual Conflict

Hu Shi: PROBLEMSHu Shi: PROBLEMS

Beware of isms, simple solutions to complex Beware of isms, simple solutions to complex problems. Solve problems one at a time problems. Solve problems one at a time without revolution but with PRAGMATISMwithout revolution but with PRAGMATISM

VsVs

Li Dazhao: ISMSLi Dazhao: ISMS

Solve problems with a complete and Solve problems with a complete and thorough socio-political transformation – thorough socio-political transformation –

revolution - MARXISMrevolution - MARXISM

Li DazhaoLi Dazhao

CCP FoundedCCP Founded Beijing University converts: Chen Duxiu, Li Beijing University converts: Chen Duxiu, Li

Dazhao, Mao ZedongDazhao, Mao Zedong Comintern agent Voitinsky set up study Comintern agent Voitinsky set up study

groupsgroups July 1921: First Congress of CCP in July 1921: First Congress of CCP in

ShanghaiShanghai Organized labour centres, workers’ Organized labour centres, workers’

schools, strikesschools, strikes Chinese Seamen’s Union strike: union Chinese Seamen’s Union strike: union

recognition, increased payrecognition, increased pay

GMD ReorganizedGMD Reorganized 1920: Lenin’s two stage revolutionary 1920: Lenin’s two stage revolutionary

policy: 1. communists ally with middle policy: 1. communists ally with middle class to get rid of colonial powers; 2. class to get rid of colonial powers; 2. communist revolutioncommunist revolution

June 1923: Comintern agent Maring makes June 1923: Comintern agent Maring makes united front of CCP and GMDunited front of CCP and GMD

October 1923: agent Borodin remodels October 1923: agent Borodin remodels GMD – mass organization of workers, GMD – mass organization of workers, peasants, youth, womenpeasants, youth, women

May 1924 Huangpu military academy to May 1924 Huangpu military academy to train a revolutionary army commanded by train a revolutionary army commanded by Chiang KaishekChiang Kaishek

AssessmentAssessment According to GMD ( Guomindang) there is a sharp According to GMD ( Guomindang) there is a sharp

distinction between the movement as a manifestation of distinction between the movement as a manifestation of nationalism which receives priase and the movement as nationalism which receives priase and the movement as a cultural phenomenon which is treated more criticallya cultural phenomenon which is treated more critically

CKS objected to aspects of the intellectual and youth CKS objected to aspects of the intellectual and youth movements especially the overthrow of old values and movements especially the overthrow of old values and traditions.traditions.

‘‘the demand for individual emancipation and an the demand for individual emancipation and an ignorance of state and society’ and the blind worship of ignorance of state and society’ and the blind worship of foreign countries and the indiscriminate introduction foreign countries and the indiscriminate introduction and acceptance of foreign civilization’and acceptance of foreign civilization’

Communist viewCommunist view

Communist writers have defined the May 4Communist writers have defined the May 4 thth Movement as the starting point of modern Movement as the starting point of modern Chinese historyChinese history

Mao Zedong himswelf was one of the Mao Zedong himswelf was one of the contributors to the New Youth Magazinecontributors to the New Youth Magazine

He was to argue, years later that the may 4He was to argue, years later that the may 4 thth marked the dividing line between ‘old marked the dividing line between ‘old democracy’ and the ‘new democracy’democracy’ and the ‘new democracy’

Old democracy and new Old democracy and new democracydemocracy

Old democracy referred to the period Old democracy referred to the period following the Opium Wars- where the political following the Opium Wars- where the political guiding force was the scholar gentry , a guiding force was the scholar gentry , a wealthy and privileged classwealthy and privileged class

The new democracy the political guiding force The new democracy the political guiding force was the ‘proletariat’ and not the bourgeois was the ‘proletariat’ and not the bourgeois classclass

Paul Bailey: China in the 20Paul Bailey: China in the 20thth CenturyCentury

May 4May 4thth Movement embraced an extraordinary range Movement embraced an extraordinary range and diversity of ideasand diversity of ideas

Its often likened to the Renaissance of EuropeIts often likened to the Renaissance of Europe or the or the Enlightenment which paved the way for the French Enlightenment which paved the way for the French Revolution ( Lucien Bianco)Revolution ( Lucien Bianco)

Its important to remember that May 4Its important to remember that May 4thth is in a sense is in a sense an extension of earlier movements during the last an extension of earlier movements during the last years of the Qing where there was an attempt to years of the Qing where there was an attempt to overthrow education systems , boooks and attempt overthrow education systems , boooks and attempt to use the vernacularto use the vernacular

Jack Gray: Rebellions and Jack Gray: Rebellions and RevolutionsRevolutions

May 4May 4thth precipitated changes which had been only precipitated changes which had been only potentialpotential

A united front of intellectuals, merchants and A united front of intellectuals, merchants and workers had defeated the government in defense of workers had defeated the government in defense of National interestsNational interests

It was their combined action that led to the creation It was their combined action that led to the creation of trade unions, opening of night schools, and many of trade unions, opening of night schools, and many joined the GMD in huge numbers so for the first joined the GMD in huge numbers so for the first time the membership of the GMD in China time the membership of the GMD in China exceeded those over seasexceeded those over seas

Jack GrayJack Gray

Greatest impact of May 4Greatest impact of May 4thth was cultural was cultural Replacement of Pinyin with BaihuaReplacement of Pinyin with Baihua Baihua became the byword also for radicalismBaihua became the byword also for radicalism This change was almost as significant as the This change was almost as significant as the

democratization of culture as the replacement democratization of culture as the replacement of Latin in Europe by the vernacular languages of Latin in Europe by the vernacular languages after the Renaissanceafter the Renaissance

HsuHsu

Mass nationalism had emerged as new forces Mass nationalism had emerged as new forces in Chinese politics. Some historians hailed it in Chinese politics. Some historians hailed it as the first genuine mass movement in Modern as the first genuine mass movement in Modern Chinese historyChinese history

What did May 4What did May 4thth really achieve really achieve Hsu says it served as a catalyst for the intellectual Hsu says it served as a catalyst for the intellectual

revolutionrevolution However soon a split emeerged because those However soon a split emeerged because those

who were disappointed by the Versailles who were disappointed by the Versailles Conference turned to Marxism and the influence Conference turned to Marxism and the influence of the Bolshevik revolution while the otheres who of the Bolshevik revolution while the otheres who were more tradition bound blameed Western were more tradition bound blameed Western materialism and turned to Chinese spiritualism.materialism and turned to Chinese spiritualism.

This split served to lift the movement to new This split served to lift the movement to new heightsheights

Was the May 4Was the May 4thth movement had movement had been more effective at destroying been more effective at destroying

the past than constructing a the past than constructing a future?future?

Movement was dividedMovement was divided The rise of two parties and their conflict The rise of two parties and their conflict

prevented the construction of a new future prevented the construction of a new future Prevailing Government weak unable to shake Prevailing Government weak unable to shake

off western imperialism and Japanese off western imperialism and Japanese machinationsmachinations

Warlords prevailed until 1926Warlords prevailed until 1926

ConclusionConclusion

Hsu says May 4Hsu says May 4thth marks the 3 marks the 3rdrd stage of response stage of response to western impactto western impact Self –strengthening was superficial changesSelf –strengthening was superficial changes 1898-1912 marked acceptance of western ideas and 1898-1912 marked acceptance of western ideas and

changechange 1917-1923 marked a shift away from the traditional 1917-1923 marked a shift away from the traditional

Chinese bias towards westernization Chinese bias towards westernization May 4May 4thth a socio-politico-intellectual revolution aimed a socio-politico-intellectual revolution aimed

at achieving national independence, individual at achieving national independence, individual emancipation and creation of a new cultureemancipation and creation of a new culture