A Discussion of the Reform of National Characteristics by Writers in the New Literary Period of the 1920s

Chinese literature in the 1920s shouldered the mission of illumination and renovation, and the discovery of the “human being” is the most groundbreaking innovation in the new literature period. The research on “human beings” in the New Literature period is of great significance and urgency for the reformation of national characteristics. This article focuses on the reformation of national characteristics during the New Literature period in the 1920s, and explores the features of national characteristics in China from diverse perspectives both domestic and international. The paper analyzes the views on the national characteristics reformation of the writers in the New Literature period. It examines the viewpoints of Lu Xun, Hu Shi, and Li Dazhao and finds that all three writers had the experience of studying abroad. Combined with the fact that Western thoughts were widely disseminated in China during the May Fourth period, the article arrives at the opinion that the reformation of China’s national characteristics was influenced by Western thoughts. In addition, this paper takes The True Story of Ah Q of Lu Xun as an example to explore the reformation of national characteristics by writers in the May Fourth period. The reformation of national characteristics during the New Literature period was a prerequisite for the salvation of the country and the citizens, and it laying a solid foundation for social progress and the development of modern Chinese literature.