“Yü Sī” (“Threads of Words”) Literary Society and Birth of Modern Chinese Essayism

This article examines the activities of Chinese writers and critics who were part of the “Yü Sī” (“Threads of Words”) literary society during the 1920s and 1930s. Initially publishing a weekly journal of the same name in Beijing and later in Shanghai, the society played a crucial role in the evolution of modern Chinese literature. The relevance of this study lies in its aim to fill gaps in the understanding of the literary process in China during this period. The novelty of the research is highlighted by the analysis of essays published in “Yü Sī” by prominent figures such as Lu Xun, Bing Xin, Zhou Zuoren, and Lin Yutang, whose works significantly influenced contemporary Chinese literature. It is noted that the fascination of Chinese writers with genres such as sanwen (essays), sanwen xiaoshuo (sketches), and sanwen shi (prose poetry) stemmed from their engagement with English and Russian literary traditions. The article characterizes the positioning practices and philosophical underpinnings of the “Yü Sī” journal, where Zhou Zuoren advocated for principles of freedom and spontaneity in both content and form. It is demonstrated that the European essay genre substantially influenced the evolution of traditional Chinese minor genres. The article concludes that the role of the “Yü Sī” society in shaping the essay genre within Chinese literature remains underexplored by Russian sinologists, suggesting avenues for further research.