Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2021

The Spirit of New China and the Generation of Literary Classics

(Abstract)

Jiang Shuzhuo and Li Shi

The spirit of New China refers to the principal mental quality that accompanied the major historical events of different periods since the founding of the PRC in 1949. It was closely related to the creation of literature and the generation of literary classics. In different historical stages, the spirit of New China expressed itself in various forms. It mainly includes the spirit of patriotism, the spirit of independence, self-reliance and hard work, the spirit of national unity, the spirit of reflection, the spirit of reform and opening up, the spirit of keeping pace with the times, the spirit of diversity and integration, the spirit of people’s creation, a shared future for mankind, etc. The three links of the “literary system—literary creation—literary criticism,” manifest the dynamics between the spirit of New China and the generation of literary classics. On the one hand, the spirit of New China has to be transformed aesthetically into a specific mechanism for literary production which, with the help of the intervention and interpretation of theoretical-critical discourses, generates a literary classic; on the other, the interaction between literature and politics constantly enriches the connotations of the spirit. It is therefore necessary to create classic literary works that live up to the times and the people, taking a stand on the four levels of politics, the people, literary criticism and literary creation.