The League of Left-Wing Writers (Chinese: 中國左翼作家聯盟; pinyin: Zhōngguó Zuǒyì Zuòjiā Liánméng), commonly abbreviated as the Zuolian in Chinese, was an organization of writers formed in Shanghai, China, on 2 March 1930, at the instigation of the Chinese Communist Party and the influence of the celebrated author Lu Xun. [1]
Five members who were executed, from left: Hu Yepin, Rou Shi, Feng Keng, Yin Fu, Li Weisen (Li Qiushi)
Other members included Ding Ling, Hu Feng, and Mei Zhi.[2] The purpose of the League was to promote socialist realism in support of the Communist Revolution, and it eventually became very influential in Chinese cultural circles. Lu Xun delivered the opening address to the organizational meeting, but he became disillusioned when it quickly became clear that he would have little influence.[3] Other members included leaders of the Sun Society and the Creation Society, and Zhou Yang, who became Mao Zedong's favorite literary figure and after 1949 zealously enforced political orthodoxy. The League articulated theories on the political role of literature that foreshadowed Mao's influential Yan'an Talks on Literature and Art, and engaged in running debates with the "art for art's sake" Crescent Moon Society.[4]
Due to the League's prominent political views, it was quickly banned by the Kuomintang government. On 7 February 1931, the government executed five members of the League: Li Weisen (李伟森), Hu Yepin, Rou Shi, Yin Fu (殷夫), and Feng Keng.[5]
The League was disbanded voluntarily in 1936. This was mainly in order to encourage authors to unite across political boundaries and face the rapidly increasing threat from Japan.
^Pollard, David E. (2002). The True Story of Lu Xun. The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press. ISBN978-962-996-061-2.
^Zhang 张, Xiaofeng 晓风 (12 March 2008). "张晓风：我的父亲母亲" [Zhang Xiaofeng: My father and mother]. Sina (in Chinese). Retrieved 3 May 2017.
^Leo Oufan Lee, "Literary Trends: The Road to Revolution 1927-1949," Ch 9 in Fairbank, John King; Feuerwerker, Albert; Twitchett, Denis Crispin (1986). The Cambridge history of China. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521243384.
Spence, Jonathan D. (1981). The Gate of Heavenly Peace: The Chinese and Their Revolution, 1895-1980. New York: Viking Press. ISBN0670292478.
Wong, Lawrence Wang-Chi (1991). Politics and Literature in Shanghai: The Chinese League of Left-Wing Writers. Manchester University Press. ISBN0-7190-2924-4.
April 13, 2024
league, left, wing, writers, chinese, 中國左翼作家聯盟, pinyin, zhōngguó, zuǒyì, zuòjiā, liánméng, commonly, abbreviated, zuolian, chinese, organization, writers, formed, shanghai, china, march, 1930, instigation, chinese, communist, party, influence, celebrated, auth. The League of Left Wing Writers Chinese 中國左翼作家聯盟 pinyin Zhōngguo Zuǒyi Zuojia Lianmeng commonly abbreviated as the Zuolian in Chinese was an organization of writers formed in Shanghai China on 2 March 1930 at the instigation of the Chinese Communist Party and the influence of the celebrated author Lu Xun 1 Five members who were executed from left Hu Yepin Rou Shi Feng Keng Yin Fu Li Weisen Li Qiushi Other members included Ding Ling Hu Feng and Mei Zhi 2 The purpose of the League was to promote socialist realism in support of the Communist Revolution and it eventually became very influential in Chinese cultural circles Lu Xun delivered the opening address to the organizational meeting but he became disillusioned when it quickly became clear that he would have little influence 3 Other members included leaders of the Sun Society and the Creation Society and Zhou Yang who became Mao Zedong s favorite literary figure and after 1949 zealously enforced political orthodoxy The League articulated theories on the political role of literature that foreshadowed Mao s influential Yan an Talks on Literature and Art and engaged in running debates with the art for art s sake Crescent Moon Society 4 Due to the League s prominent political views it was quickly banned by the Kuomintang government On 7 February 1931 the government executed five members of the League Li Weisen 李伟森 Hu Yepin Rou Shi Yin Fu 殷夫 and Feng Keng 5 The League was disbanded voluntarily in 1936 This was mainly in order to encourage authors to unite across political boundaries and face the rapidly increasing threat from Japan Execution editFive Chinese writers associated with the League of Left Wing Writers Li Weisen Hu Yepin Rou Shi Yin Fu and Feng Keng were executed on 7 February 1931 by the Kuomintang in the White Terror period that followed the 1927 Shanghai massacre Eighteen other communists were executed on the same day including a pregnant woman 5 Some have suggested that the five may have been betrayed by others in the Communist Party perhaps as a result of a power struggle 6 See also editUnion of Soviet Writers Union of Chinese Writers League of American Writers International Union of Revolutionary WritersNotes edit Pollard David E 2002 The True Story of Lu Xun The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press ISBN 978 962 996 061 2 Zhang 张 Xiaofeng 晓风 12 March 2008 张晓风 我的父亲母亲 Zhang Xiaofeng My father and mother Sina in Chinese Retrieved 3 May 2017 Leo Oufan Lee Literary Trends The Road to Revolution 1927 1949 Ch 9 in Fairbank John King Feuerwerker Albert Twitchett Denis Crispin 1986 The Cambridge history of China Cambridge England Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521243384 Spence 1981 plate 61 a b Wong 1991 p 100 Wong 1991 pp 100 131 References editSpence Jonathan D 1981 The Gate of Heavenly Peace The Chinese and Their Revolution 1895 1980 New York Viking Press ISBN 0670292478 Wong Lawrence Wang Chi 1991 Politics and Literature in Shanghai The Chinese League of Left Wing Writers Manchester University Press ISBN 0 7190 2924 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title League of Left Wing Writers amp oldid 1195089877 Five Martyrs, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
