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How did Xu Zhimo and Wen Yiduo use Western models in their poetry?
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Chinese literature
Zhang Fei on the Long Sloped Bridge Turning Away One Million Wei Troops with a Powerful Stare, woodblock colour print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1884. It depicts a scene from the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
During the May Fourth period, poets like Xu Zhimo and Wen Yiduo were instrumental in modernizing Chinese poetry by moving away from traditional forms in favor of the vernacular language.21
As leading figures of the Crescent Moon Society, both poets utilized Western models to reshape Chinese verse. Their approach focused on:1
- New Formal Structures: They sought to break from classical constraints by creating new poetic forms inspired by their exposure to Western literature.21
- Aesthetic Innovation: They introduced elements of music and color into their writing, emphasizing the lyrical quality of their work.1
- Western Influence: Xu Zhimo, who studied at the University of Cambridge, was deeply influenced by English Romantic poetry, while Wen Yiduo brought perspectives from his education in the United States.21
By integrating these Western-inspired techniques with the vernacular style, they helped establish a new foundation for modern Chinese literature, prioritizing artistic expression and lyrical beauty.21