How did the Creation Society’s approach to literature differ from that of the Literary Research Association?

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Scene from Romance of the Three Kingdoms — 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, the Literary Research Association and the Creation Society held contrasting philosophies regarding the purpose of literature.1

Literary Research Association: Often called the "realist" or "art-for-life’s-sake" school, this group focused on socially reflective and critical-realist writing. They utilized the magazine Short Story Monthly to promote "new literature" that addressed societal issues.1
Creation Society: Initially, members of this group followed the "Romantic" tradition and advocated for "art for art’s sake," explicitly eschewing expressions of social responsibility in their work.1

However, these positions were not static. In 1924, the Creation Society’s leading figure, Guo Moruo, converted to Marxism. Following this shift, the Creation Society evolved into China’s first Marxist literary society, moving away from its original aesthetic focus toward a more politically engaged stance.1