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Creation Society

Chinese literature
Also known as: Ch’uan-tsao she, Chuangzao She

Quick Summary

The Creation Society (Chuangzao She) was a literary association in China that initially followed the "Romantic" tradition, advocating for "art for art's sake." However, its leading figure, Guo Moruo, converted to Marxism in 1924, transforming the society into China's first Marxist literary organization.1

This shift occurred during the May Fourth period, a broader intellectual movement that challenged traditional literary forms and advocated for a new literature written in the vernacular. This movement was part of a larger New Culture Movement aimed at cultural and sociopolitical reform. Literary associations like the Creation Society and the Literary Research Association played a significant role in this transformation, often by translating and adapting literature from other cultures, which became foundational for the "new literature". This period saw a departure from classical Chinese literature towards more accessible, colloquial styles and themes reflecting ordinary life.12

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