Nü shen

work by Guo Moruo

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Nü shen (Goddess) is a collection of poems by Guo Moruo, published in 1921. This anthology is considered a foundational work in the development of modern Chinese poetry. The poems within Nü shen are characterized by their emotional intensity and free verse style, drawing inspiration from Western poets like Walt Whitman and Percy Bysshe Shelley. The publication of this work was a significant event during the May Fourth period in China, a time of major cultural and intellectual reform. Guo Moruo was a leading figure in the Creation Society, an important literary group established in the same year Nü shen was published.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

7 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Guo Moruo
…later compiled into the anthology Nü shen (1921; “Goddess”). Its publication laid the first cornerstone for the development of new verse in China. In the same year, Guo, together with Cheng Fangwu, Yu Dafu, and Zhang Ziping, gave impetus to the establishment of the Creation Society, one of the most…
Read More
…later compiled into the anthology Nü shen (1921; “Goddess”). Its publication laid the first cornerstone for the development of new verse in China. In the same year, Guo, together with Cheng Fangwu, Yu Dafu, and Zhang Ziping, gave impetus to the establishment of the Creation Society, one of the most…
Read More