Combined Attitude & Unique Style

Li Jianwu's position in the history of modern literary criticism should not be neglected and underrated. It is unique even in the history of modern literary criticism that he formed his own view of literary criticism, the practice of literary criticism, and it's culture background. So analyzing and concluding his achievements will not only have important value for us to reflect the literary criticism in 20th century, build the present theory of literary criticism but also be of enlightening significance to the present plural practice of literary criticism. Here in this essay, selecting Li's critical literary works in 1930s and 1940s as a subject of study, beginning with his works Critique Collectanea and Critique Collectanea II both with another name Liu Xiwen instead of his own name, I studied carefully and concretely Li's early view and feature of literary criticism and its culture background, concluded its inspiration to the present literary criticism.There were mainly two kinds of voice from the critical field in China in 1930s and 1940s. One was the social-historical criticism from the left literators represented by Lu Xun. Mao Dun etc. They were very famous at that time by emphasizing greatly "social concerning"; another was "Beijing School of Thought" with representatives of Li Jianwu, Shen Congwen, and Zhu Guangqian. They stressed perceptional and aesthetical criticism. Li-centered aesthetical criticism seemed somewhat "out of date" and weak at that time under the circumstances of increasingly Anti-Japanese spirits. But from the stand of developing, no doubt, Li's view of literary criticism enriched the theory of literary criticism, and played an important role as balancing and mutual learning. After analyzing Li's view of literary criticism, I concluded four outstanding aspects: in the first place, criticism is an independent art; secondly, criticism is self-discovering and value-decision; thirdly, criticism is a kind of aesthetical action; finally, criticism is justice. Based on the dual-standard of "humanity" and "aesthete". Li's view of literary criticism is unique, modern, and cautious. Especially with the common admitting of social-historical...