On Lin Shu's Contribution To May 4th New Culture Movement Of 1919

Lin Shu was a man of contradictions. The incompatible relationship between Lin's idea and the May 4th New Culture Movement of 1919 largely influences people's objective judgment on Lin. This relationship, however, can be re-evaluated through perspectives of sticking to traditional culture, the background of the May 4^th Movement and the revitalization of traditional culture in contemporary times. It helps us clearly see the merits and demerits of Lin's idea as well as the significance to rejuvenate traditional culture. Lin's status in literary history was based on his translation of novels. And his outstanding contribution to translation has been fully affirmed. Lin's translated works greatly contributed to the development of the theories on Chinese novels. They largely promoted the status of Chinese novels in the world and helped the novels of the late Qing Dynasty become mainstream literary works in a short period of time. He translated novels in a style other than the traditional type of Chinese novels, that is, the division of a novel into chapters headed by a couplet giving the gist of the contents. Lin helped develop the themes and genres of Chinese novels and showed a strong desire of fighting against imperialism and feudalism in his translated works. Through the novels Lin promoted awareness of civilians and showed compassion to the lower classes of the Chinese society. He also took the lead in China to promote modern consciousness of sexual love. Lin greatly helped the prosperity of translation in China. Lin's comparative research of Chinese and Western literature laid a foundation for scholars of later generations. A group of famous writers in the period of the May 4^th Movement, including Lu Xun, Zhou Zuoren, Guo Moruo, Zhu Ziqing and Bing Xing, benefited from his translations. We can only have a reasonable judgment of Lin's status and influence in Chinese history when we re-evaluate the contradictory relationship between Lin Shu and the May 4^th New Culture Movement as well as the contribution of Lin's translation to the Movement.