Zou Tao-fen And Modern Chinese New Culture

In the modern history of new culture, a lot of great figures had been constantly emerging, searching and working hard for the China's development and the ethnic liberation from one generation to another. New democratic culture, as the most advanced cultural formation, became the leading direction of the modern Chinese culture for its progressive theory and powerful vitality. It attracted a number of progressive intellectuals who had been in the bourgeois camp but then advocated and popularized it for the rest of their lives. Zou Taofen was one of the typical. This thesis approaches his contributions to the new culture in 5 points.First, Zou's cultural mentality. This part analyses the whole process of his cultural mentality, the origin and the changes. At first, he got the ideas of patriotism and responsibility from the traditional culture; then he baptized by the Wu-Si spirit of "democracy" & "science". The two parts were the basis of his mentality. After graduating from the college, he was engaged in cultural work and gradually realized the dark rule and the political corruption, so he changed from the bourgeois stand to the people's position in the thoughts of running a newspaper. From 1933 to 1935, Zou traveled abroad, investigated the vast differences between the western bourgeois culture and the Soviet Union's socialist culture, systematically studied the Marxism works, and was deeply affected by the contemporary progressive figures. At last, he radically changed his cultural mentality. His cultural mentality which standing out with popularity came into being .Second, views for vocational education. This part talks about its developing history & the historical background which Zou proposed the view of vocational education; then describes his contributions to vocational education & instruction; finally portrays how he took part in vocational instruction & struggled for the cause of vocational education.Third, publishing thoughts. This part deals with 3 issues. At first, the core of Zou's Speech thoughts was popularity and militancy. The starting point or the final aim of his thoughts was to be the tongue of the public; while struggling for the freedom of speech was the public's certain demand. The two parts were connected like an organic whole and propelled each other. Second, Zou based bis editing thoughts on theprinciple of starting from the public, devoted to the publishing reform and formed his special ideas on the editing policy & methods. Last but not the least, Zou had always been insisting on the progressive publishing direction. His "Life"bookshop became the castle of the progressive culture and made an everlasting contribution to the extending of the public culture.Fourth, criticize the harmful feudal tradition and advocate the modern civilization. This part states Zou's anti-feudal thoughts. He called on women's liberation, criticized feudal system of big-household, and attacked evil feudal customs. He made full use of his great speech influence, declared war against cannibalistic feudal ethics, washed away feudal thoughts and encouraged the youth to break the barrier and to lead a new life.Fifth, contributions to the modern new culture. This part summarizes Zou's culture practices. That is, how Zou & his bookshop were engaged in popularizing, maintaining & developing new democratic culture or other progressive cultures. It analyses his creative contributions to the modern publishing cause, including the "talk-like" discussing form, the "serving-spirit" development & the correct method of dealing with cause & commerce. It also compares Zou with other typical figures of new culture such as LuXun, and defines his statue in the history of modern Chinese culture. To sum it all, Zou was a significant great figure to modern Chinese culture, and he made great effects on the new culture, especially new democratic culture's development.