The Research Of Liang Qichao’s View On Literature Under The Control Of Masses

As a prominent social activist、enlightenment ideologist、journalist、 educator、historian and writer in late Chinese history, Liang Qichao, impressed by his massive intellect、active minds and positive patriotism, is considered one of the main forces driving modern Chinese literature transformation. At the end of 19th century, Liang Qichao and his mentor Kang Youwei, had organized the "hundred days reform", aiming at saving the citizens out of sufferings. They endeavored to promote the political, cultural and social reform in late Qing dynasty, finally, to change the status quo marked by weak country and fool citizen, by means such as constitutional monarchy remodeling the state examination system、opening modern schools、introduction of western cultures. As the reform ended in vain, Liang Qichao, after deeply analizing the differences between meiji restoration in Japan and his reform, put forward the famous idea of "a society under the control of masses". With the initiation of reforming literature, Liang made great contributions to citizens’enlightenment、cultural and social improvement by means such as publishing newspaper、s reforming both the genres of poem and novel, stimulating Chinese citizens’ minds to build a new China.This essay,based on the main points of Liang’s idea of "literature on massive control", is commited to show the transition course from traditional practicalism to national ideal, by covering Liang Qichao’s life. Emphasizing the three aspects of new citizen theory, which include remodeling citizens’morality、inspiring citizens’intellect and igniting citizens’power, it aims at tracing the theoretical roots of Liang’s idea, furthermore,figuring out its core nature through drawing branches of evolutions in poem、speech and fiction. Liang Qichao was the first one, in modern china, to advocate the literature style evolution, which are mainly displayed in four aspects in terms of literary ideology:aggregating modern national spirit, presenting the evolutionary trend of history, initiating the language style of "the consistence of speech and writing", and constructing public cultural space. His positive activism had played a significant role in various social aspects such as enhancing the importance of China’s fiction、 widening modern language usage、developing literary criticism theory、shaping public criticism spirit and provoking female freedom movements.