The May 4 th Movement

1. The May 4th Movement An Intellectual Revolution 1919-1921

2. China 1916 -1927Do the two events really pull in opposite directions?

3. Origins • Japan’s 21 Demands • Treaty of Versailles - Shandong • New intelligentsia: 5 million educated in West • Beijing University (Peita) founded 1898 – promoted free expression • New Youth magazine started 1915: edited by Chen Duxiu – attacked Confucianism • Literary Revolution: attacks on traditional language led by Hu Shi • Socialist ideas promoted by Li Dazhao

4. May 4th a Movement or an Era? • The period 1915-1922 is referred to as the May 4th era because of the far- reaching changes • it signalled the near- complete rejection of Confucian beliefs and the substitution of a variety of western ideas such as democracy, egalitarianism, nationalism, republicanism, and eventually Marxism. • For many this was a period of implementation of western ideas and for others this was a betrayal

5. Chen Duxiu Founder of New Youth magazine Teacher at Beijing University Arrested for actions in May 4th While in hiding founded Communist cell in Shanghai

6. May 4, 1919 • 3000 student demonstrators at Gate of Heavenly Peace against Versailles Treaty and Japanese • Cabinet minister’s house and Japanese Legation burned • Manifesto declared: “China’s territory may be conquered, but it cannot be given away. The Chinese people may be massacred, but they will not surrender…”

7. 4 May 1919, Beijing

8. Movement SpreadsMay-June 1919 • Mass demonstrations throughout China • Warlord cabinet resigns • Students joined by the press and the middle class • Sun Yatsen supported protest • Japanese goods boycotted • Schools closed

9. Intellectual Revolution • Explosion of new magazines • Attacks on Confucianism • Western ideas promoted • Marxism promoted – New Youth spring 1919 edition (CCP founded 1921) • Women’s rights (Ding Ling) • Workers rights, trade union activity • Peasant rights and education • New educational ideas • New literature, vernacular – Lu Xun

10. Intellectual Revolution Lu Xun

11. Intellectual Conflict Hu Shi: PROBLEMS Beware of isms, simple solutions to complex problems. Solve problems one at a time without revolution but with PRAGMATISM Vs Li Dazhao: ISMS Solve problems with a complete and thorough socio-political transformation – revolution - MARXISM

12. Li Dazhao

13. CCP Founded • Beijing University converts: Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, Mao Zedong • Comintern agent Voitinsky set up study groups • July 1921: First Congress of CCP in Shanghai • Organized labour centres, workers’ schools, strikes • Chinese Seamen’s Union strike: union recognition, increased pay

14. GMD Reorganized • 1920: Lenin’s two stage revolutionary policy: 1. communists ally with middle class to get rid of colonial powers; 2. communist revolution • June 1923: Comintern agent Maring makes united front of CCP and GMD • October 1923: agent Borodin remodels GMD – mass organization of workers, peasants, youth, women • May 1924 Huangpu military academy to train a revolutionary army commanded by Chiang Kaishek

15. Assessment • According to GMD ( Guomindang) there is a sharp distinction between the movement as a manifestation of nationalism which receives priase and the movement as a cultural phenomenon which is treated more critically • CKS objected to aspects of the intellectual and youth movements especially the overthrow of old values and traditions. • ‘the demand for individual emancipation and an ignorance of state and society’ and the blind worship of foreign countries and the indiscriminate introduction and acceptance of foreign civilization’

16. Communist view • Communist writers have defined the May 4th Movement as the starting point of modern Chinese history • Mao Zedong himswelf was one of the contributors to the New Youth Magazine • He was to argue, years later that the may 4th marked the dividing line between ‘old democracy’ and the ‘new democracy’

17. Old democracy and new democracy • Old democracy referred to the period following the Opium Wars- where the political guiding force was the scholar gentry , a wealthy and privileged class • The new democracy the political guiding force was the ‘proletariat’ and not the bourgeois class

18. Paul Bailey: China in the 20th Century • May 4th Movement embraced an extraordinary range and diversity of ideas • Its often likened to the Renaissance of Europe or the Enlightenment which paved the way for the French Revolution ( Lucien Bianco) • Its important to remember that May 4th is in a sense an extension of earlier movements during the last years of the Qing where there was an attempt to overthrow education systems , boooks and attempt to use the vernacular

19. Jack Gray: Rebellions and Revolutions • May 4th precipitated changes which had been only potential • A united front of intellectuals, merchants and workers had defeated the government in defense of National interests • It was their combined action that led to the creation of trade unions, opening of night schools, and many joined the GMD in huge numbers so for the first time the membership of the GMD in China exceeded those over seas

20. Jack Gray • Greatest impact of May 4th was cultural • Replacement of Pinyin with Baihua • Baihua became the byword also for radicalism • This change was almost as significant as the democratization of culture as the replacement of Latin in Europe by the vernacular languages after the Renaissance

21. Hsu • Mass nationalism had emerged as new forces in Chinese politics. Some historians hailed it as the first genuine mass movement in Modern Chinese history

22. What did May 4th really achieve • Hsu says it served as a catalyst for the intellectual revolution • However soon a split emeerged because those who were disappointed by the Versailles Conference turned to Marxism and the influence of the Bolshevik revolution while the otheres who were more tradition bound blameed Western materialism and turned to Chinese spiritualism. • This split served to lift the movement to new heights

23. Was the May 4th movement had been more effective at destroying the past than constructing a future? • Movement was divided • The rise of two parties and their conflict prevented the construction of a new future • Prevailing Government weak unable to shake off western imperialism and Japanese machinations • Warlords prevailed until 1926

24. Conclusion • Hsu says May 4th marks the 3rd stage of response to western impact • Self –strengthening was superficial changes • 1898-1912 marked acceptance of western ideas and change • 1917-1923 marked a shift away from the traditional Chinese bias towards westernization • May 4th a socio-politico-intellectual revolution aimed at achieving national independence, individual emancipation and creation of a new culture