MODERN CHINESE POETRY

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INTRODUCTION

Modern Chinese Poetry began with the New Culture Movement on May Fourth in 1919 in Beijing. Younger poets began to steer away from Classical Chinese and began to embrace vernacular Chinese. This was just the beginning. Different socio-political influences through the twentieth and twenty-first century shaped Modern Chinese poetry into its current image.

WHAT IS MODERN CHINESE POETRY?

Modern Chinese poetry refers to post-Qing dynasty (1644 to 1912) Chinese poetry. It includes the modern vernacular (baihua) style of poetry, increasingly common with the New Culture and 4 May 1919 movements, and the twentieth- and twenty-first-century continuations or revivals of Classical Chinese poetry forms. (2)

THE BIRTH OF MODERN POETRY

It all began with the New Culture Movement, also known as the May Fourth Movement. On May Fourth in 1919, the socio-politically oriented student demonstrations commenced in Beijing. The students urged for a transformation in literary style, deprecating the use of Classical Chinese, in favor of embracing written vernacular Chinese. Through colonialism, the world's other linguistic and cultural traditions of poetry also began to greatly influence Chinese poets. (2)

The formation of various literary or poetic societies and several magazines or other publications also left their mark. (2)

THE CONTINUATION

In the late twentieth century, the aftereffects of the Second World War pressured poets to write government-approved poetry, which resulted in the rise of patriotic poetry. In Taiwan, Modernist poetry flourished, including avant-garde and surrealism. (2)

In the contemporary poetic scene, the most important and influential poets are in the movement known as Misty Poets, who use oblique allusions and hermetic references. (2)

Battler poetry, which originates from migrant labourers in post-1980s industrial China, has also gained significance in the past two decades, both domestically and abroad. (2)

Towards the end of the twentieth century, Ming and Qing style poetry contests were held in towns and cities. During one of such a new type of poetry was invented - "hitting the bowl" poems. (2)

Going into the twenty-first century, many of the traditional uses of Chinese poetry remain intact in the modern era. (2)

CONCLUSION

It all began on May Fourth in 1919 with the socio-politically oriented student demonstrations in Beijing. This New Culture Movement brought with it a poetic change. Modern Chinese poetry emerged as a consequence. Poets began to explore different styles and forms, were heavily influenced by world events, and evolved into the current image we have today. What will today's fresh blood bring?

SOURCES

1. Image was created via canva.com.

2. Wikipedia. Modern Chinese poetry. Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Chinese_poetry