Chen+Duxiu

=Chen Duxiu (1879-1942)=

Chen Duxiu ( 陈独秀 //Chén Dúxiù)// was an important figure in the intellectual development of China during the first half of the 20th century. Came from a rich family and was traditional education. He studied briefly in Japan and Europe. When he came to Shanghai is 1915, he founded the literary magazine Xin qingnian (originally //Qingnian Zazhi//). In 1917, along with Hu Shi, published articles in //Xin qingnian// calling for the creation of a "new literature". Called for literature to be written in contemporary vernacular (//baihua//) instead of in the classical written language. This was is referred to as the Literary Revolution of 1917 and preceded the May Fourth Movement in 1919. From 1921 until 1927 he served briefly as the first secretary-general of the Chinese Communist Party. He was imprisoned by the Guomindang from 1932-1936 (Idema, 259-60).