It has long been held that 1919's May Fourth Movement marked a decisive moment in the development of Chinese modernity, but a growing body of recent historical research has "decentered" May Fourth, necessitating a review of the shaping of Chinese modernity as a "product of dialogues and debates between, and the interplay of, a variety of actors and trends, both within and (certainly no less importantly) without the May Fourth camp," to quote editors Chow (U. of Illinois), Hon (State U. of New York at Geneseo), Ip (Oregon State U.), and Price (U. of California at Davis), who present 11 essays in pursuit of that goal. Topics addressed include literary debates in Republican China, 1919-1949; the theory and practice of women's rights in late-Qing Shanghai, 1843-1911; generational and cultural fissures concerning the politics of family reform in the May Fourth Movement; science and the search for national origins in the May Fourth era; and Buddhism, literature, and Chinese modernity. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Beyond the May Fourth Paradigm explores various dimensions of modern Chinese culture, ranging from literature, thought, and music to scientific research, business, and everyday life. By heeding how the May Fourth and non-May Fourth groups depended on each other and joined forces in creating Chinese modernity, this anthology points to the significant directions that Chinese historical actors chose as they competed but also collaborated in modernizing themselves, their culture, and the nation.
