On the historical significance of May 4th New Culture Movement

Abstract

The May 4th Movement in the modern history of China is a great historical event of multiple significance. The May 4th Movement was an anti-imperialist and anti-feudal movement, a young students′ patriotic movement, and also a profound cultural revolution movement, it is a sign of cultural awakening of the Chinese nation, and the starting point for the development of new culture. From the viewpoint of cultural development, as a cultural revolution movement, the May 4th Movement not only promoted the innovation of Chinese cultural expression forms, and more important it led to cognitive changes of Chinese traditional culture, and the end of Confucianism rule, for up to half a century the dispute of “substance and function” temporarily drew a stop sign. The movement also opened the door to China's cultural openness, Injected fresh blood to the transformation of the Chinese culture. Correct evaluation of the May Fourth New Culture movement properties and merits and demerits is of great significance, it doesn't not only concern the merits of historical events evaluation and the evaluation and judgment of 20th century Chinese history, but also more concerns the future development direction of Chinese culture and the choice of route.