The May4th New Literature presented two enlightening basic ideological demands, namely, salvation of intellectual individuality and intellectual salvation of common people. In literary practice, the May4th writers first and primarily of existing situation and mental state of broad common people at the bottom of society, which differentiated the May4th New Literature (culture) essentially from traditional literature (culture), and which manifested modernity and nonmodernity of literature (culture) in essence. This orientation of spiritual culture started by the May4th New Literature has become the most important tradition of Chinese modern literature, which has steadily extended, developed, and deepened, exercising very profound influence on the 20thcentury Chinese literature as a whole.

the May4th New Literature; literary enlightenment; grassroot writing