Nothing but Culture: The Pen War Between Hu Shi and the Conservative Xueheng School

This chapter deals with the long-standing and influential debate between the Radical School, led by Hu Shi, and the Conservative Xueheng School, led by Mei Guangdi and Wu Mi. The debate centered on the relationship between language and literature, the theory and place of baihua literature, and the modern culture of China. The chapter offers a new and favorable evaluation of the significance and place of the Xueheng School without disparaging the theoretical and practical achievements and contributions of Hu Shi and his colleagues in the development of modern Chinese literature and culture.