| The purpose of this thesis is to make a preliminary research on Criticism of Yu Pingbo Movement in 1954. This paper is composed of the following three parts: The first part devotes an analysis to Yu Pingbo's research on The Dream of Red Mansion. As the movement started with two little known figures' query on Yu Pingbo's research on The Dream of Red Mansion, it is essential to familiarize the readers to Yu Pingbo's research on The Dream of Red Mansion. The analysis indicates that while Yu Pingbo made indelible contributions to the establishment of "Neo-Red Mansion Study" his research revealed some weaknesses and failed to strike a responsive chord in the hearts of the young men in that generation. Given the position of The Dream of Red Mansion among the Chinese classics and Yu Pingbo's position in the research on The Dream of Red Mansion, it is not by accident that Yu Pingbo was challenged by the two little known figures. The second part focuses on retrospection on the whole movement. Academically, the two little known figures, out of their addiction to the Chinese classics, made a bold challenge to the academic authority. Yet involvement of Chairman Mao Zedong turned this academic dispute into a criticism movement. Hence a massive movement in the cultural circle across the whole country. The third part, also the first and foremost part of this thesis, makes a detailed analysis to and reflections on the massive movement. The analysis to the social background of the movement, social status of intellectuals, the Party's policy towards intellectuals, ideological integration of the Party and solution model of movement which had been formed during Yan'an period indicates that it is inherently logical and unavoidable for the academic research to be upgraded into a criticism movement. The thesis comes to the following conclusions: First, the movement, with politics intervening in academic dispute, has great limitations. However, by no means should the academic value be outshined by the political criticism: 1) the creative pursuit of the two little known figures and vigorous spirit of the young men in that generation do command respect; 2) a group of Marxian, represented by Chairman Mao, applied political vision and aesthetical viewpoint of Marxism to the their research, contributing a brand new perspective to the research on The Dream of Red Mansion and thus marking a great turning point on the research history of the classic; 3) the academic dispute and afterward movement triggered by the two little known figures led to a profound change to the academic circle in China then. All academic studies turned to Marxism as the governing principle in their research and some scholars began to reflect on their academic system. Second, academic issues should be addressed through normal academic discussion. The replacement of academic dispute with political criticism laid a poor foundation for academic study from then on. Nowadays it is crucial to deal with the relationship between academic research and ideology: 1) it is both unrealistic and groundless to simply discard ideology; 2) academic research and ideology shall respect each other, that is, academic research does not necessarily serve ideology whereas ideology shall not intentionally intervene in academic research; 3) we should do our utmost to prompt a sound interaction between academic research and ideology. Third, it is advocated that the academic circle shall allow different viewpoints. Neither should political movement suppress different academic ideas nor those so-called authorities should inhibit birth of new ideas. For the current academic circle, it is advisable to guard against both politicalization and materialization of academic disputes to make academic research forward towards a healthy direction. Despite the problems inherent in this preliminary research, this thesis forwards several creative ideas: 1) this paper elaborates on the inevitability of the academic disputes towards political movement against the backdrop of the social backgroun... |
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