Abstract:

The May 4th new culture movement initiated the cultural transformation of China from

tradition to modernity. In this enlightenment movement， intellectuals paid attention to the long

sheltered group of children. They re-examine children’s reading with modern eyes， and the

view of children’s book publishing of child-orientation came into being. However， the multiple

historical missions in the transition period lead to the collision of child-orientation， nationalism and

scientism， which gradually deviates from the original meaning in the conflict. The controversies

and practices on this issue reflects people’s expectation of children’s transformation from “new

person” to “new citizen”， and the difficulties the Enlightenment discourse encountered in the

modernization transformation of modern China.

Key words:

the May 4th Movement Child-orientation Concept of children’s book publishing

Modernity

CLC Number: 

• G239