Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 5, 2025

Writing and the Inheritance-Innovation of the Chinese Spirit in New Poetry

(Abstract)

Fang Chang’an

New poetry is a new form of Chinese poetry that emerged as the nation entered modern society. Its birth and development are a reflection and articulation of the Chinese spirit as a modern phenomenon. Over the past century, works of new poetry across different historical periods have creatively embodied the national spirit centered on patriotism and the spirit of the times marked by reform and innovation, thus enriching the framework of the Chinese spirit. The articulation of the Chinese spirit in new poetry demonstrates characteristics and experiences in four key aspects: first, integrating the development of new poetry with the expression of the Chinese spirit, allowing the modern form of new poetry to serve as a vehicle for its transmission; second, rendering the Chinese spirit into concrete “facts” through specific narratives and lyrical expressions; third, re-examining national history and humanistic traditions to reinforce the foundations and depth of new poetry in expressing the Chinese spirit; and fourth, adopting a global outlook to expand the value system of the Chinese spirit through mutual learning among civilizations. In today’s increasingly intelligent age, new poetry should embrace Chinese modernization as its broad vision, adhere to the people-centeredness principle, inherit and creatively transform fine traditional cultural resources, and explore new principles for poetically expressing the Chinese spirit in the new era.