How a radical magazine sparked a cultural revolution to modernize China's future

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1915, New Youth became the intellectual engine of China's New Culture Movement. By championing vernacular literature and Western ideals like science and democracy, it challenged centuries of tradition. This monthly publication transformed from a local reform journal into the official theoretical voice of the Chinese Communist Party.

In September 1915, Chen Duxiu launched the monthly magazine in Shanghai, originally titled Youth Magazine. The publication aimed to rejuvenate China by encouraging young people to embrace individual liberty, equality, and a scientific spirit. Chen, who served as editor, envisioned the youth as the nation's future, urging them to abandon feudal traditions and Confucian ethics in favor of progressive, modern values.

A central pillar of the magazine’s mission was the literary revolution. Contributors like Hu Shi advocated for replacing the rigid classical language with vernacular Chinese, or baihua. By promoting this living language, the editors sought to make literature and new ideas accessible to the general public rather than keeping them locked within an elite, scholarly sphere. This shift was essential to the magazine's broader goal of fostering social responsibility and patriotism among the younger generation.

By 1917, the magazine’s influence expanded as it became a platform for faculty members at Peking University, including Chen, who had joined as dean. The publication evolved from a local effort into a national force, attracting prominent scholars and students. While it initially focused on cultural and intellectual reform, the magazine increasingly shifted toward Marxism following the 1917 Russian October Revolution. By 1923, it had become the official theoretical journal of the Chinese Communist Party, remaining a vital, if radical, influence until its closure in 1926.

The magazine's legacy remains tied to its role in shaping China's political and social trajectory. It provided a space for young intellectuals to debate the modernization of society, effectively serving as a catalyst for the New Culture Movement. Even after the Nationalist government shut it down, the ideas propagated within its pages continued to resonate, having inspired thousands of students and future political leaders.

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