Incomplete Modernity:

1919 – The Year That Changed China

“…23 This "faction" was considered famous for its writing style of guwen ("ancient-style prose," a form of Literary Chinese inspired by authoritative anthologies of classical literary compositions) and for their fondness of the eight-legged essay in the civil service examinations. 24 Many of them came from Tongcheng, a county in Anhui.…”

“…In 1924, the Ladies' Magazine featured a photo of Cai Yuanpei and his wife taken on occasion of their first wedding anniversary. 24 By contrast, their former rivals, the "Old Faction," were still talked about as academic members of a "faction." When Liu Shipei died on 20 November 1919, the Shanghai News remembered him as a "leader of the National Heritage faction."…”

“…In 1916, Hu Shi, for example, had promoted the now familiar "。", "、", "；", "：", "？", "！", "()", """", "《》", "……" and "--." 24 This sort of punctuation projected trendiness, and the New Youth circle started claiming it as its signature layout. When Qian Xuantong invented the fictional icon of conservatism Wang Jingxuan in 1919 (see chapter 1), he let him complain about the peculiar symbols that had replaced the "circle dot" ("。").…”

“…23 This, Leo Lee argues, turned the section into "an arena for the New Culture Movement." 24 The Morning Post belonged to the Research Clique in that it was funded by that party and edited by various of its members. 25 Similarly, Scholar's Lantern endorsed ideas like baihua even before the May Fourth demonstrations, and afterwards its support increased, featuring baihua texts by Mao Dun (1896-1981) and Guo Moruo (1892-1978.…”

“…" The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914 set off World War I. 24 England remained Anglican in the 16th century, because Elizabeth I (1533-1603) was on the throne, and she was on the throne because her predecessor, the Catholic Mary Tudor (1516-1558), did not conceive a child. 25 HIV was spread to humans because one person was bitten by a monkey.…”