Lu Xun Literary Institute

Before adopting its present name of Lu Xun Literary Institute in 1984, the institute went through several stages after its founding in 1950 as the Central Literary Research Institute (Zhongyang wenxue yanjiusuo). As an institution under the Ministry of Culture, its mandate is to teach literature and train literary officials and writers according to the Party line. Cultural officials and promising writers from various provinces are recruited for systematic training. The prominent writer Ding Ling (1904–86) was its first director. Well-known literary figures and professors of literature are invited to give lectures. From 1986 to the late 1990s, the literary critic He Zhenbang was in charge of the curriculum.

In 1954, the Central Literary Research Institute was renamed the Literary Institute (Wenxue jiangxisuo) and put under the leadership of the Chinese Writers’ Association.

In 1958, it was closed down, largely because of the interference of the Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957. After Mao’s death in 1976, and with the relaxation of political control under the new leadership, it opened again in March 1980. Writers recruited into this class include Gu Hua, Jiang Zilong, Kong Jiesheng, and Wang Anyi. To cope with the increasing number of literary magazines, in 1982 and 1983, editors and literary critics were recruited for training. Beginning in late 1983, acceptance was based on examination scores rather than through recommendation. Between 1988 and 1995, a collaborative programme was established with Beijing Normal and Central China Universities.

LEUNG LAIFONG