China Modern Literature Museum

　　The China Modern Literature Museum is a national-level key cultural institution and the first and currently the largest literature museum in the world. It mainly exhibits the development history of modern and contemporary Chinese literature, as well as the literary achievements of important writers and literary schools, serving as a hub for the study of modern and contemporary literature.

　　The China Modern Literature Museum is closely associated with Mr. Ba Jin. The literary master, a pure modern writer, came to realize in his later years that he had the responsibility to pass on the imprints of an era. He hoped that a dedicated institution could be established to collect, preserve, organize, research, and exhibit the works of modern writers. On February 14, 1981, in the eleventh installment of “Creation Memoirs” titled “About ‘Cold Night’” and the “Postscript to Creation Memoirs” written for Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po, Mr. Ba Jin was the first to propose the establishment of the China Modern Literature Museum. This proposal was officially published in the People’s Daily on March 12, 1981, immediately generating strong repercussions both domestically and internationally. On April 20, the expanded meeting of the Presidium of the China Writers Association discussed and approved the decision to establish the China Modern Literature Museum and reported it to the central government for approval.

　　On October 13, 1981, the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the Museum was formed. Kong Luosun served as the director, with committee members including: Ba Jin, Bing Xin, -, Zhou Yang, Cao Yu, Ai Qing, He Jingzhi, Yan Wenjing, Tang ?, Wang Yao, Feng Mu, Zhu Ziqi, Zhang Xi, among others, and other members: Li Feng, Wang Naijin, Cao Lin, Wu Fuhui.

　　In 1982, with the assistance of relevant departments from the central government and Beijing Municipality, the west courtyard of Beijing’s Wan Shou Temple was selected as the temporary site for the literature museum.

　　On November 16 of the same year, the “Preparatory Office of the China Modern Literature Museum” held its founding meeting, with comrades such as - in attendance and the unveiling of the “Preparatory Office” sign.

　　A fiscal allocation of 1.5 million yuan was provided for the renovation of the museum building and the purchase of basic equipment, and Mr. Ba Jin donated 150,000 yuan as the foundation fund for the China Modern Literature Museum.

　　By 1984, the renovation work was largely completed, and the museum hosted exhibitions on the life and creative works of Mao Dun and Lao She.

　　On January 5, 1985, at the Fourth National Congress of the China Writers Association, the China Modern Literature Museum was officially inaugurated, with Yang Li serving as its first curator.

　　On March 26 of the same year, a grand opening ceremony was held, presided over by Mr. Ba Jin himself, with speeches by - and Wang Meng. Over two hundred renowned writers from across the country attended the inauguration.

　　Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development