On the afternoon of May 23, 2026, at the invitation of the National Key Discipline of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature of the School of Chinese Language and Literature, Professor Liu Jilin from Hubei University delivered an academic lecture titled 'Shi Zhecun as Subject and Method in Modern Chinese Literary Studies' in Room 114 of the Suiyuan Campus Central Building. The lecture focused on an in-depth discussion of Shi Zhecun's positioning in literary history, his creative characteristics, and his significance in modern Chinese literature. The lecture was chaired by Professor Li Wei, and doctoral students in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature attended the session.

At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Li Wei formally introduced the keynote speaker, Professor Liu Jilin, to the faculty members and students present. Professor Liu is currently the Associate Dean of the School of Chinese Language and Literature at Hubei University, a doctoral supervisor, and the Vice Chairman of the Hubei Provincial Literary and Art Critics Association. He has presided over multiple projects of the National Social Science Fund of China and published over 60 papers in important academic journals such as Guangming Daily and Modern Chinese Literature Studies. His relevant achievements have won him numerous honors, including the Third Prize of Hubei
Provincial Social Science Achievement Award and the First Prize of Hubei Provincial Higher Education Teaching Achievement Award, earning him a prestigious reputation in both critical and academic circles.

Professor Liu began with a problem-oriented approach, systematically elucidating Shi Zhecun's value in literary history and the significance of studying him. Drawing on his own research experience, he noted that traditional literary history has devoted limited space to Shi Zhecun, mostly categorizing him as a writer of the New Sensation School, mentioning his debate with Lu Xun and his role as the editor-in-chief of the journal Xiandai. Shi Zhecun himself believed that his style differed from that of Liu Na'ou and Mu Shiying, and thus he should not be classified as a writer of the New Sensation School. Moreover, the disparity in the scale of commemorations after Shi Zhecun's death compared to those of his contemporaries has prompted the academic community to reexamine this underappreciated writer.

Professor Liu Jilin emphasized that Shi Zhecun is a typical figure who embodies the fusion of tradition and modernity, and of East and West. Born in the Jiangnan region, he had a solid grounding in classical Chinese learning, excelled in the study of Song-dynasty ci poetry and epigraphy, and was deeply influenced by traditional culture. Meanwhile, he received a systematic Western education in the French program at Aurora University, becoming proficient in Freudian psychoanalysis and skillfully applying psychological analysis techniques in his fictional works. This combination of traditional foundation and modern pioneering spirit makes him an important epitome of Chinese literature's transition from tradition to modernity. As the editor-in-chief of Xiandai magazine, Shi Zhecun profoundly defined the core of modern literature with highly concise expressions, demonstrating an advanced modern consciousness. Xiandai magazine, with its inclusive and broad vision, became a highly iconic literary journal in the 1930s Chinese literary scene.

At the end of the lecture, Professor Li Wei delivered concluding remarks. She pointed out that Professor Liu Jilin, guided by key questions, grounded in historical materials, and centered on textual analysis, restored a vivid and multidimensional image of Shi Zhecun, who had long been obscured in literary history, offering profound inspiration to the academic community. This lecture not only broadened the audience's understanding of Shi Zhecun and modern literary schools, deepening their comprehension of modern literature, but also offered young scholars valuable methodological insights and important references for future academic research.