5·4시기 ‘노동’의 탄생

Abstract

The research topic of this study is the process in which the concept of 'labor' was accepted in China and the role of intellectuals in the process during the time of the May Fourth Movement. Historical records include 『勞動界』, 『勞働者』 and 『勞働音』. The three magazines were those of Socialist Alliance published in 1920 and the first magazines in China. The purposes of their publication were to propagate labor movement, explaining the importance of labor to laborers and developing determination. Thus, this study investigated the content and significance of the three magazines by topic, dividing them into the concept of labor, laborer enlightenment and labor movement theory. First, all three magazines used the mixed concept of labor. This shows a transition in which no unified concept of labor has been established yet. In addition, all three magazines presented a new view of labor, the dignity of labor, criticizing the traditional view of labor. And yet, concerning the issue of distribution, their opinions were not unified. These symbolize a shift in the labor paradigm, and ‘labor’ in a modern meaning began to be generalized among labors by the time of the May Fourth Movement. Thus, the publication of 『勞動界』, 『勞働者』 and 『勞働音』 in 1920 symbolically shows the birth of “labor” during the time of the May Fourth Movement. Second, all three magazines repeatedly argued that presently, Chinese workers would need determination and self-awareness. The Chinese workers in their sight were the subjects and the targets of enlightenment. This shows intellectuals’ one-sided and double views of laborers. Consequently, the three magazines were the first ones published for the enlightenment of laborers for Chinese intellectuals at the time of the May Fourth Movement to describe the concept of labor to the specific groups of the actual laborers and to implant the identity and collective consciousness of laborers. Thus, the publication of 『勞動界』, 『勞働者』 and 『勞働音』 in 1920 symbolically shows the birth of ‘laborer’ at the time of the May Fourth Movement. Third, all three magazines argued that the labor movement should deal with the actual problems of laborers and that they should organize their organizations. Representatively, they proposed unionism and syndicalism and showed an attitude of cooperation and solidarity with each other. This shows that ‘laborer’ at the time of the May Fourth Movement rapidly emerged as the main character of social issues. Despite they were doubtful concerning whether they could discuss social revolution immediately, the hope anchored on the youth during the New Cultural Movement period moved to laborers at the time, and it is clear that the subject and method of social transformation set up by socialists during the time of the May Fourth Movement were changed. Therefore, the publication of 『勞動界』, 『勞働者』 and 『勞働音』 in 1920 symbolically shows the flow of the world of thought during at the time of the May Fourth Movement, moving from the cultural movement to the social revolution.