How a Cup of Coffee Sparked China’s Leftist Literary Movement

It wasn’t just another afternoon coffee—on February 16, 1930, Lu Xun, China’s most famous modern writer, stepped out with two comrades, Rou Shi and Feng Xuefeng, to a small café on North Sichuan Road. Their destination: a fateful meeting that would help shape the future of Chinese literature and politics. That day, at what was then Gongfei Café (No. 998 North Sichuan Road), the group laid the groundwork for what would officially become the League of Left-Wing Writers, or ‘’, just weeks later.

The answer is clear: Lu Xun’s coffee outing on February 16, 1930, at Gongfei Café (998 North Sichuan Road, Shanghai) directly led to the planning session that founded the League of Left-Wing Writers, officially established on March 2, 1930.

A Fateful Afternoon at Gongfei Café

On that February afternoon, Lu Xun didn’t just meet friends for a casual coffee. He attended a crucial organizational meeting at Gongfei Café, located at 998 North Sichuan Road in Shanghai. This gathering brought together key leftist intellectuals and writers, and during this session, the formal decisions were made that led to the creation of the League of Left-Wing Writers. This wasn’t just literary talk—it was a pivotal moment for leftist political and cultural mobilization in 1930s China.

The Birth of the Left-Wing Writers League

Exactly two weeks after the meeting at Gongfei Café, on March 2, 1930, the League of Left-Wing Writers held its official founding conference at the China Arts University in Shanghai. This marked the public emergence of an organized leftist literary movement committed to revolutionary ideals and opposition to nationalist and reactionary cultural forces. The league became a major force in 1930s Chinese literature and political discourse.

More Than Just a Literary Group

The League of Left-Wing Writers was unique in that its members lived dual lives—as artists and as political activists. Beyond writing and critiquing art, members were deeply involved in political actions including demonstrations, public speeches, and the distribution of political slogans. Though nominally focused on literature, much of the league’s activity was intertwined with the Communist Party’s broader political goals. The league also faced severe repression; in 1931, five of its members (known as the ‘Leftist Five Martyrs’) were executed by the Nationalist government. Lu Xun later memorialized one of them, Rou Shi, in his famous essay “In Memory of Forgetting.”

Cultural Impact and Legacy

During its peak, the league published dozens of influential journals, including “Sprouts” and “Vanguard” , through which it critiqued rival literary movements like the Crescent Moon School and nationalist factions. Members produced groundbreaking works—Lu Xun’s own Story New and political essays, Mao Dun’s novels (Midnight, Lin Family Shop, Spring Silkworms), Jiang Guangci’s Land Roars, and fiction by Ding Ling, Zhang Tianyi, and Ye Zi, among others. Playwrights such as Tian Han, Hong Shen, and Xia Yan also contributed. The league nurtured emerging literary voices including Sha Ting, Ai Wu, Ai Qing, Pu Feng, Nie Gannu, and Xu Maoyong. By the late 1930s, the league and its affiliates dominated Shanghai’s literary scene.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the significance of Lu Xun’s coffee meeting on February 16, 1930?

Lu Xun’s coffee outing on February 16, 1930, with Rou Shi and Feng Xuefeng was a planning meeting held at Gongfei Café (998 North Sichuan Road) that set the stage for the founding of the League of Left-Wing Writers. It wasn’t just a social event—it led directly to the formal establishment of the league on March 2, 1930.

Where was Gongfei Café located?

Gongfei Café was located at 998 North Sichuan Road in Shanghai. This was the site of the critical February 16, 1930, meeting attended by Lu Xun and other writers that planned the formation of the League of Left-Wing Writers.

When was the League of Left-Wing Writers officially founded?

The League of Left-Wing Writers was officially founded on March 2, 1930, at a public meeting held at the China Arts University in Shanghai. This came after the earlier planning session at Gongfei Café on February 16, 1930.

Who were the 'Leftist Five Martyrs'?

The 'Leftist Five Martyrs' were five members of the League of Left-Wing Writers—Li Weisen, Rou Shi, Hu Yepin, Yin Fu, and Feng Kang—who were betrayed during a Communist meeting and executed by the Nationalist government in 1931. Lu Xun wrote “In Memory of Forgetting” in tribute to Rou Shi.

What kind of literature did the league produce?

The league published influential journals and works, including Lu Xun’s Story New and political essays, Mao Dun’s Midnight and Spring Silkworms, Jiang Guangci’s Land Roars, and fiction by Ding Ling and Ye Zi. They also promoted plays by Tian Han and others, and mentored new writers like Ai Qing and Sha Ting.

Did the league have any political affiliations?

Yes, while officially a literary group, the League of Left-Wing Writers was closely associated with the Communist Party and engaged in political activities including protests, demonstrations, and anti-Nationalist cultural campaigns. Many of its activities were considered politically subversive by the ruling Nationalist government.

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