Abstract: The controversy between Hu Shi and Mei Guangdi in the early years of literature revolution seemed to be caused by their different ideas on art and character reform.In fact,their starting point was to explore what in way Chinese culture should adapt himself to the world after its contact with world culture,and to explore the existence,role,pressure,and necessity of it.Due to different context,education background,individual psychology as well as behavior orientation,their cultural connotations diverged,the root of which was to be found in their different interpretation on the function and outlook of Chinese and western cultures.Essentially,the controversy between them was the reflection of the contrast between classicalism and experimentalism,and between cultural radicalism and conservatism.

Key words: literature revolution during the May Fourth Movement, classicalism, cultural connotation divergence, Mei Guangdi, Hu shi