By Chen Shuyi

Relevant literary critics recently gathered to discuss the development of contemporary literature. They proposed that current literature has formed a situation of tripartite confrontations: network literature, paper media literature (traditional literature) and market-oriented youth literature coexist. However, no matter which literature one refers to, is there a basic quality that literature shares?

I think the answer is positive, i.e. literature needs high quality warmth, which can illuminate the darkness in readers' minds and make them hopeful and which can strengthen readers' tiring minds as boatmen's chants do.

We should also notice that, in the modern transformation of culture and society, some concepts such as truth, goodness and beauty also vary accordingly. In the new media era, hedonism is stimulated by new media. Technological revolution of the new media era has greatly changed the manners of interpersonal communication. In such a context of social transformation and cultural change, shouldn't literature play its special role?

As to what writers think, Tie Ning said, "Readers are away from literature, maybe writers should ask themselves 'have I created worthy works at the time?' Outstanding works must face the inner world, upgrade people's soul instead of downgrading, give hope instead of desperation." Ba Jin once said, "Literature can give light, heat and hope; make people more honest, more pure and more useful to others. In my opinion, for the sake of light and heat in literary works, fi rstly, writers should have light and heat in his heart.

Literature should be able to warm this world…" Feeling the warmth of literature, Ba Jin formed an integrated whole of his life and Chinese literature. He said, "Chinese new literature is the one that spread fire, from which he obtains warmth and then passes on to others."

There is model of Ba Jin's hand on the doorknob of the revolving door of the exhibition hall at the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature. Each visitor can shake "hands" with the literary master. This is a symbol, a symbol of culture, a symbol of spirit and belief. Guided by Ba Jin, each visitor begins to experience and feel the warmth of new literature, in this way, the meaning of "the warmth of literature" written as inscription is long passed on.

Literary works echo people's feelings and heart. People's hearts are in need of warmth, tenderness and softness by nature.We often have such feelings that when we read a certain literary works, our heart becomes very tender. Warmth is certainly a moving literary quality. Shen Congwen and Wang Zengqi repeatedly emphasize this quality, which is a method of facing hardship. It is useless to tell people it is cold when they are actually in cold environment, however, if you can offer some warmth, then they will probably not freeze to death. Therefore, in my mind, warmth is mercy, but more it is a kind of wisdom.