Jintian

Jintian, whose Chinese name 今天 literally means “Today,” is a Chinese literary journal with an important place in the history of contemporary Chinese literature. Established in Beijing in 1978 by the poets Mang Ke, Bei Dao, and other writers, it emerged during a period of political and cultural change following the end of the Cultural Revolution. The journal was initially circulated around Beijing’s Democracy Wall, an unofficial public forum where political commentary, literary writing, and cultural debate could be posted and exchanged. Its appearance represented a significant departure from the highly controlled official literary publishing system that had dominated mainland China for much of the preceding decades. The journal became a principal outlet for a new generation of experimental poets later associated with the Misty Poetry movement. Its pages helped bring the work of writers including Bei Dao, Duo Duo, Shu Ting, and Yang Lian to wider public attention. These poets were often characterized by compressed imagery, ambiguity, symbolic language, and an interest in individual consciousness rather than the prescribed socialist-realist models of earlier official literature. Jintian did not simply function as a poetry magazine: it also published fiction, essays, literary criticism, memoir, and other forms of contemporary writing. During its first period, Jintian produced nine issues before being censored in 1980. It also published four books, including poetry collections by Mang Ke, Bei Dao, and Jiang He, as well as a novella by Ai Shan, a pen name used by Bei Dao. The journal’s cultural activities extended beyond print. In 1979 it organized poetry readings on 8 April and 21 October, and it hosted two exhibitions by The Stars, an unofficial artists’ group regarded as an important force in the development of contemporary Chinese art. These activities connected literary experimentation with the broader independent cultural scene of the period. Jintian was revived overseas in 1990, with Bei Dao serving as editor and the publication initially based in Stockholm. The revival allowed the journal to continue presenting Chinese-language literature outside the mainland publishing environment and to maintain connections among writers living in China and abroad. Over time, its scope developed into an international platform for contemporary Chinese writing. The journal is now presented online and features Chinese-language poetry, fiction, essays, criticism, and related literary material. Jintian’s influence also extends through translation and republication. Poems, stories, essays, and memoirs first associated with the journal have appeared in English-language anthologies such as the Chinese Writing Today series, published by Wellsweep Press and Zephyr Press. Zephyr Press has also published the Jintian Series of Contemporary Literature, bringing selected works by writers connected with the journal to readers outside the Chinese-language sphere. As a result, Jintian functions both as a literary publication and as a continuing reference point for the international reception of modern and contemporary Chinese literature. Its historical significance rests on its role in opening space for unofficial writing in the late 1970s, while its current identity is tied to online literary publishing and cross-border circulation.

Jintian was founded in Beijing in 1978 by Mang Ke, Bei Dao, and other writers during a period in which unofficial literary and artistic activity began to re-emerge in public life. The journal was distributed in and around Democracy Wall, a venue associated with independent political and cultural expression. Its publication marked a major change in the post-1949 Chinese literary environment because it provided space for writing outside the official publishing structure. The journal became closely associated with the Misty Poets, a group of poets whose work emphasized personal perception, suggestive imagery, uncertainty, and linguistic experimentation. Jintian published early or important work by Bei Dao, Duo Duo, Shu Ting, Yang Lian, and other writers. Through these contributions, it helped make a new poetic sensibility visible to a broad audience and gave institutional form to a literary movement that had previously circulated through informal channels. Jintian’s first publishing phase lasted for nine issues. During this period it also issued four books: poetry collections by Mang Ke, Bei Dao, and Jiang He, together with a novella by Ai Shan, a pen name of Bei Dao. The journal’s activities were not limited to printed literature. It organized two poetry readings in Beijing in 1979, held on 8 April and 21 October, and arranged two exhibitions by The Stars, an unofficial group of painters. These events placed the journal within a wider network of experimental literary and visual culture. Authorities censored Jintian in 1980, ending its initial run. The journal returned in 1990 in an overseas form, with Bei Dao as editor and Stockholm as its initial place of publication. This second phase enabled the publication to continue supporting Chinese-language writers across geographic and political boundaries. It also strengthened Jintian’s role as a bridge between writers in mainland China, writers living abroad, and international readers interested in contemporary Chinese literature. The journal’s literary legacy expanded through English translation. Material first published in or associated with Jintian appeared in the Chinese Writing Today anthology series, whose first two volumes were issued by Wellsweep Press in the United Kingdom and whose third volume was published by Zephyr Press in the United States. Zephyr Press subsequently published the Jintian Series of Contemporary Literature, which has included translated poetry by authors such as Mang Ke, Wang Xiaoni, Yu Xiang, Lan Lan, Ouyang Jianghe, Han Dong, Zhai Yongming, and Yu Jian. These editions helped circulate modern Chinese poetry and related writing beyond the original Chinese-language readership. Jintian is now an online journal featuring writing in Chinese. Its current digital form continues the publication’s original role as a venue for literary experimentation while extending access to readers outside the locations where its print editions were produced. The available reference material does not identify a current editor, corporate owner, or formal publishing organization.

1. 2000The Jintian Series of Contemporary Literature expands its translation profile

   Zephyr Press publishes Fissures, the third volume of the Chinese Writing Today series, and develops the Jintian Series of Contemporary Literature.

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2. 1994Chinese Writing Today begins English-language circulation

   The first volume of Chinese Writing Today is published by Wellsweep Press, presenting translations of writing associated with contemporary Chinese literature.

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3. 1990Jintian is revived overseas

   The journal resumes publication outside China, initially from Stockholm, with Bei Dao as editor.

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4. 1980Initial publication run ends after censorship

   The first phase concludes after nine issues when the journal is censored.

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5. 1979Poetry readings and art exhibitions

   Jintian organizes poetry readings on 8 April and 21 October and presents two exhibitions by The Stars, an unofficial group of painters.

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6. 1978Jintian is founded in Beijing

   Mang Ke, Bei Dao, and other writers establish the journal, which begins circulating around Democracy Wall.

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An independent-minded Chinese literary platform centered on contemporary poetry and experimental writing, with historical roots in the unofficial literary culture of late-1970s Beijing and an international online readership.

• Jintian literary journalLiterary periodical1978

  The core Jintian publication is a Chinese-language literary journal covering poetry, fiction, essays, criticism, memoir, and related cultural writing. Its original print run consisted of nine issues beginning in 1978, while its later revival continued the publication’s role as a platform for contemporary Chinese literature outside the official publishing system. The journal is now available online.

• Chinese Writing TodayEnglish-language anthology series1994

  Chinese Writing Today is a three-volume English-language anthology project containing translated poetry, fiction, essays, memoir, and literary criticism associated with contemporary Chinese writing. The first two volumes were published by Wellsweep Press in the United Kingdom and the third by Zephyr Press in the United States. The series helped introduce writers connected with Jintian to readers without Chinese-language access.

• Jintian Series of Contemporary LiteratureTranslated literature book series2010

  Published by Zephyr Press, the Jintian Series of Contemporary Literature presents English translations of poetry and other contemporary Chinese literary works. Listed titles include books by Mang Ke, Wang Xiaoni, Yu Xiang, Lan Lan, Ouyang Jianghe, Han Dong, Zhai Yongming, Yu Jian, Bai Hua, and other writers. The series extends Jintian’s international literary reach beyond the journal itself.

• 1979Jintian poetry readings

  Beijing

  Jintian organized two public poetry readings, held on 8 April and 21 October 1979, as part of its effort to create a public setting for unofficial contemporary poetry.

  Outcome. The readings reinforced the journal’s role as a cultural organizer as well as a publisher and contributed to the visibility of the emerging Misty Poetry scene.

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• 1979The Stars exhibitions

  Beijing

  The journal organized two exhibitions by The Stars, an unofficial group of painters associated with experimental Chinese art.

  Outcome. The exhibitions linked Jintian’s literary activities with a wider unofficial art movement and broadened its cultural significance beyond poetry publishing.

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• 1990Overseas revival and international publicationStrategy

  After the end of the original run, the journal’s literary network continued across national borders.

  What changed. Jintian resumed publication overseas, initially from Stockholm, with Bei Dao as editor.

  Aftermath. The revival enabled continued Chinese-language publication for writers and readers outside the mainland official publishing environment and eventually supported an online format.

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• 1980Publication ends after censorshipOther

  The first Jintian series had produced nine issues in the unofficial literary environment surrounding Beijing’s Democracy Wall.

  What changed. Authorities censored the journal, bringing its initial publication phase to an end.

  Aftermath. Jintian remained an important reference point for the development of the Misty Poets and was later revived overseas.

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1. Jintian (journal)
2. Jintian official website