Children’s Literature in China during the “Seventeen-Year Literature” Period (1949–1966) ‘十七年文学’时期的中国儿童文学 (1949–1966)

This article examines the development of Chinese children’s literature (儿童文学, értóng wénxué) during the “Seventeen-Year Literature” period (1949–1966). Against the backdrop of political movements such as the Hundred Flowers Campaign (百花齐放, Bǎihuā qífàng) and the Great Leap Forward (大跃进, Dàyuèjìn), children’s literature functioned as both a creative art and an ideological tool. Focusing on three key writers—Ye Shengtao (叶圣陶, Yè Shèngtáo), Bing Xin (冰心, Bīng Xīn), and Zhang Tianyi (张天翼, Zhāng Tiānyì)—this study highlights recurring themes of patriotism, collective labor, moral education, and international solidarity, while situating their contributions within broader cultural and institutional contexts.