In modern times (from 1840 to 1949), Zhejiang culture inherited and developed the traditional Chinese culture and furthered the development with the innovation and reform. Thus Zhejiang culture gained a sustained momentum in its development.

In learning and ideology fields, from 1840 to 1949, there were lots of revolutionists, ideologists and scholars like Lin Qi, Zhang Taiyan, Cai Yuanpei, Tao Chengzhang, Sun Yirang, Lu Xun, Chen Wangdao and Zheng Zhenduo who were rich in knowledge, profound in learning, studious in educating the people, and also very patriotic and democratic. 
 Cai Yuanpei

Yu Yue and Sun Yirang were great masters of the nation's traditional studies; Zhang Taiyan was a famous thinker; Cai Yuanpei was a great educator; Lu Xun was the torchbearer of China's New Culture Movement and Revolution; Zhang Yuanji devoted all his lifetime to his career as an educator and publisher; Ma Yifu was considered the contemporary master of the Confucian school's idealist philosophy; Wu Han and Fan Wenlan were historians and Xia Chengtao was a master of the Ci poems; and all of them were either Zhejiang natives or had been staying in Zhejiang for quite a long period. These scholars enjoyed very important positions in the modern history of China.

In literary fields, Lu Xun, the torchbearer of China's New Culture Movement, published his first vernacular Chinese novel A Madman¡¯s Diary in the famous magazine New Youth. In 1921, Shen Yanbin initiated the Literature Research Committee to promote the theory that art was originated from the real life; Yu Dafu started the Creation Academy to promote the theory that art should manifest one's true self. The novel collection Sinking by Yu Dafu was the first collection since China's New Culture Movement. Later on, the trilogy, i.e. Spring Silkworms, the Shop of Lin Family and Midnight by Mao Dun began the anti-imperialism and anti-feudal themes then. Besides, the Zhejiang scholars contributed a lot to the development of the modern poems and prose of China. In 1920s, there were lots of new-type poets and prose writers of different styles and genres, such as the earliest new poetry organization Lakeside Poem Society established in Hangzhou in 1922, the New Moon Style represented by the poet Xu Zhimo, the Modern Genre poem represented by Dai Wangshu, the Red Instigation poems by Yin Fu and the Whitehorse Lake prose genre represented by Zhu Ziqing and Xia Gaizun, etc. 

In the art field, there were famous artists like Li Shutong, Xia Yan, Zhou Xinfang, Gai Jiaotian and Yuan Xuefen who obtained their respective success in music, drama, movie and Yue Opera. Apart from these achievements, another outstanding facet of Zhejiang Modern Culture was fine arts.

 Mao Dun

At the end of the Qing dynasty, most leading painters of the Shanghai Painting Genre were Zhejiang natives, such as Zhao Zhiqian, the three Rens (namely Ren Xiong, Ren Xun and Ren Bonian), Wu Changshuo, etc. Among the Four Great Painters of Shanghai Painting Genre, there were three from Zhejiang, namely Ren Bonian, Wu Changshuo and Pu Hua. Besides, with the inherited cream of the traditional arts, the modern Zhejiang artists like Huang Binhong, Feng Zikai, Pan Tianshou and Lu Weizhao tried hard to transform and innovate the modern arts, injected fresh modern elements into their works and finally created their own features. The Xiling Seal Society, which was established in 1904, was the earliest research organization for the inscriptions books and Chinese seals art. The scenic spot Lanting (orchid pavilion) in Shaoxing County is the mecca of Chinese calligraphy. The establishment of the National Academy of Fine Arts in Hangzhou, 1928, indicated that again Hangzhou became one of the centers for fine arts creation and education in the nation.
   
Zhejiang Culture is based on the long-standing traditions, profound accumulations, outstanding and unique local characteristics and spirits of the times. Furthermore, Zhejiang province is rich in cultural resources. The abundant cultural heritage and prosperous cultural activities bring many advantages to the construction of a big cultural province. 

 Feng Zikai

Culture is the centralized embodiment of the construction of spiritual civilization and the driving force of the development of social economy. Thanks to the cultural accumulation and tradition, Zhejiang becomes a big economic province too. During the long period of social development, the people of Zhejiang province have shown their perseverance, creativity and a kind of down-to-earth spirit, which are fundamental to Zhejiang Spirit. In order to promote the Zhejiang Spirit, achieve the strategic goal of modernization, elevate people's quality both spiritually and culturally , improve people's living standard and advance the social civilization, the government proposes a series of practical policies and regulations to achieve the goal of a big cultural province of the nation. 
  
The dawn of the 21st century saw both the value of culture and cultural consumption increasing.. In accordance with Chairman Jiang Zemin¡¯s Three Representatives Theory, we will keep promoting cultural industries, endeavor to advance the development of Zhejiang Culture, keep pace with the times, and try our best to attain the goal of building a big cultural province.
 Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra