GREGORY B

the better known and better written were 'The Form Teacher' ( 班主 任 ) by Liu Xinwu 劉 心 武 , and the story that would lend itsname to this category of literary production, 'The Wound' or'The Scar' (shanghen 伤 痕 ); the genre became known as 'ScarLiterature' or 'Literature of the Wounded' (shanghen wenxue 伤痕 文 学 ). In terms of literary innovation the genre had littlemerit, but politically the major change was that instead ofpraising the Cultural Revolution, this literature condemned it. Itwas natural, therefore, that the anti-Mao faction should supportthis venting of frustration and resentment.In 1979, this tendency went further with what was knownas 'Literature of Exposure' (baolu wenxue 暴 露 文 学 ) whichdenounced the abuses of privileges of those in high civil ormilitary office. Such literature served the interests of DengXiaoping and his faction in 1977-1979, but its accessibility andtransparency laid it bare to criticism during more conservativemoments.Restrictive atmosphere in 1980In January 1980, barely three months after Deng Xiaopinghad addressed the Writers' Congress seemingly to encouragefree literary creation, his protégé, the liberal Hu Yaobangwarned a gathering of playwrights that they should take intoaccount the social impact of their literary production.Throughout 1980 the atmosphere became more restrictive.In April, the Standing Committee of the 14 th Session of the 5 thNational People's Congress (China's parliament), Article 45 of2