The students in the May Fourth Intellectual Movement rejected classical written Chinese in favor of a new vernacular Chinese called Pai-Hua.
The standard written form of modern Chinese, based on the northern dialects, especially that of Beijing; the vernacular literary style.
May Fourth Movement, intellectual revolution and sociopolitical reform movement that took place in China in 1917–21. The movement aimed to achieve a national independence, emancipation of the individual, and rebuilding society and culture.