AbstractAfter having been introduced into China，classical German aesthetics has influenced the germination and development of modern Chinese literary theory greatly. It is an important literary phenomenon，but the monographic studies on it given by internal scholars are far more enough. This dissertation，based on the historical facts，explores and discriminates the deep relations between modern Chinese literary theory and classical German aesthetics from 1904 to 1949. In this dissertation，the relations between the two are analysed so fully and deeply that not only the dominant and recessive influences given by classical German aesthetics to modern Chinese literary theory are revealed，but also the new features of modern Chinese literary theory presented with its producing and developing are uncovered.Chapter One mainly studies the spread of classical German aesthetics in modern China. In this chapter，the spiritual meeting and harmonizing between modern Chinese literary theory and classical German aesthetics，and the new factors that modern Chinese literary theory presented，are analysed in whole.Chapter Two mainly discusses the theory of literary concept. The relations between modern Chinese literary theory and classical German aesthetics are elaborated in three aspects：the essence of literature，the value of literature and the birth of literature. Modern Chinese scholars’ comprehensions on literary aesthetic essence and cognitive essence，their definitions of the aesthetic value and the cognitive value of literature，and their theoretic interpretation that literature had its origin in games，are clarified. Modern Chinese scholars’ pioneering studies in these aspects have made up of the symbol content of modern transformation of literary concept.Chapter Three mainly discusses the theory of literary creation. In this chapter，modern Chinese scholars’ analyses of the subject and the object of literary creation，and the modes of writing，are analysed，and the inner relation between these analyses above and classical German aesthetics is discussed. Then it is indicated that these analyses added new theoretic factors to modern literary theory.Chapter Four mainly discusses the theory of literary works. In this chapter，modern scholars’ unique reforms in literary forms and genres，which are enlightened by classical German aesthetics，are analysed. In the field of literary forms，they annotated and established two poetic categories：Artistic Conception and Model. In the field of literary genres，they discussed creatively the basic characteristics of poetry and novels.Chapter Five mainly discusses the theory of literary criticism. In this chapter，according to classical German aesthetics，chinese modern scholars’ exploration of the theory of criticism，the method of criticism and textual criticism are arranged. These modern scholars are regarded to have got effective theoretic exploration of literary criticism and laid a solid foundation for the modern development of literary theory. Pioneers’ successful experiences are summarized，to provide valuable food for contemporary scholars who are in the era without literary theory.Key words：modern Chinese literary theory；classical German aesthetics；theory of literary concept；theory of literature creation；theory of literary works；critical theory