In this book, Cai Xiang re-examines the social transformations and intellectual landscape of the 1980s through a literary lens, proposing the concept of “two 1980s”: The first 1980s revolved around reform, enlightenment, and modernization in the social sphere. Initiated by Scar Literature, this period opened up diverse creative domains. The second 1980s emerged from reflections on and critiques of the first. While the dominant themes of reform and modernization brought vitality, they also introduced contradictions and crises. As individual consciousness and inner selves gained prominence, cultural and civilization issues became central intellectual concerns after the mid-1980s.