<p>This article explores the profound influence of Percy Bysshe Shelley on early 20th-century Chinese literature and intellectual thought, offering an analysis of the complexities involved in the Chinese reception of British Romanticism. Specifically, it examines how Shelley’s works and life philosophy, in contrast to his controversial English critical heritage, resonated with Chinese intellectuals during the post-May Fourth Movement period of the 1920s and 1930s. Shelley’s works and philosophy posed a direct challenge to traditional Confucian values, particularly regarding love and marriage. However, these ideas were not simply adopted; instead, they were reinterpreted and further shaped the evolving Chinese concept of morality within its unique cultural and social milieu. This reinterpretation played a significant yet underexplored role in shaping the transformation of “revolutionary romanticism” within the Chinese context. The article begins by tracing the debates surrounding Shelley’s perspectives on marriage and ethics, highlighting how Chinese writers and intellectuals engaged with his Romantic ideals to critique traditional norms and advocate for individual freedom and authenticity. The article then delves into the specific influence of Shelley on a prominent Chinese figure Xu Zhimo. It demonstrates how concepts of love, marriage and morality were reimagined and practiced, drawing parallels between their life philosophies and romantic pursuits. By examining the extensive translation and reinterpretation of Shelley’s biographies in China, this study concludes that Shelley’s Romanticism was predominantly reconstructed through biographical literature to align with the revolutionary aspirations of Chinese youth during this historical period. In this way, Shelley’s legacy in China became a symbol of the quest for both personal liberation and national rejuvenation.</p>