He made a significant contribution towards the establishment of the Chinese literature and the editing of a variety of literary magazines. In 1921, he, Geng Jizhi (耿濟之), Jiang Boli (蔣百里), Shen Yanbing (沈雁冰) and others organized "Wenxue yanjiu hui" (Literary Study Society 文學研究會). In 1923, he became the chief editor of "Fiction Monthly" (小說月報). In addition, he in succession participated in editing min chao(閩潮), "xin Shehui" (新社會), "wenxue xunkan" (文學旬刊). In late 1931, he became a professor at both Yenching University and Tsinghua University, the president of Faculty of Arts and the director of Chinese department of Jinan University. He was also the chief editor of "Shijie wenku" (The World's Library 世界文庫) at the same time. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, he was assigned to be head of the Cultural Relic Bureau (文物局), Director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and literary research institute, the assistant minister of cultural department, committee member of State Council scientific program committee and Chinese Academy of Science philosophical social sciences, the vice-chairman of Chinese folk literature and art research council, etc. He died in a plane crash in the Soviet Union during his journey in 1958.