Abstract: Given the difference in social conditions and reading expectations, the cognitive interpretation of Romain Rolland's thought during the time of Republic of China can be roughly divided into three distinct stages. In the 1920s, Chinese intellectuals appreciated Rolland's spirit of independence and shared his belief in pacificism; in the 1930s, they advocated Rolland's fighting spirit and reflected on his idea of pacificism; in the 1940s, they began to question Rolland's thought on individualism and heroism and explored his ideas about the populace. When considered as a whole, one may see a sort of consistency and logicality throughout the three different stages. In other words, humanitarian care and yearning for peace seem to be not only the core of Rolland's thought from beginning to end, but also the nature and foundation of the author's belief in freedom, independence, fighting spirit, and individualism. Between the three different stages, though, there are some minute and implicit differences and transitional variations that accentuate the obvious richness and diversity in Rolland's thought and indicate freedom and independence, fighting spirit, and individualism as its three dimensions. The evolving interpretation of Rolland's thought during the time of Republic of China was directly influenced and strongly disciplined by the thoughts and discourses within the Chinese society in the first half of the 20^th century, so it had a fairly obvious function of political criticism and ideological trend, tinged with a quite strong touch of utilitarianism and pragmatism.

Key words: Romain Rolland, the period of the Republic of China, evolving interpretation, independence, individualism