Abstract: Mao Dun's critical articles on drama account for a small proportion of all his literary and art critical articles, but they play a very important role in promoting the weak theory of modern Chinese drama. Mao Dun has always pushed forward the reform of Chinese old plays and the localization of drama introduced from the west, and formed a more pertinent way of drama criticism, which has played a guiding role in the development of Chinese drama. At the same time, Mao Dun's views on drama are dominated by its function, and they are the representation of "For the Life" concept in dramatic literature. Mao Dun's important contribution to Chinese drama reform and the limitation of his drama criticism have enlightening significance to the development of Chinese contemporary drama.

Key words: Mao Dun, drama, reform