Faust─—Goethe’s immortal masterpiece, is generally considered as an enigmatic book of wisdom, even an eternal mystery that defies elucidation. Its introduction and reception into China have undergone a century of vicissitudes,which constitute a significant aspect of the encounter and exchange between Chinese and western cultures witnessed by the 20th century, serving at the same time as a frame of reference reflecting the history of societal and ideological evolution in China, perhaps also having furnished some thought-provoking evidence with respect to the social changes in China. Its introduction and reception into China have undergone a century of vicissitudes, which constitutes a significant aspect of the encounter and exchange between Chinese and western cultures witnessed by the 20th century, serving at the same time as a frame of reference reflecting the history of societal and ideological evolution in China, perhaps also having furnished some thought-provoking evidence with respect to the social changes in China.