Interdisciplinary and Transcultural Approaches to Chinese Literature – serie

This edited volume contains an excellent collection of contributions and presents various informative topics under the central theme: literary and translation approaches to China’s greatest classical novel Hongloumeng.Acclaimed as one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, Hongloumeng (known in English as The Dream of the Red Chamber or The Story of the Stone) epitomizes 18th century Chinese social and cultural life. Owing to its kaleidoscopic description of Chinese life and culture, the novel has also exerted a significant impact on world literature. Its various translations, either full-length or abridged, have been widely read by an international audience. The contributors to this volume provide a renewed perspective into Hongloumeng studies by bringing together scholarship in the fields of literary and translation studies. Specifically, the use of corpora in the framework of digital humanities in a number of chapters helps re-address many issues of the novel and its translations, from an innovative angle. The book is an insightful resource for both scholars of Chinese literature and for linguists with a focus on translation studies.

This edited volume contains an excellent collection of contributions and presents various informative topics under the central theme: literary and translation approaches to China’s greatest classical novel Hongloumeng.Acclaimed as one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, Hongloumeng (known in English as The Dream of the Red Chamber or The Story of the Stone) epitomizes 18th century Chinese social and cultural life. Owing to its kaleidoscopic description of Chinese life and culture, the novel has also exerted a significant impact on world literature. Its various translations, either full-length or abridged, have been widely read by an international audience. The contributors to this volume provide a renewed perspective into Hongloumeng studies by bringing together scholarship in the fields of literary and translation studies. Specifically, the use of corpora in the framework of digital humanities in a number of chapters helps re-address many issues of the novel and its translations, from an innovative angle. The book is an insightful resource for both scholars of Chinese literature and for linguists with a focus on translation studies.

Xie analyzes three novels by the international award-winning Chinese writer Yan Lianke and investigates how his signature “mythorealist” form produces textual meanings that subvert the totalizing reality prescribed by literary realism.The term mythorealism, which Yan coined to describe his own writing style, refers to a set of literary devices that incorporate both Chinese and Western literary elements while remaining primarily grounded in Chinese folk culture and literary tradition. In his use of mythorealism, carrying a burden of social critique that cannot allow itself to become “political,” Yan transcends the temporality and provinciality of immediate social events and transforms his potential socio-political commentaries into more diversified concerns for humanity, existential issues, and spiritual crisis. Xie identifies three modes of mythorealist narrative exemplified in Yan’s three novels: the minjian (folk) mode in Dream of Ding Village, the allusive mode in Ballad, Hymn, Ode, and the enigmatic mode in The Four Books. By positioning itself against an ambiguous articulation of social determinants of historical events that would perhaps be more straightforward in a purely realist text, each mode of mythorealism moves its narrative from the overt politicality of the subject matter to the existential riddle of negotiating an alternative reality.A groundbreaking study of one of contemporary China’s most important authors that will be of great value to scholars and students of Chinese literature.

Xie analyzes three novels by the international award-winning Chinese writer Yan Lianke and investigates how his signature “mythorealist” form produces textual meanings that subvert the totalizing reality prescribed by literary realism.The term mythorealism, which Yan coined to describe his own writing style, refers to a set of literary devices that incorporate both Chinese and Western literary elements while remaining primarily grounded in Chinese folk culture and literary tradition. In his use of mythorealism, carrying a burden of social critique that cannot allow itself to become “political,” Yan transcends the temporality and provinciality of immediate social events and transforms his potential socio-political commentaries into more diversified concerns for humanity, existential issues, and spiritual crisis. Xie identifies three modes of mythorealist narrative exemplified in Yan’s three novels: the minjian (folk) mode in Dream of Ding Village, the allusive mode in Ballad, Hymn, Ode, and the enigmatic mode in The Four Books. By positioning itself against an ambiguous articulation of social determinants of historical events that would perhaps be more straightforward in a purely realist text, each mode of mythorealism moves its narrative from the overt politicality of the subject matter to the existential riddle of negotiating an alternative reality.A groundbreaking study of one of contemporary China’s most important authors that will be of great value to scholars and students of Chinese literature.

Han Suyin (1916/1917–2012) became a household name when Love is A Many-Splendored Thing, the Hollywood rendition of her novel won several awards in 1956. The study of Han Suyin went out of fashion for a while, but it has recently been revitalised, especially in Singapore and Malaysia. Kuek pays attention to The Crippled Tree autobiographical series, delineating her two-track narrative of her family saga against the backdrop of 20th century China.Different from the earlier studies on Han Suyin that employed perspectives from postcolonialism, feminism, and new historicism, this book examines Han Suyin’s autobiography through the lens of ethical literary criticism (ELC), paying attention to the ethical lines and knots embedded in her series. Using ELC, an apolitical literary analysis approach, this book uncovers multiple layers of meaning and reveals Han Suyin’s life trajectory which draws attention to China’s difficult path of modernisation in the past century. The insights gleaned from this book shed light on Han Suyin’s life accomplishments in the face of great adversities and challenges.This is a valuable book that will enlighten literary critics on critical approaches to autobiography and those interested in understanding the development of modern China through the words of a proud Chinese-Eurasian writer living in the era.

Han Suyin (1916/1917–2012) became a household name when Love is A Many-Splendored Thing, the Hollywood rendition of her novel won several awards in 1956. The study of Han Suyin went out of fashion for a while, but it has recently been revitalised, especially in Singapore and Malaysia. Kuek pays attention to The Crippled Tree autobiographical series, delineating her two-track narrative of her family saga against the backdrop of 20th century China.Different from the earlier studies on Han Suyin that employed perspectives from postcolonialism, feminism, and new historicism, this book examines Han Suyin’s autobiography through the lens of ethical literary criticism (ELC), paying attention to the ethical lines and knots embedded in her series. Using ELC, an apolitical literary analysis approach, this book uncovers multiple layers of meaning and reveals Han Suyin’s life trajectory which draws attention to China’s difficult path of modernisation in the past century. The insights gleaned from this book shed light on Han Suyin’s life accomplishments in the face of great adversities and challenges.This is a valuable book that will enlighten literary critics on critical approaches to autobiography and those interested in understanding the development of modern China through the words of a proud Chinese-Eurasian writer living in the era.

This is a systematic study of Matteo Ricci’s (1552–610) enormous impact on the development of modern scientific and intellectual terminology in China.Taking the Sino‑estern cultural exchanges initiated by Western Jesuit missionaries in the late‑ing dynasty as its starting point, this book comprehensively presents the new terms coined by Ricci (and his collaborators) in his religious, geographical, geometrical, and astronomical Chinese writings. It uses a multitude of examples adopted from Ricci’s Chinese works as well as from ancient Chinese documents to discuss etymological evolution. Ricci’s early coinages of terms and their subsequent history demonstrate the role of interaction and scholarly collaboration between the late Ming Jesuits and Chinese intellectuals in the formation of modern Chinese lexicon. The research conclusions of this book will further advance Ming‑ynasty studies and contribute to a new understanding of the creation of modern Chinese lexicon.This book is a vital resource for students, scholars, and linguists studying and researching in the history of Chinese and early Mandarin. This volume will also be very interesting among students and scholars of Chinese literature and history, particularly among scholars who work in Ming history and literature.The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 International license

This is a systematic study of Matteo Ricci’s (1552–610) enormous impact on the development of modern scientific and intellectual terminology in China.Taking the Sino‑estern cultural exchanges initiated by Western Jesuit missionaries in the late‑ing dynasty as its starting point, this book comprehensively presents the new terms coined by Ricci (and his collaborators) in his religious, geographical, geometrical, and astronomical Chinese writings. It uses a multitude of examples adopted from Ricci’s Chinese works as well as from ancient Chinese documents to discuss etymological evolution. Ricci’s early coinages of terms and their subsequent history demonstrate the role of interaction and scholarly collaboration between the late Ming Jesuits and Chinese intellectuals in the formation of modern Chinese lexicon. The research conclusions of this book will further advance Ming‑ynasty studies and contribute to a new understanding of the creation of modern Chinese lexicon.This book is a vital resource for students, scholars, and linguists studying and researching in the history of Chinese and early Mandarin. This volume will also be very interesting among students and scholars of Chinese literature and history, particularly among scholars who work in Ming history and literature.The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 International license

Chao explores Sinophone literature as a complex field that navigates the intersections of Sinitic languages, global literary systems, and China-centered perspectives. He presents an alternative perspective that Sinophone literature, especially through ghost narratives, offers a platform for communities to critically examine modernity, transgress boundaries, and challenge epistemologies.By emphasizing locality, this book critiques the homogenization of knowledge production and highlights the importance of local experiences in shaping Sinophone identity. Questioning the linear, essentialist interpretations of Chineseness, a more fluid understanding influenced by cultural memory, globalization, and transnational dynamics emerges. This book advocates for an expanded scope of Sinophone theory that includes the Chinese mainland, moving beyond an against-diaspora stance. Building upon postcolonialism and historical contexts, it examines literary texts and ghost narratives originating from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Chinese mainland, delving into the diversity of Sinophone literature.An excellent read for students, researchers, and scholars interested in Chinese literature, cultural studies, and critical literary work with a focus on Asian studies.

Guohua Zhu unveils the last two decades of Chinese literary theory and research, offering a glimpse into the evolving dialogue between Eastern and Western theoretical frameworks within China's cultural landscape.Initially focusing on unique Chinese literary phenomena, Zhu’s research culminates in the critical examination of the effectiveness of Western theories within the Chinese cultural context. Drawing upon works from key Chinese literary figures, the book offers a comprehensive understanding of literary realities in China and the constructive roles played by Western theories in Chinese cultural activities. Through detailed examinations of literary canonization processes, cultural identity formation, and the challenges facing art criticism in the digital age, the volume provides readers with nuanced insights into the complex interplay between traditional Chinese artistic values and modern global influences.A vital resource for students and scholars in Chinese literature, Sinophone studies, cultural studies, Chinese diaspora, and overseas Chinese studies.

Zhu, Moratto, Chao and the contributors bring readers on a captivating journey into the intersections of Chinese and Western intellectual traditions.Through a diverse collection of chapters, the book navigates the complex terrain of literary theory, aesthetics, and cultural analysis with depth and insight. From exploring ancient Chinese literary theories to examining contemporary interpretations of Western aesthetics by Chinese scholars, each chapter presents a unique perspective that enriches our understanding of cross-cultural exchanges. It transcends disciplinary boundaries, inviting readers to engage with topics ranging from landscape aesthetics to virtual reality, from postcolonialism to the philosophy of art. By fostering dialogue and reflection, it illuminates the dynamic interplay between Chinese and Western cultures, challenging conventional assumptions and opening new pathways for intellectual inquiry.With its thought-provoking insights and scholarly rigor, this book is an indispensable resource for academics and students in the fields of literary theory and comparative literary studies, as well as anyone interested in the complexities of cultural translation and the evolving landscape of global intellectual discourse.