Magic Realism And Contemporary Chinese Literature

Of all the foreign literary influences on the contemporary Chinese literature, the Magic Realism is the most powerful and lasting one and arouses a fever of borrowing foreign literature as reference in the 1980s. Its great influence has been embodied constantly in the literary works of Chinese authors thereafter. As completely a foreign literature, how can the Magic Realism bloom in China? What is the impact it has brought to the contemporary Chinese literature? What are the differences between the Magic Realism of Chinese authors and that of the native Latin Americans? Or, what are the connotation and meaning of the Magic Realism in its original cultural tradition? What happens when it enters into another different cultural context? How do Chinese authors turn it into a native way of expression? What are the individual differences and complexity when Chinese authors receive this magic realistic way of writing? All the above questions have close relationship with our profound understanding of their national features respectively and are the focuses for the study of this thesis paper.Nevertheless the present situation of research on the relationship between the Magic Realism and the contemporary Chinese literature is far from satisfaction. Most of these studies focus on the relationship between Chinese literature and that of the other nations of Europe, North America and Asia, but seldom pay attention to the relationship between that of the remote Latin America. Although the Chinese scholars have certain awareness of the world fame of the Latin American literature and its influence on the contemporary Chinese literature, they fail to shift theiremphasis on this field.The few studies by the Chinese scholars in this field have their limitations. Those who study foreign literature know more about the Latin American literature but ignore its influence on the contemporary Chinese literature, while those who study Chinese literature are unable to go deep into the systematic study of the Latin American literature. Their studies limit themselves in their own realm respectively.Recently, this unsatisfactory status of study has been improved gradually. Some research papers have concerned the relationship between the Magic Realism and the contemporary Chinese literature, which have connected the two realms of study consciously. Such as The Comparison Between Magic Realism and Root-Seeking Literature (see Journal of Foreign Literature Study, 1997, No.3) by Wu Jiarong, The Comparison Between "Chenai Luoding" and "One Hundred Years of Solitude "(see Journal of Southwest College For Nationalities,2Q03, No.4) by Wang Fengxian, The Influence of Magic Realism on Chinese Literature (see Journal of Inner Mongolia College For Nationalities, 2000,No.4) by Li Xiaohui, and The Revelatory Influence of "One Hundred Years of Solitude" on the Inspiration of "Bailuyuan"(see Hunan Social Science, 2004,No.2) by Peng Caiyun, and so on. Although these achievements show certain modulation and change, they also have obvious limitations. All the above mentioned articles focus on the similarities of the two different kinds of literature, which lack enough attention and awareness of the differences. Most of their discussions on the influence and relationship are something in generalities without prolbund and convincing argumentation of the fact and manifestation of the influence.Thorough and profound study in this field is necessary. The author of this research paper intends to do something to change the status of the study and to supply its gap. In the first chapter, in order to be aware of the basic meaning of the term-and the status of reception in China, the author will focus on her discussion on the definition of Magic Realism and the translation, introduction and study of it in China. In chapter II, the author's attention is to reveal the complex reason andcondition that makes the Magic Realism become attached to the contemporary Chinese literature by means of analyzing the context of age. subject matters, the report and literary fame of the Magic Realism and the correspondence of the aesthetic purport. In chapter III and chapter IV, the author intends to review the wide and deep influence of the Magic Realism on the contemporary Chinese literature by case study of different Chinese authors. The main point of this part is to reveal respectively the tremendous influence embodied both in group writings( as in Root-Seeking Literature, new jotting, and the Tibetan group of writers) and individual writings(as in writers distributing in various regions of China, such as Zhaxidawa, Mo Yan, Jia Ping'ao, Han Shaogong and Fan Wen ). In the last chapter, the author will first explore the orientation, attitude and mentality of different Chinese authors when they face the magic realistic works of Latin America. In order to make the complexity of reception come to light, the author will also analyze the various techniques employed by different authors and this will be helpful to make clear which part of the Chinese magic realistic works is something borrowed and which part is the native expression.Generally speaking, the innovative points and significance of this study go as follows:a. So far, there is no thorough and profound study in this realm apart from the author's research work. This tentative study shall be novel and helpful to improve the status and widen the horizon of literary study in China.b. The author's study shall make up the deficiencies of the other studies that restrict their views in separate realm.c. The author's study shall break the mode of comparative literature study that seeks for similarity. Prominence is given to the different national features of both Latin American literature and Chinese literature. The author endeavors to reveal the formation of variation and localization in the process of reception.d. The reception of the Magic Realism of Latin American literature in China is a great and successful literary communication that has activated the creation ofthe contemporary Chinese literature and left us beneficial revelation. The study of it is obviously of significance.