The Embodiment Of Form And Emptiness In Gary Snyder’s Myths&Texts

Gary Snyder is one of the well-known eco-poets since the20th century, whose unique talents in poetry were established from the outset of his career. Published in1960by Totem Press, Snyder’s mythical long poem entitled Myths&Texts (completed in1956) articulates his appropriation and adaptation of all nutrients from Occidental and Oriental cultures, including Native American literature, Eastern aesthetics, and the wisdom of Zen Buddhism. His long engagement in Zen/Chan Buddhism has harvested a language of "Emptiness" marked by ellipsis and space, which gives readers a sense of clarity.Based on the famous Buddhist scholar Edward Conze’s understanding of the Buddhist doctrine of "Form and Emptiness" in Heart Sutra, the thesis attempts to explore the acculturation of "Form and Emptiness" embodied in Snyder’s Myths&Texts. It contends that Snyder’s poetic craftsmanship of ellipsis and space together with his syncretism of myth and text remain as manifesto of the influence of "Form and Emptiness" on his poetry. This study focuses on how "Form and Emptiness" is exemplified in artistic traditions by means of koan, haiku, Chinese classical poetry and Chinese landscape paintings; on the other hand, how such concepts as "Form and Emptiness" work well in the shape of Snyder’s idiosyncratic language and poetics.Through the textual analysis and a comparative study of cross-culture, it is hoped that this case study will provide a practical paradigm for reconstructing the influence of Oriental culture on modern American poetry.