National Imagination And National Construction

As the founder and the creator for the Martial Arts Novels of the Republic of China,the martial arts novels written by Pingjiangbuxiaosheng had the function of connecting the past with the future.However,at present,scholars’ research on PJ focuses on the author’s life and the version and connotation of his works,and relatively neglects the origin of his martial arts creation and his relationship with Japan.PJ ’s experience of traveling east to Japan and seeking the way of prosperity had a great influence on his martial arts creation.The degree of modernization of Japanese social development made him feel surprised and interesting.Japanese people criticized China’s national character and came up with such insulting remarks as "sick man of East Asia",which stimulated PJ ’s strong national self-esteem.The experience of studying abroad in Japan made PJ realize that the first thing to realize China’s prosperity and strength is to realize the renewal of national spirit.He enlightened the public by creating martial arts novels to advocate the spirit of martial arts,remold the soul of the nation.Inspired by the spirit of Japanese Bushido and influenced by the trend of national criticism,PJ ’s martial arts fiction has always been permeated with the idea that martial arts can strengthen the people and save the nation.However,Bushido ’s bloodthirsty,brutality and Japan’s foreign aggression triggered his reflection on Bushido.Huo Yuanjia is a famous hero of benevolence and righteousness created by PJ.His character of advocating martial arts and benevolence and righteousness is not only the expression of the author’s national integrity,but also his deep reflection on the spirit of Bushido.He was deeply impressed by the Japanese people’s civilization,the development of science and technology,and the perfection of law,which prompted him to advocate the characteristics of modern civilized society in martial arts novels,and to advocate the idea of science first,the spirit of rule of law in his works.This is not only the author’s thinking as a modern enlightener,but also his attempt to imagine and construct a modern nation-state.The origin of PJ ’s martial arts novels,the characterization of martial arts novels and the thought of modern state construction are all closely related to modern Japan.Only by using the method of comparative literature and combining with the history of cultural exchange between China and Japan,can we have a deep understanding and scientific evaluation of his works.This is not only a necessary way for us to objectively understand and impartially evaluate PJ ’s martial arts novels,but also a spiritual dialogue with a modern intellectual who once had used literary creation to think about the future nation-state.