Welcome to Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art,

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2019, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (6): 66-74.

• Modern and Contemporary Literary Theory • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Chinese Native-soil Literature: Occurrence and a Hundred Years of Evolvement

Wei Cece   

  • Online:2019-11-25 Published:2020-03-20
  • About author:Wei Cece, Ph. D., is an associate researcher at Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences, with research interests in comparative literature and world literature.

Abstract:

Chinese "native-soil literature" has constantly been interacting with world literature due to its modern consciousness. Due to a deep spiritual connection with Chinese culture, society and history, it is the best entrance to perceiving the rich connotation in modern Chinese literature with regard to the issues of China and world, tradition and modernity. It is an excellent sample for studying modern and contemporary Chinese indigenous literature, which provides us with valuable experience about how to inherit and develop Chinese literature in the dimension of indigenousness, nation, and the world. It is also an effective dimension to explore contemporary "Chinese problems". By far, most existing studies are limited to the internal study of "native-soil literature", ignoring the characteristics in its early theoretical construction as well as the social environment, historical context and cultural motivation, which all contributed to the occurrence of the concept "native-soil literature". This article examines the origin of "native-soil literature" from the perspectives of sociology, history and regional culture, to explore the reason why it is named "native-soil literature". It also investigates the "Chinese experience" in the development of "native-soil literature", and its rich connection with Chinese literature and world literature in the process of evolvement.

Key words: native-soil literature, regional literature, country education, national literature