CHINESE STUDIES: LU XUN, WESTERN REALISM AND OTHER INFLUENCES (Essay Sample)

CHINESE STUDIES: LU XUN, WESTERN REALISM AND OTHER INFLUENCES Name Institution Date Introduction Scholars have cited numerous and controversial arguments as to the origin of Lu Xun's influence with most citing that his works draw mostly from the influence of he western culture. However, the assertion concerning western influence and his writings is only part of the truth acquired by partial investigations in to his works. Having written prolific content for the most part of his life, Lu Xun is known for his essays, reminiscences, and mostly in the West for his classic short fictions. It is also important to note that his works mostly came to the limelight between the years 1906 and 1935 and that most of them expressed his dissatisfaction towards specific aspects of the Chinese way of life and especially in the political arena. This means that although scholars cannot negate the influence of the western culture they to have to acknowledge the influence of his personal viewpoint in his works. Over the years his writings have been gathered and re-structured by journalists to meet the expectations of modern day readers. Nevertheless, the re-constructions of his original work are no match for his ingenuity and mastery especially when it comes to short stories.[Jeremy, Tambling. ("Lu Xun: The True Story." Madmen and Other Survivors, 2007, 12-24. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.5790/hongkong/9789622098244.003.0002).] [Zhaoyi, Zhang. (Lu Xun: The Chinese "Gentle" Nietzsche. Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 2001).] [Zuoliang, Wang. ("Lu Xun." China Academic Library Degrees of Affinity, 2014, 61-67. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45475-6_8).] [Jeremy, Tambling. ("Lu Xun: The True Story." Madmen and Other Survivors, 2007, 12-24. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.5790/hongkong/9789622098244.003.0002).] [Liu, Jianmei. ("Lu Xun." Zhuangzi and Modern Chinese Literature, 2016, 59-83. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190238155.003.0004).] It is also important to note that most scholars have come to believe that his works were mostly influenced by the western culture because having learnt an additional language- German, his works rotated between Japanese and German translations. After realizing his gift in writing, he embarked passionately in to writing sho9rt stories and was even at one time helped by his brother to produce Yuwai xiaoshuo, which was a collection of short stories. Thereafter, he worked with other writers of his time such as Leonid Andreyev, Henryk Sienkiewicz, and Vsevolod Mikhaylovich. Notably, his involvement with numerous writers from diverse backgrounds negates the argument that his influences only emanated from the western culture. Amidst discussing the influence of the Western realism, this paper will analyze Lu Xun's various works to determine other possible influences that would help foster a deeper understanding in to Lu Xun's fiction. Discussion In order to well understand the numerous influences that led to the works produced by Lu Xun, it is vital to analyze some of his specific works. A Madman's Diary This was a short story that the writer saw published in the year 1918 by one of the leading publishers of the time known as New Youth. As many scholars have opined, the short stories in this work carried epochal significance because they marked the dawn of a new era in literature. What is more important however, is the fact that most stories contained in this publication sought to bring to light the evils of primitive leadership and the outdated norms in China. This means that the writer was not only influenced by Western realism as suggested earlier but was also influenced to write by an inner desire to tell the truth and liberate his fellow country men from the oppressive leadership practices of the time. In support of this argument, other scholars have suggested that he was influenced by patriotism to come up with A Madman's Diary. Although Lu Xun does not use this novel to describe the harms the people in China faced due to the outmoded form of leadership, he cunningly points out the harsh nature of the leadership norms by describing the eyes of the mad man, his irrationality, and hysterical words. Literature scholars have often argued that this mad man is representative of the Chinese community of the time. This further supports the argument that the writer was also influenced by his patriotic nature and the need to inform his countrymen towards liberation. From a patriot's perspective, the writer uses this collection of short stories to denounce the cannibalistic norms exhibited by the leadership of the time. On the other hand, it could be argued that Western realism played a major role in the production of A Madman's Diary because at the time, Europe and America were raging with discontent and seeking for a society reflecting equity.[Jianming, He , and Shi, Xiaojing. (Chinese Literature. Beijing: New World Press, 2013).] [Zuoliang, Wang. ("Lu Xun." China Academic Library Degrees of Affinity, 2014, 61-67. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45475-6_8).] [Zhaoyi, Zhang. (Lu Xun: The Chinese "Gentle" Nietzsche. Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 2001).] [Jianming, He , and Shi, Xiaojing. (Chinese Literature. Beijing: New World Press, 2013).] [M. D, Gu. ("Lu Xun and Modernism/Postmodernism." Modern Language Quarterly 69, no. 1 (2008): 29-44. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.1215/00267929-2007-023).] [Jeremy, Tambling. ("Lu Xun: The True Story." Madmen and Other Survivors, 2007, 12-24. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.5790/hongkong/9789622098244.003.0002).] [Liu, Jianmei. ("Lu Xun." Zhuangzi and Modern Chinese Literature, 2016, 59-83. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190238155.003.0004).] Call to Arms and Wandering These assortments of short stories comprised of at least 13 of Lu Xun's works and were collectively published between the years 1917 and 1921. In these collections also, it seems that the most outstanding influence was the writer's patriotic agenda. During this time China as a country was going through turbulent times having revolutions and resentments against the leadership of the time. This was the time of the revolution known in the scholarly world as May 4th movement. As such, the writer seems to have been pushed by his patriotic attribute that influenced him to respond to the situation in his country through his most profound gift- writing. On the other hand, it is impossible to ignore the impact of the Western realism considering that the writer had spent most of his younger days in Western countries and experienced first hand the revolutionary changes that took place whilst he was there. Whereas Call to Arms bore 2 of the stories of this collection Wanderings with 11 stories took a completely different direction. Careful readings in to the 11 stories reveal that Lu Xun was influenced by another force apart from Western realism and patriotism- spiritual emptiness. Stories such as The Misanthrope, Divorce, and Regret for the Past contained in this collection all used expressions and characters that seemed to seek some form of spiritual enlightenment. This therefore means that the writer was influenced by the spiritual emptiness he went through during the early 1920's when he had devoted himself to searching for tangible spiritual truths.[Jeremy, Tambling. ("Lu Xun: The True Story." Madmen and Other Survivors, 2007, 12-24. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.5790/hongkong/9789622098244.003.0002).] [Liu, Jianmei. ("Lu Xun." Zhuangzi and Modern Chinese Literature, 2016, 59-83. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190238155.003.0004).] [Zhaoyi, Zhang. (Lu Xun: The Chinese "Gentle" Nietzsche. Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 2001).] [Michael, Duke S., and Ou-Fan Lee, Leo. ("Lu Xun and His Legacy." World Literature Today 60, no. 3 (1986): 519-31. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.2307/40142418).] [M. D, Gu. ("Lu Xun and Modernism/Postmodernism." Modern Language Quarterly 69, no. 1 (2008): 29-44. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.1215/00267929-2007-023).] In addition to the influences mentioned earlier, Call to Arms and Wandering seem to indicate that the writer was influenced in both cases by his passion for equity in the society. This assertion can be supported by the sympathetic stories about the suffering of peasants as depicted by the two collections. In both collections, Lu Xun is keen to point out the various troubles that peasants in his country faced especially with regards to the revolution that took place in the year 1911.[Michael, Duke S., and Ou-Fan Lee, Leo. ("Lu Xun and His Legacy." World Literature Today 60, no. 3 (1986): 519-31. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.2307/40142418).] [Zuoliang, Wang. ("Lu Xun." China Academic Library Degrees of Affinity, 2014, 61-67. Accessed May 21, 2016. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45475-6_8).] Kong Yiji and Medicine The short story Kong Yiji seems to have been written by the author to paint the picture of an intellectual going through afflictions because of the cruelty and unfairness of the examination systems. Using concise and the simplest of structures, Lu Xun chastises the malevolent practices embedded in the education and examination system of his time through negating talent, frustrating poor and willing students, and discriminating based on race and origin. As such, the major influence in this case is the writers personal experience in both home based schools and foreign schools. Lu Xun who had sought an opportunity in one of the top class schools of his time was forced to take a lesser option because although he was bright his parents could not afford. In another incidence while studying in the western word, even his instructors showed prejudice by down marking his exams simply because he was Chinese. These incidences help confirm the assertion that personal experience with erudition systems influenced his work.[Jeremy, Tamblin...