Exotic Know : Review Of The Research On Shen Cong - Wen Of Jin Jiefu

Academic studies on Shen Congwen (Shen Ts'ung-wen) are becoming an important part of modem Chineseliterature research. Among the various studies on Shen, the one done by American historian Jeffrey C.Kinkiey (also known as Tin Jiefu in China) occupies a particularly significant place. In the series of his works,Jeffrey unveils a panoramic and well-grounded picture of Shen Congwen in the aspects of history, literatureand culture, providing a high yet down-to-earth assessment over Shen's achievements, literary significanceand position. Jeffrey's research has laid a solid foundation on the field and made available inspirations andparadigms in various perspectives on relevant studies.Centered on Jeffrey's The Odyssey of Shen Congwen, this paper is an exploration of Jeffrey's research onShen Congwen and an attempt to comb through and reveal his major research achievements and significance.This paper is divided into five parts:Introduction: It is a brief literature review starting from the 1920s as well as the functions and limitations thatthose studies on Shen have had, serving as an indirect reflection of the role and value of Jeffrey's TheOdyssey of Shen Congwen.Chapter One: It is a study of the re-assessment of The Odyssey on the value of Shen's literature. Based onthe comprehensive and in-depth appreciation of Shen's literary writing itself, detailed grasp of its backgroundrelations as well as the distinctive eye for comparison, this writes attempts to play back Shen's literarymilestones.Chapter Two: It is a focused encapsulation of cultural awareness reflected in The Odyssey mainly frominterpreting, in connection with the The Odyssey, the cultural origin of the Shen's ancestry, culturalbackground of Shen's hometown, national cultural personality, ethnic cultural differences between Han andMiao as well as the concepts of cultural integration and acceptance.Chapter Three: It is a discussion of the distinctive features and exemplary values of the researchmethodology that Jeffrey adopted in his studies on Shen Congwen. It is based on brief analyses over suchaspects as ideas behind biography, attitude and method, acquisition of material, validation of facts andcoordinated use of text and annotation.Conclusion: It is a brief discussion of the perceived empathy and affinity in spirit between Jeffrey andCongwen. It also reflects on possible inspirations and influence of The Odyssey on relevant research downthe road.