Looking For The Dwelling Place

Yu Jian is a unique contemporary literary writer. Using Heidegger’s "poetic dwelling"theory as a guide, combining with Yu Jian’s text of poetry, prose and literary theory, thisdissertation attempts to investigate how Yu Jian explores the ways of "Poetic dwelling”on theearth under contemporary social conditions with his pure literary writing, and then points out thespiritual pursuit which throughout Yu Jian’s creation course on contemporary literature.This dissertation contains six parts: the preface, four chapters and the conclusion.The preface explains the insufficient current situation of the studies on Yu’s work, and thisdissertation’s emphasis and academic significance.The first chapter "The housing of the Earth" contains two sections, trying to discuss thethrust of Yu Jian’s early writing. The theme of Yu Jian’s early creation is his hometown inYunnan earth. Section I analysis Yu Jian’s writing purpose about Yunnan Dian chi Lake,wilderness. After the argument, pointed out that, Yu Jian focuses on the true state of the Dian chiLake and the wilderness, see the“earth”in keeping with his ideals as the hometown, it is thecarrier of life and eternity, the dwelling place of the spirit, the soul and the existence, theco-existing space of both gods and humans, the home of the meaning of life, the dwelling placeof the body and the mind. Section 2 explains that with spirituality overflowing, on the land ofYunnan, every creature has a soul. People are humble, respectful toward the earth, standing inawe of nature, keeping the land intact and maintaining a harmonious relationship between humanand the earth. It can be seen from the works of Yu Jian, all things full of divinity can conductdeep-level exchanges with people, can be able to touch people’s hearts. The main thrust of thisperiod of Yu Jian’s creation is by digging the nature of hometown, reveals that the true anddivine earth is the human place to live in. To get along with the earth freely, people can able toobtain the significance of life, existence and eternity.The second chapter, mainly analysis Yu Jian’s creative thrust of the early 1990s,Demonstrate Yu Jian’s reveal and critique on the current state of human existence from twoaspects. Section I, "the body is nowhere to be placed" analysis and points out that, Yu Jiandistressed at the destruction of nature caused by the cultural depravity in the current society. Dueto the material living environment gradually deteriorated, people never return the ideal livingworld which is true and divine. Section II further analyzes and points out that Yu Jian’s worksstresses the spiritual existence as the fundamental existence of human beings, With Nature shrinking and poetry disappearing, the spirit of men loosing its original foundation starts to stray,and the spiritual crisis is aggravating. In short, Yu Jian‘s creation of this period clearly reflectshis sense of crisis for the future of mankind and his yearning for poetic dwelling.The third chapter mainly analysis Yu Jian’s creative thrust of selecting the subjects of dailylife. Section I points out that Yu Jian‘s creation is not limited to the natural theme, but extendsthe field of vision to the daily lives of ordinary people, efforts to explore the poetry in daily life,in these poems, it can be seen, wherever they go, the mind has the possibility to get pleasureand tranquility. This approach is more practical than“Utopia writing”which just sings praisingsongs of nature. Section II illustrates the purpose of the poetic construction of the daily life: firstis a real show of the“human”, the second is a real show of the "objects". Yu’s poetic searchsurpasses physical writing, reaching out towards metaphysical questioning. By revealing theworldly life of ordinary people and describing their living circumstances, he finds the possibilityof poetic dwelling.Chapter four explores the implications and significance of Yu’s writing in the bigger pictureof contemporary literature and culture. Section I points out that facing up the status quo ofcontemporary literary scene—the lack of faith, the value of lost, Yu Jian has been contented withplain and poor life for forty years, strived exploring the significance of existence and eternity,looked for the ideal way of human dwelling, by adhering to the earth, sticking to the literarynature of pure literary writing. Section 2 demonstrates the significance of his writing, that is, Yuputs Heidegger’s theory of‘poetic dwelling’into practice, with his independent thinking andconcerns about the human ultimate existence value, he strives to dispose and reveal theconcealments, save souls, guard truth, and establish a spirit for both heaven and earth.Through the above research we can see that Yu Jian’s creation of different times and themesthe creation is permeated with the spiritual pursuit, as always, Yu persistently seeking for theways of poetic dwelling on the earth. Even though in reality it is impossible for the earth toreturn to its original, authentic holy situation, however he is still seeking for a way of dwellingpeacefully on the earth, and pay attention to“Desein”and human existence. May our soulresume peace, innocence and openness, and realize Heidegger’s“poetic dwelling”at the spirituallevel.