A Study On Nanyang Imagination In Modern Novels

China faced domestic strife and foreign aggression in the upper half of the twentieth century. It was during this time that Nanyang imagination became a way where modern intellectuals reflected their struggles and confusion when confronting with the dual task of self identity and national reconstruction. Many scholars who focus on modern literature have done some studies related to Nanyang imagination. While studies related to Nanyang writing start late and the results show a trivial, messy condition.Modern Chinese Writer’s Southeast Asia written by Wang Yao is supposed to be the first work in this area. In the new century, Nanyang writing has attracted more attention among scholars. With the expansion of the research category, the research trend has changed from image and aesthetic into space, ethnic group and so on.The latest research method, combining Nanyang imagination in modern literature with writers’identity as well as the reconstruction of the nation, will be used in this paper. It will summarizes three trends in Nanyang imagination, that is, the nation, the object of desire and redemption,mainly in works written by Lao She, Xu Zhimo and Xu Dishan for the analysis of the relationship between Chinese identity with the landscape, people as well as culture and Chinese writers’recognition of identity. Based on that, the diversity and complexity of Nanyang imagination may be discovered. This paper will further discuss the inner relationship between Nanyang imagination, intellectuals’self construction and Chinese identity. The author tries to explain how writers and their works associate with Nanyang and China by studying works in such way.This paper can be divided into five parts. Introduction is the overview of the significance of this research and Nanyang writing. Chapter one is the development of exotic writing, indicating the real start in modern literature. Lacan’s "mirror theory" leads to find the "self in "Others" in order to confirm the identity theory. Chapter two tries to analyze Nanyang image in novels written by Lao She, Xu Zhimo and Xu Dishan from the "same as the oppressed nation state", "as the object of desire," and "redemption of the land as a" three-oriented. It also tries to get the diversified, complexity as well as show a strong image of the exotic South Pacific. Chapter three analyses the relationship between Nanyang imagination and Chinese identity. In this chapter, the author tries to illustrate how Nanyang imagination reflects intellectuals’ struggles and confusion. Chapter four is the conclusion that "my" position locates between Xiyang and Nanyang. "My" position confirmed in Nanyang is broken by a strong Xiyang, losing its stable state.