A Study On The Literary Creation Of Natsume Souseki

In modern Japanese writers, Natsume Souseki was an outstanding writer with deep philosophical speculations and rich artistic expressions, and a representative of liberal thinkers. In his12years writer career, he created15novels, two critical works and a lot of essays, Chinese poems, haikus and critical essays which show his rich spiritual world and excellent artistic talent, and set up a monument of spiritual culture to both Japan and world literature historyNatsume Souseki has a wide-range of creations covering the civilization and social criticism, personal standard, marriage and family, feminism, the fate and role of the intellectuals as well as the religious thought, etc. We can say that despite his diverse themes his core theme has no change, namely, his exploration and concern about the meaning of human existence.The thesis, composed of five chapters, applies the method of comparative literature to explore Natsume Sousekis thoughts by means of text analysis.Chapter â…  gives a systematical analysis and categorization of Natsume Souseki literature ideas by taking his literary views, literature critics and other related works as the breakthrough point. He grew up under the nature of classical Chinese literature in pursuit of the literary view of "ampleness", and then influenced by the western culture, especially exposed to the great works of British literature masters such as Shakespeare, he established his literature thought of positive access to the real world, and showed his deep care of life value and social morals. He opposed the artistic view of "no ideals","no solutions" and "fatalism" in Japanese naturalism literature, especially disliked the vulgar sensuous descriptions from naturalism writers. He thinks that literature mission is to reveal the meaning of human existence to the readers, and show perfect spiritual world of eternal truth, beauty and goodness as well as dignity.Chapter â…¡ probes into Souseki's existence meaning and value reconstruction. In the modernization transformation, democratic essence and free spirit were not really absorbed in Japan, while the feudal autocratic was firmly rooted, so social ridiculous and darkness came into being, flinging people into unrest and nihility. His criticism of civilization and society, war-weary thought and the challenge to the feudal ethics are rebellious against absurdity and darkness, and also the transcendence of existence emptiness. He hoped constant social innovation and the change of unreasonable reality. He advocated the value of individual development, equality, liberty, democracy and social justice on behalf of the progress of human civilization, introducing justice, obligations and duties into "individualism", which embodies his clear recognition as an enlightener.Chapter â…¢ focuses on his views on women. Based on his own understanding of the women Natsume Sousek depicted three different images of women, namely, ideal type, evil-showing type, and awakening one, which reflected his ethical and moral judgment of women in the specific context. In spite of some prejudices against women his works represent the progressive thoughts of the times in pursuit of free marriage and equal men and women. His creations break through the single plane description to seek constantly for the meaning of female existence and ideal women in his bewilderment, which, in turn, bestows the work high art taste, shows the author's mature personality, pure aesthetic consciousness and deep thoughts.Chapter IV analyzes the religious thoughts in his literature. Religion provides Natsume Souseki with inexhaustible literature materials. As an atheist, he pursued enthusiastically free thought, strongly questioned religious worship of idols and formalism, and meanwhile looked forward to the religious ethical factors and something beyond thoughts. We can see that he holds religion is not only for personal settlement, but to breakthrough personal ego to achieve the harmony between self and others, self and nature. The chapter also analyzes his religious view of goodness, sin conscious and "evil redemption. Natsume Souseki is one of the few great Japanese writers who can expose their soul powers.Chapter V inquires into the literature thoughts in his late years. Natsume Souseki practiced self reflection and advocated the life norms of "conforming to nature without ego" in his late years to rid spiritual confinement and get perfect personality in the expectation of eliminating distress, constraining selfishness and greed in modern Japanese society. He maintained people should nourish and enrich spirits, advance interpersonal trust, selflessly extend love to anyone who lacks love so as to improve the human living environment, and make it a happy harmonious and ideal world under the guidance of this life norm. This chapter also examines the conscience, responsibility, tolerance and benevolence repeatedly stressed in his works, which is a beneficial reference for our human to observe the world at peace and live in harmony.In short, it is significant to promote Chinese moral values and reconstruct human spiritual world by exploring his literary creation and thoughts.