On Thoreau Relations With China

Henry David Thoreau was one of the important figures who was only next to Emerson in the major cultural movement of "American transcendentalism" in the early to middle 19th century. He hadn't published many works during his lifetime, and thus he has not brought to the people's prompt attention. But after his death, his reputation had risen in the United States and then gradually spread to the worldwide scale. His representative book Walden, or life in the woods has enduring charm until today, which attracted worldwide attention. The interpretation of his philosophy of nonviolent resistance in his political writing Civil Disobedience influenced the political thoughts and actions of such later figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. With the "non-violent protest" in Indian nationalist movement which was led by Mahatma Gandhi and the United States civil rights movement which was led by Martin Luther King, his ideas have attracted people's attention around the world.The study on Thoreau in United States has already been a specialized knowledge, and there are so many of concerned books of him. As early as 1930s and 1940s, some Chinese had started to read and appreciate Thoreau's works. However, the formal study on him in china was increasingly popular only from the end of the 20th century. The enthusiasm of translation and commented on him and his books also has arisen in recent ten years both in the publishing circle and the academic circle. Not only were the Chinese translations of his other writings few, but also the study of him was rather limited in China. This American author who was previously unknown in China, but suddenly hit the headlines today, has attracted the well-known scholars and the ordinary reader's attention, especially in the field of the Sino-Western cultural relations. This phenomenon is quite interesting for us to explore its deep causes.The value of Thoreau and his works presents is multiple for us. His acceptance of Confucianism and Taoism is the most important clue to motivate people to discuss the relationship between the Chinese and American culture. His intense ecological consciousness ahead of time enables the posterity to praise his writings for the "The green Holy Bible". But his philosophy of which he had promoted close to nature, simple life, advocating ethics, return to self, etc. are the most prominent ideas in his spirit. All of these forge become the effective prescriptions for modern people to introspect the contradiction of matter and spirit.Before 2007, there had so many people who admire Thoreau and scholars had done analysis and critique to him both at home and abroad from perspectives of the relationship between China and the United States, impact study, reception theory, hermeneutics, ecological ethics, etc. So Thoreau has a variety of analysis value in the field of Chinese literature research. This dissertation studies Thoreau from the perspective of comparative literature. Starting from the point of the relationship between Thoreau and China, summing up the results of previous studies at the same time, this dissertation explores the ways that Thoreau had been known and been accepted by Chinese. It appeals to display that Thoreau and China could read and inspire mutually in the literature or other realms through the location and interpretation of the relationship between both of them. We want to explore the inner link between Chinese and western cultures.In addition to introduction, this dissertation is divided into four chapters. The introduction summarizes Thoreau's life and his works briefly, analyzing the history of survival and vitality in China of Thoreau's works and thought. It also proposes the view that Thoreau can be and should be studied in China.Chapter one gives a review of the research scopes and achievements that had been done on Thoreau in China till the end of 2007.Based on the classification of Thoreau-related documents for research, it is reviewed briefly of the recognition, research and the existed achievements on Thoreau in China.Chapter two starts from Thoreau's contact and acceptance of Confucianism, discussing that Thoreau not only make an integration of the thoughts about human survival, moral and faith issues in Eastern and Western cultures, but also form a temperament as same as Confucianism and Taoism after he accepted the influence of Chinese classic thought. This chapter involves Thoreau's opinions to Chinese images and his favor to China. In the end, it compares the similarity of Thoreau and Chinese poet of the Jin Dynasty Tao Yuan-ming, for deepening the understanding of the question that Thoreau and China could get a better mutual understanding and influence upon each other.Chapter three focuses on the dissemination and acceptance of Thoreau and his works in China. Whether the fame of him in China or the effect which brought by him in the field of literature study have gone through a gradual process of popularity. According to the facts of translation and dissemination of Thoreau in China more than a half century, this chapter will analyze the in-depth factors of time, society, culture, psychology and reality, etc.Chapter four mainly analyzes the situation of Thoreau and his works and thoughts which had been read and been interpreted in Chinese linguistic environment. This dissertation has chosen four representative Chinese writers who had appreciated him, combining with their writings to study their understanding, recommendation and acceptance of Thoreau. This chapter is concerned about comprehending the local complex in Chinese literature, human care, reflections on modern society. Eileen Chang's comprehension and recommendation about Thoreau maybe read carefully for the first time in China at present.