A Study Of The Image Of Japan In Huang Zunxian's Works

Since ancient times,China has more or less contact with many neighboring countries and ethnic groups,so there are corresponding descriptions about foreign lands in Chinese literature and poetry,which forms the image of foreign lands,and the image of Japan is one important part of it.Until the late Qing Dynasty,the Chinese people constantly repeated their predecessors' understanding of Japan,and they usually took the Chinese culture as a standard to review Japan.Those in line with the Chinese cultural standards were demonstrated as an image of human,while those not conforming to the Chinese culture were demonstrated as a distorted image.This situation was not broken till Huang Zunxian appeared.Standing at the historical turning point,Huang Zunxian,a famous poet,diplomat and reformer,used his keen insight to create a rich and vivid image of Japan through poetry and literature.In this paper,"Japanese Chore Poetry",the Japanese volume of "Ren Jing Lu Shi Cao" and "Annals of Japan" are taken as the object of study.At the same time,relevant records,correspondence,official documents and written reports of Huang Zunxian are combined.Besides the comparative literature imagology is taken as the research method.Thus,I comprehensively construct the image of Japan in Huang Zunxian's works and its formation reasons and significance of the times.Part One is the introduction,which mainly introduces Huang Zunxian's personal experiences and his main works "Ren Jing Lu Shi Cao","Japanese Chore Poetry" and"Annals of Japan" and reviews previous researchers' studies on Huang Zunxian from both the domestic and foreign aspects,and then elaborates on this paper's argument gist,research methods and innovation points.The purpose of this part is to lay a good foundation for the main topic because Huang Zunxian' a personal experience,main works and an understanding of previous researches are the premise and basis for the correct grasp of the topic "image of Japan in Huang Zunxian's works".Part Two is Chapter One,which mainly investigates the background for the formation of Japan's image in Huang Zunxian's works.First of all,the history of Sino-Japanese relationship over the two thousand years before the late Qing Dynasty was reviewed.Secondly,this chapter also discusses previous Chinese people's imagination of Japan before Huang Zunxian as the social collective imagination.The image of Japan in Chinese literatures is established on the basis of Sino-Japan exchanges at all levels,and the social collective imagination is also an important reference to measure the image of Japan in Huang Zunxian's works.Therefore,the study of the two is essential to the study of "the image of Japan in Huang Zunxian's works".The third and the four or five part respectively correspond to the second chapter,the third chapter and the fourth chapter.The three chapters are the core of this paper.Based on the different national situation of China and Japan at different stages and in the interaction between others and the self,the three chapters discuss different images of Japan in Huang Zunxian's works in three different periods.During the first period from 1877 to 1882,the image of Japan was demonstrated in the form of an ideological image of Japan.Specifically,the ideological image of Japan in Huang Zunxian's works include two aspects:one is the homologous image of Japan,including the homologous image of scene,homologous image of culture,homologous image of customs and homologous image of Japanese;and the other is the heterogeneous image of Japan,including the vulgar image shown in customs and culture as well as image of treachery.This ideological image of Japan is formed due to the influence of the Chinese model of the world,the influence of the social collective imagination as well as Japanese sinologists.The ultimate purpose of Huang Zunxian's ideological image of Japan is to strengthen and affirm China itself,and then to deny Japan.During the second period from 1882 to 1894,the image of Japan was demonstrated as being Utopian.Specifically,it was created by the new look of a good policy,the reorganized army,the new face after the reform and superb technology,etc.At this time,the image of Japan in the eyes of Huang Zunxian was created by Huang Zunxian with words desiring for diversity,so as to show a Utopian image of Japan,which was formed due to Huang Zunxian's progressive ideas and the global mode of world view.By constructing the Utopian image of Japan,Huang Zunxian showed his affirmation and yearning for the Japanese civilization and also expressed his denial of China's present situation.During the third period from 1894 to 1905,the image of Japan was demonstrated as a powerful imperial colonist.Specifically,it was created as a powerful military image,ambitious,aggressive and arrogant image.This image was formed by the medium-the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895,the resentment against Japan's untouchable power and hegemony as well as the hatred of China's weaknesses and poorness.The image of Japan as a powerful imperial colonist in Huang Zunxian's works not only makes the Chinese people have a deep understanding of the rising Japan,but more important,it allows the Chinese people to reflect on the weak China itself through the mirror of a powerful counterpart so as to have a heartfelt appeal for the awakening of the Chinese nation.Part Six is Chapter Five,which mainly discusses the uniqueness and era significance of Japan's image in Huang Zunxian's works.The uniqueness of Japan's image is demonstrated in the following aspects:compared with literati at the same time,Huang Zunxian created a Utopian image of Japan,which is his uniqueness;and compared with the images of the United States and the United Kingdom in his works on surface.Huang Zunxian creates a richer and more vivid image of Japan that involves various aspects:Japan's politics,economy,legal system,culture,literature,folk customs,native products and figures,etc.Besides,it includes not only negative ideological image of Japan and the image of a greedy colonist,but also positive Utopian image.The era significance of Japan's image in Huang Zunxian's works is shown in the following aspects:first of all,speaking of China,it has changed the Chinese people's previous narrow concept of "distaining" Japan and made them begin to recognize Japan and reflect on China itself through the mirror of Japan,thus greatly promoting China's modernization process,achieving re-integration of the Chinese culture and then the great revitalization of the Chinese nation.Secondly,"Japanese Chore Poetry",which creates the image of Japan,has received great response from Japanese literati.Thirdly,the image of Japan in Huang Zunxian's works also has modern significance,which is embodied in the surprising modern experience and new vision and new words.