Margin·Forest·Mythology

To expound comprehensively and accurately the cultural ideas of Kenzaburo Oe literature is a key to open the literature's door. Because of the fact that he is deeply influenced by the western literature, the research of the relations between Kenzaburo Oe and western literature has always been the focus in the sphere of learning. However, he is a writer going from east to west, from the isolated village to the world, so his literary ideas have the different features from those of western literature.During his unique and academic career, he originates the literary idea of the marginal folk culture, and forms his regression sense. The trend to go back to the marginal folk culture makes him love the custom and mythology very much, and he is fascinated by the plain and vital folk culture. He consciously consults the western and Japanese culture, and keenly seizes the contradictive and interdependent relations between official languages and nongovernmental cultural forms. Therefore, he, having the attitude of being close to folk creation, unearths the folk principle, significance and aesthetic interests from the main current culture, and connects self-seeking with the seeking of national spirits. As a result, he catches the opportunity of renewal of Japanese and Japanese culture, which reflects the author's idea to model national spirits and save modern civilization.The value pattern of marginal folk cultural ideas includes the following three aspects: marginal ideology, forest thought and mythological regression. As his artistic embodiment of cultural ideas, the three factors have close links with each other. Marginal ideology embodies the writer's folk position; forest thought is the basis ofmarginal ideology. Mythology regression provides narrative contents for the other two, and also the mythology factors are their essential component, and the regression to "forest" and "mythology" means "going to the margin". Because of the close links of the three aspects, Kenzaburo Oe, the son of forest, explores the modern spirits hidden deep in the countryman and looks for the place where people can get away from difficult position and open up the living regions.