Lost And Retrieval: 2 Decades Of Yu Guangzhong At 3 Habitats (1964-1985)

Yu Guangzhong has been a unique existence in Chinese literary circle. He is not only blessed with "brilliant writing" that encompasses poetry, prose, commentary, translation, and edition, but also sets foot in both oriental and occidental cultures; as a person who has ever resided mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the U.S., Yu's knowledge resources and life experience surely bred his being. In his 70-odd years of life so far, the two decades between 1964 and 1985 shall be especially remarkable, first because Yu spent this period of time migrating frequently among the U.S., Taiwan, and Hong Kong, then it is also a vital transition from his early production to later works.During his stay in the U.S., Yu Guangzhong was not at all assimilated into the alien culture. Instead, he manifested deep attachment to the motherland, incisive understanding of culture shock, as well as resolute return to the native culture.When in Taiwan, Yu who has drifted from the former mainland displayed his return to primitive nature at the advent of an industrialized era and his hope for spiritual liberation against the whimsical political backgrounds. He sought a perch for his individual in exile, striving to survive the reality, and pursuing the ultimate settling place for his spirits.Hong Kong witnessed a Yu Guangzhong who yearned for the north where mainland had been a land haunting in mind while concerned about the east where Taiwan the mother island retained his profound nostalgia. Buried under the superficially calm life at Shatian was Yu's great anxiety.Referring to works written at 3 different places during the 2 decades, the essay tries to sort out the spiritual sequence and ideological characteristics of Yu Guangzhong in this time span, so as to objectively orientate Yu in the literary domain. It is concluded in the essay that: Yu Guangzhong is an intellectual who bases himself in Chinese culture yet stuck in the predicament of "losing himself in reality during the decades. In order to realize self-salvation, Yu has been seeking spiritual "retrieval", which is in essence identification of him with the Chinese culture spiritually. It is his anchoring in, gripping, and expanding of the native culture that has led Yu Guangzhong to prominence and vital importance in literary history.