On Lin Yu-tang's Cultural Identity

Lin Yu-tang was "the hardest written chapter" in Chinese modern literature history, who had reckoned himself " a pile of paradoxes "which he couldn't solve .In fact, the so-called "a pile of paradoxes" means that Lin's culture identity that he had constructed was complex and hybridity. The author tries to deal with Lin Yu-tang's cultural identity by the cultural identity theory in this thesis.Any Intellectuals' identity must be personal, political, and trans-culture, thus, the thesis is respective from three angles. The first three chapters are personal, political, and trans-culture. The last chapter is conclusion, which is based on Lin's texts of translation which shows Lin's cultural identity best.From religion angle, the most personal angle, the thesis deals with that Lin experienced the belief journey that is from Christian to pagan, then back to Christian. His convert of the cultural identity was related to his past cultural identity that had been constructed in his childhood, however, also was taken effect on by the special history, culture, social, and politic.From political angle, the thesis displays that Lin played both radicalism and conservatism intellectual roles. Diachronically, he played liberalism role; synchronically, he was radical and conservative, which always showed that he was "a pile of paradoxes".From trans-culture angle, we can find that Lin was trans-cultural, and he was neither Chinese or western, and, both Chinese and western. Lin constructed his trans-cultural identity at oversea, but he was based on Chinese culture, and converted to Chinese traditional culture in his heart.While Lin was regarded as a translator, his translation texts were the best footnotes which showed his cultural identity. Compared to Lu Xun's translation texts, Lin's more completely show his cultural identity and cultural alternative.