Wang Guowei And The Tragedy Consciousness In Modern China

In modern China, tragedy and tragedy consciousness are western concepts of introduction. By studying the transformation of these two concepts in China, we can find out how Chinese traditional culture is influenced by western culture. China has its own language characteristics and practical situation. Therefore, Chinese people always have their special manner of viewing things, and have unique understanding of tragedy and tragedy consciousness, which has still scarcely reached the real meaning of these two words. People can't agree with each other about whether China has tragedy and tragedy consciousness or not. As a matter of fact, nobody can make sure Chinese people have tragedy consciousness because Chinese philosophy and culture are so different from western philosophy and culture. Today, people prefer to look tragedy as a philosophy idea, an aesthetic awareness, and an attitude toward human life. Thoroughly speaking, tragedy consciousness is the awareness of limitations of human free will. And it is a tragic feeling of being restricted in an unchangeable destiny, which reflects the conflict between freedom and inevitability. In my paper, tragedy and tragedy consciousness are center concepts. And the tragedy theory of Wang Guowei is the subject matter of my paper. Tragedy art developed quickly during "May Fourth Movement" in China. This period of tragedy prosperity is the history background of my paper. We will find out the tragedy theories of Wang Guowei and some other people are very important for the developing of tragedy consciousness in modern China. Wang Guowei is the first person wrote a book about tragedy and tragedy theory under the influence of western culture. He is also the first person who accepted western tragedy philosophy and introduced it into China. It means that western concept of tragedy appeared in modern China through Wang Guowei's tragedy theory. As we all know, Wang Guowei is influenced greatly by Arthur Schopenhauer. His tragedy philosophy indicates the birth of tragedy consciousness in modern China. Therefore, it is very necessary for us to study his tragedy theory. This kind of investigation is very helpful for us to understand the influence of western tragedy philosophy on Chinese traditional tragedy conception.But the tragedy theory of Wang Guowei didn't develop greatly in modern China especially after "May Fourth Movement". Although there were some people who tried to understand tragedy according western philosophy theory, more people had different understanding about tragedy from western tragedy theory or Wang Guowei's theory. To be more exactly, they lacked of metaphysical insight about tragedy. In modern society, under the influence of didacticism and realism, Chinese people haven't accepted western concepts of tragedy and tragedy consciousness yet. But the developing process of tragedy consciousness in Modern China has given us important guidance for further study in the future.