Decadence & Aestheticism: Oscar Wilde In China

With the translation, study, influence of the British aestheticism representative, Oscar Wilde (1854—1900) in China as the research object, the present thesis tries to probe into the spreading and reception of Oscar Wilde in China under the background of chinese-western cultural exchange, tends to make a thorough study on the project "Oscar Wilde in China".Except introduction and conclusion, the thesis consists of two chapters:(l) Oscar Wilde and translation and study of his aestheticism in china; (2) Oscar Wilde and influence and reception of his aestheticism in china. The two chapters constitute the major part of the thesis, form a inter-supporting organic whole. The logic relations between them consist in: the extensive spreading and influence of any writer in heterogeneous culture starts from translation; study is also an indispensable component in the reception of foreign culture; translation and study includes not only individual's entity choice but reveals the inherent needs of the times, a dialectical process of analysis, digesting, choosing and deepening as well, influence and reception are two sides of one problem. Translation, influence and study are inter-related, inter-act; both facilitate the deepening of reception. This thesis probes into the spreading and reception of Oscar Wilde in China, but the crucial task of this thesis of course is to comb and grasp aestheticism and Wilde's aestheticism. Because a clear understanding of the Source (Oscar Wilde and his aestheticism) is the essential prerequisite if combing out the Flow (its spreading and reception in China). The present study intends to do a historical combing out at different levels of "Oscar Wilde in China", and it pays attention not only to the data collection but also the analysis and summary of the materials. It is expected that the relationship between the cultural context and literary reception will be examined through this study,thus broaden the area of Oscar Wilde study, make up for the shortage of Wilde study at home.In short, the present thesis, by applying comparative literature theory, is a systematic and comprehensive study of "Oscar Wilde in China". And different research methods of Influence Study, Parallel Study, Translation Study and Reception Theory will be applied in this study accordingly.