Homeland, Indigenity And Ethnic Consciousness: A Study Of The Spirit And Means Of Expressions In You Chuan's Poems

You Chuan is a famous and prominent poet in Mahua literature. He devoted much of his time in writing poems and encouraging the activity of poem declamation. His poem "5 Million Mouths" has instilled an awakening effect on my understanding of the predicament of the Malaysian Chinese. His untimely demise has brought immense feeling of pity that had triggered my desire to research into his poems.Although You Chuan was born in Malaysia and grown up in a multiracial society but he too inherited the Chinese consanguinity bondage. Consequently, the feeling of this poet was intertwined with homeland, indigenity and ethnicity. The aim of my research is to analyze this three main components that mould his spirit which was manifestated in his poems. Evaluation of the means of expressions applied by this poet is also carried out.This research employed the content analysis and library research method. The results of this study suggest, firstly, You Chuan still inherited the traditional Chinese thinking. Secondly, he had regarded Malaysia as his motherland and envisaged that all Malaysians would be treated fairly and live peacefully and harmoniously. Thirdly, the marginalization and predicament of Malaysian Chinese due to the Malay political hegemony had stimulated him to express ethnic consciousness in the poems that aim to produce an awakening effect in his community.