On The Multiplicity Of National Consciousness In Lao She’s Literature Creation

The article teases the national consciousness of Lao She’s literary creation from the macroscopic angle, grasps the developing venation of Lao She’s national consciousness, and presents a fresh and multi-level writer thought development process, expresses Lao She’s emotion and value choice to Manchu and the Chinese nation as well as the thinking of multiplicity national consciousness during the period of literary creation.Chapter One discusses the production and expression of Manchu consciousness and the influence to Lao She. The production of Manchu consciousness profits from the formulation of Manchu script, and the Banner System established by Nurhaci is the important safeguard of maintaining the Manchu consciousness. In order to maintain the core status of the Manchu consciousness, Qing Dynasty rulers intervened, imitated and limited the concurrent enlist talents through the old civil service examination system, and took Manchu script, Manchu language, riding, shooting and Wushu practice as the basis, and kept the traditional folk customs of Manchu. Therefore, Manchu consciousness had been reflected in Manchu literature creation vividly and violently. Manchu ancients liked long oral narrative; the inheritance way composed by talking and singing became the source of inspiration of literator creation of Manchu later generations after the creation of character. The lofty sentiment expression at national rising stage and the depiction of unique life style of Bannermen expressed strong consciousness of Manchu. As a Manchu,2 aspects can be reflected at the influence to Lao She, that is, maintaining the awareness of Manchu and his literature work:as for the personality shaping, the influence coming from parental Manchu descent, the Bannermen growing environment and the rich and regional Beijing culture edification made Lao She be sentimentally attached to the Manchu culture. Such blood relationship and emotion became the important condition of coming into being and sustaining Lao She’s Manchu consciousness; as for the literary creation, Manchu literature tradition was inherited by Lao She showing the introduction to Bannermen’s fate and the conservation to patriotic ideas.Chapter Two discusses the specific embodiment of Lao She’s consciousness of Manchu in his creation. Through the analysis to the character images with Manchu characteristics in Lao She’s works, the article shows the prominent process from latency into evidence of Lao She’s Manchu consciousness, not only keeping a watchful eye on and sympathize lower Manchu, but also expressing the double thinking of Lao She to the national culture--"well done" cultural reflection and the memory of national culture virtue. In Lao She’s early creation, the reason latently describing Manchu figures should begin talking about Eight Banner System, that is, the same Eight Banner. The growing livelihood problem of Eight Banner and the decadent, backward remedial measures of Qing Government could not change the condition of people’s livelihood fundamentally, therefore, the livelihood of Manchu underclass became harder and harder. After the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, the social discrimination and prejudice made most of Bannermen have to hide their register of banners, and the people without survivor technique had to do humblest works and live in deep distress. Though Lao She was a poor Bannerman, he paid close attention to his fellow Manchu, did not remote his nationality rather than linked inexorably with it; though Lao She had to hide his Manchu identity, he always inadvertently revealed his deep nationality emotion. As for another impressive expression of Lao She to Manchu consciousness, that is, warmly criticizing the "well done" aspect of national culture and memorizing the beautiful aspect.Chapter Three discusses the identification of Lao She to national consciousness under the national interest. The national consciousness of Lao She is composed by two clues:the first one is Manchu consciousness from latency into evidence, the other one is the consistent Chinese national consciousness. Lao She feared the lack of national consciousness of the common people and the loss of spirit of the citizen; emphasized "Country First"; gave priority to the country followed by individual and household; fulfilled the enlightenment faith of conservative and coward nation nature for seeking temporary peace; he wished that they would joint their hands with the new characters with national consciousness and age idea to rescue the country in danger. Insisting "Country First" belief could embody Lao She’s Chinese nation consciousness. At the same time, Lao She was eager for reaching a mutual understanding among nations, bridging the gaps, joining and acting together; he emphasized the necessity for national unity based on the "Country First", and conveyed this important concept through creating the theme of national unity. Lao She sincerely hoping national unity could be revealed by the inter-linkage with Manchu consciousness and the consistent Chinese nation consciousness.