The Research Of Western Element Writing In Supernatural Tale And Legendary Novels Of Late Qing Dynasty

Before the Qing Dynasty,the image of the West was always general and vague for Chinese.Until after the Opium War,the door of the country was opened,and Western culture poured into China with an unprecedented attitude,completely changing the understanding of the outside world.Through the collection of the supernatural tales and legendary novels in the late Qing Dynasty,this paper studies the different aspects of Western elements in the novels,and strives to comprehensively investigate the cultural connotations therein.This article consists of five parts.The introduction first clarifies the scope of research from the two aspects of "West" and "Supernatural Tale and Legendary Novel ",which defines the West as a Western country in the modern sense.Secondly,the relevant research of the academic community is reviewed.Years of research on the late Qing dynasty saga have yielded fruitful results,but there is still room for research on Western elements in novels of this period.Finally,the content involving Western elements in the supernatural tales and legendary novels in the early and middle Qing Dynasty is briefly sorted out.The first chapter systematically sorts out the supernatural tales and legendary novels of the late Qing Dynasty,listing a total of 74 representative works involving Western element writing,and specifically counting the time distribution of works and the geographical distribution of authors.In the second chapter,according to the type of Western elements,it is divided into four categories: opium,Western gadgets,new life,and overseas travel.Compared with their predecessors,the novels were richer in both quantity and variety.The opening of trade ports had given China and the West a channel for two-way exchanges,and a steady stream of advanced goods and new concepts had changed the traditional world view,and also became an opportunity for Chinese to take the initiative to explore the world.The third chapter analyzes the artistic characteristics of Western-related texts.The absorption of Western elements in traditional novels is mainly manifested in the theme of narrative festivals and artistic imagination.In the plot theme,Western elements had undergone a functional transformation in the framework of the novel,which become an important factor in promoting the development of the story.When novelists interpreted new things,they often used artistic imagination to give readers a familiar look through reorganization,substitution,etc.The fourth chapter discusses the ambivalent attitudes towards acceptance and rejection of Western culture in the novels of the late Qing dynasty.Advanced material civilization and modern scientific knowledge had not only allowed Chinese to "open their eyes to the world",but also changed their social life.At the same time,with the widespread spread of modern scientific knowledge,the irrationality of traditional supernatural tales and legendary novels was dissolved,and this ancient genre slowly tended to decline.However,the encroachment of the great powers on China and the solidity of Chinese culture had always made the novelist full of a sense of distress and a strong rejection of the West.