History, Narrative and Realism: Above Baiyangdian Lake by Guan Renshan

Abstract

Telling Chinese stories and Chinese experience is an important theme of realist literature in the new era. Chinese writers in the new era face the significant challenge of how to understand the “totality of China” and how to construct the totality spirit and aesthetic character of the “Chinese” narrative. Above Baiyangdian Lake by Guan Renshan takes the historical changes that occurred in the typical environment of Baiyangdian New Area as the content of narration, revealing the growth of people and history and its “Chinese” connotation through the story of the growth of “new character” in the new era. The novel depicts the “rediscovery” and rebirth of history and traditions of China in the new era by “telling stories,” and puts them under a profound context of the past and present and in a broad vision of China and foreign countries, thus constructing the overall aesthetics of realism in contemporary China with an epic grand narrative. The novel artistically shows the building and growth process of China in the new era, and demonstrates its leveraging of resources and unique connotation. It is a typical text for understanding the relationship between the image shaping of China in the new era and Chinese realism literature, as well as the connotation, function and form of Chinese realism.

Keywords

Guan Renshan / Above Baiyangdian Lake / narrative / bildungsroman

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2023 Higher Education Press