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INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly firom the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type o f computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, begnning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each orignal is also photographed in one œcposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zesb Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/76M700 800/521-0600 LU XUN, AH Q, "THE TRUE STORY OF AH Q" AND THE NATIONAL CHARACTER DISCOURSE IN MODERN CHINA DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State Universi té' By Paul Brendan Foster, B.S., M.A The Ohio State University 1996 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Hao Chang Xiaomei Chen Kirk A Denton, Advisor Advisor Eugene W. Holland Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures UMI Number: 9639235 Copyright 1996 by Foster, Paul Brendan All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9639235 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Copyright by Paul Brendan Foster 1996 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation is the culmination of years of fescination with China, her people, histoiy, and literature which propelled me through a long and unending maze of language training, course work, research, and travel. It has been an exciting and fulfilling process. Throughout the course of this dissertation I have enjoyed the support and encouragement of numerous professors, family members and fiiends, as well as the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at Ohio State University. Many thanks to Luo Jianlong for refining my Chinese, and to Jesse for helping me juggle the various elements of this project I would like to express to my thanks Professors Chang Hao and Xiaomei Chen for their valuable comments and insight My sincere gratitude goes to Professor Eugene W. Holland who helped me see the forest through all the trees. Professor Timothy C. Wong has been a reality check and concerned reader throughout, in addition to being a guiding mentor. This dissertation would not have been possible without the commitment, perseverance, and incredible attention to detail of my advisor. Professor Kirk A. Denton, to whom 1 am deeply indebted. Bill deserves much credit for my initial interest in international affairs. To my mother and brothers I wish to offer my thanks for their comments upon reading "The True Story of Ah Q." I thank the always gracious Ed and Evelyn for their srçporL Most of all. Jazz has my eternal gratitude and admiration for hanging in when the going was toughest, through a tour in Taiwan, travel through China, endless hours in Chinese bookstores, and remaining a soul mate through it all. VITA October 3, 1960 .................................................. Bom - Sedro Woolley, Washington December, 1982 ................................................ B.S., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 1983-1984 ...................................................... Associate Engineer, Product Engineering, Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corporation, Lansing, Michigan 1985 -1986 ...................................................... Rqjublic of China - University of Arizona Fellowship, Chinese Language Student, National Taiwan Normal University, Mandarin Training Center, Taipei, Taiwan 1987-1989 ...................................................... M. A, East Asian Languages and Literatures, The Ohio State University, Columbus 1990 - Present ................................................... Doctoral Student, East Asian Languages and Literatures, The Ohio State University, Columbus 1992 -1993 ....................................................... Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies in Taipei, Taiwan. Administered by Stanford University. Oct. 1993 - Aug. 1996 ...................................... Doctoral Candidate Sept.-Nov. 1995 ............................................. Instractor: "Modem Chinese Literature between Revolutions." Emory Senior University, Atlanta, GA. Feb. - March 1996 ............................................... Instractor: "Modem China: The Gate of Heavenly Peace." Evening at Emory, Atlanta, GA. PUBLICATIONS Foster, Paul, and Sherry Mou, trans. "Tbe Bygone Age of Ah Q." By Qian Xingcun. Modem Chinese Literary Thought: Writings on Literature 1893-1945. Ed. Kirk A. Denton. Stanford: Stanford UP, 1996. Trans, of "Siqule de A Q shidai." 1928. 276-88. Foster, Paul, and Sherry Mou, trans. "My Opinions on Creativity." By Lu Yin. Modem Chinese Literary Thought: Writings on Literature 1893-1945. Ed. Kirk A. Denton. Stanford: Stanford UP, 1996. Trans, of "Chuangzaode wo jian." 1921. 235-7. ru FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: East Asian Languages and Literatures Studies in Modem Chinese Literature, Professors Kirk A. Denton and Xiaomei Chen Studies in Traditional Chinese Literature, Professor Timothy C. Wong Minor Fields: Studies in Modem Chinese Intellectual Histoiy, Professor Chang Hao Studies in Comparative Studies, Professors Eugene Holland and Xiaomei Chen IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................................... ü VITA .............................................................................................................................................iii-iv CHAPTER..................................................................................................................................... PAGE I. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................1 A. Genealogy of the National Character Discourse in C hina ..............................................5 B. Theoretical Frameworic: Imagining the National Character ........................................... 14 C. General Theories of Nation, Nationalism and National Character .................................18 D. Literature Review.......................................................................................................... 28 n. THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF NATIONAL CHARACTER IN C H IN A ...................33 A. Studies of Nation and Nationalism in China ...................................................................34 1. The Problem of "Traditional Culturalism" and "Modem Nationalism" ....................34 2. Social Darwinism and the Discourse of Race in Modem C h in a .............................36 3. Interaction of National Character and Essence in Construction of the National Identity ................................................................................................................... 39 B. Chinese Discourse of Nation, Nationalism, National Essence and National Character.. 41 1. Late Qing Translations and Journalism ...................................................................41 2. Pre-May Fourth National Character, National Essence and Neo-Confucianism. 47 C. National Character Discourse in the May Fourth ............................................................63 m . LUXUN'S LATE QlNG ESSAYS: THE FOUNDATIONS OF HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL CHARACTER DISCOURSE...................................................... 71 A. Xu Shoushang's Recollections ofLuXun's Interest in National Character.................. 74 B. Lu Xun's Late Qing Writings: The Lexicon of Nation and National Character ........... 77 1. The Spirit of Nationalism: "The Soul of Sparta" ..................................................... 80 2. On Evolutionism: "The Histoiy of Humanity"........................................................ 82 3. Critique of National Essence: "Lessons from the History of Science".......................83 4. Extreme Individualism; "Aberrations in Cultural Development"............................ 86 5. Towards a National Poet: "On the Power of Mara Poetry" .......................................92 6. A Brief Summary of National Character in Lu Xun's Early Works..........................95 rv. THE TEIAJECTORY OF NATIONAL CHARACTER IN LU XUNS MAY FOURTH AND POST-MAY FOURTH WRITINGS (1918-1936)........................................................ 97 A Lu Xun's Consistent Critique of National Character across Genre, Time and Target. 99 B. Spiritual Warriors: Lu Xun's View of the Role of Writer..............................................