When the yellow river floods : water, technology, and nation-building in early twentieth-century chinese literature / Hui-Lin Hsu.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hsu, Hui-Lin (Researcher on Chinese literature), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chinese literature--20th century--History and criticism.

Chinese literature.

Landscapes in literature.

Literature and technology.

Water in literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (175 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Hong Kong : Hong Kong University Press, [2024]

Summary:

When the Yellow River Floods explores the relationship between environmental degradation, hydraulic engineering, and nation-building in the context of Liu E's The Travels of Lao Can. This book contributes to the field by providing a unique perspective on modern Chinese literary history that goes beyond conventional narratives that focus solely on political and cultural factors. The main areas covered include the role of water management in literary nation-building and the connections between the novel's various themes, such as river engineering, medical and political discourses, national sentiment, and landscape description. The book is targeted toward scholars and students of Chinese literature, history, and environmental studies, as well as those interested in the intersections between literature, nation-building, and environmental challenges. By offering a comprehensive and material-based analysis of The Travels of Lao Can, this book broadens the understanding of nation-building in early twentieth-century China, highlighting the impact of environmental crises and hydraulics on the formation of national literature and consciousness. The book provides a new perspective on the environmental roots of modern Chinese literature, making it an essential read for those seeking to understand the complex interplay between literature, the environment, and national identity in China.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Figures

Acknowledgments

A Note on the Text

Introduction

1. Hydraulics and Medicine

2. Governance, Hydraulics, and the Vice of the Incorruptible

3. From Sediment to Sentiment

4. Water, Landscape, and the Appearance of a New National Literature

5. Toward China's Rejuvenation

Conclusion

Works Cited

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9789888842667

9888842668

9789888842674

9888842676

OCLC:

1429724159