Abstract
ABSTRACTFanxing (A Maze of Stars) and Chunshui (Spring Water) are two poetry collections of modern Chinese woman writer Bing Xin (1900–1999). Because they stand at the beginning of a new genre, xiaoshi (short poetry), and are commonly regarded as representative works of this genre, people use the epithets “Bing Xin style,” “Fanxing style,” or “Chunshui style” to refer to xiaoshi writing. Nevertheless, viewed from their intimate relationship with Rabindranath Tagore’s Stray Birds, I argue that Fanxing and Chunshui are products of both imitation and creation. Imitation is not plagiarism. Dryden defines imitation as a form of translation, which allows the full play of the translator’s freedom and personality. With writing as translation, Bing Xin creates her poetics of short poetry writing based on her imitation and appropriation of Tagore’s Stray Birds. Imitation provides the authority and inspiration as well as a model for Bing Xin to follow. However, she does not imitate slavishly or translate faithfully in a traditional sense. Rather, while taking influence from Tagore, Bing Xin reverses the patriarchal and Orientalist tendencies of Tagore with her feminist and realistic writing style. In this way, she both aligns herself with the May Fourth writers and also demonstrates her own voice and features.
Highlights
Fanxing (A Maze of Stars) and Chunshui (Spring Water) are two poetry collections written by modern Chinese woman writer Bing Xin (1900–1999)
The poems are short and concise and the books are thin, they mark the beginning of a new genre, xiaoshi, of modern Chinese poetry and are commonly regarded as representative works of this genre
Rebelling against Tagore’s transcendental writing, Bing Xin writes in a considerably realistic way. She writes from her position as a modern Chinese woman writer. She reverses Tagore’s direction of translation, which is from East, India, to West, but more importantly, corrects his Orientalist and patriarchal tendencies by asserting her gender role and her poetics that is both innovative and connecting to the Chinese classical tradition
Summary
Fanxing (A Maze of Stars) and Chunshui (Spring Water) are two poetry collections written by modern Chinese woman writer Bing Xin (1900–1999). Rebelling against Tagore’s transcendental writing, Bing Xin writes in a considerably realistic way She writes from her position as a modern Chinese woman writer. That is, she reverses Tagore’s direction of translation, which is from East, India, to West, but more importantly, corrects his Orientalist and patriarchal tendencies by asserting her gender role and her poetics that is both innovative and connecting to the Chinese classical tradition. She reverses Tagore’s direction of translation, which is from East, India, to West, but more importantly, corrects his Orientalist and patriarchal tendencies by asserting her gender role and her poetics that is both innovative and connecting to the Chinese classical tradition In this way, translation becomes her way of creation. She exhibits her own poetic characteristics, her voices, lived experiences, and most of all, her creative power
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
