Romanticism in Works of Su Manshu and Yu Dafu: National Characteristics

Abstract

The article examines the literary movement of romanticism as a creative method employed by Su Manshu and Yu Dafu, two Chinese writers of the first half of the 20th century. The novelty of the research lies in the comparative analysis of the works of these two popular literati, whose prose had a significant influence on the formation of modern Chinese literature. It is reported that the interest of Chinese writers in romantic sentiments was fueled by their exposure to European literature through translations into Japanese and Chinese. Both writers referred to themselves as romantics, but their reasons for being drawn to this artistic method were different. Su Manshu was captivated by the new genre features, such as biographies written from the author’s perspective rather than focusing solely on historical figures, which was sanctioned by traditional literature. Yu Dafu was attracted to the romantic artistic style for its ability to employ unconventional expressive means in Chinese literature. At the same time, the romantic compositions of both writers carry markers of national identity. For Su Manshu, this is evident in the portrayal of female characters, while for Yu Dafu, it is manifested in the use of nature imagery to convey the mood of the characters. The article highlights that the development of romanticism in Chinese literature has been insufficiently studied by Russian sinologists and holds prospects for further research.