Woman as embodiment of nature: A cultural ecofeminist analysis of 'The Last Quarter of the Moon'

Abstract

The paper explores influences of postmodern technologies over the deep-rooted ideological order of the ancient Chinese Evenki tribe in Chi Zijian’s ‘The Last Quarter of the Moon.’ The technological advancement and subsequent cultural transformation resulted in a great imbalance in the ecology of rivers, mountains, and forests and the feminine gender was the recipient of most of the consequences and disparities because of the women’s true spiritual socializing-relationship with nature. The divine embodied bond between women and nature was a source of inspiration and empowerment for the Evenki women. Modern way of life and lust for material progress blinded Evenki vision to the healing powers of nature once witnessed and utilized by their ancestors. The paper critiques the unsettling society of ancient deep-rooted spiritual order of Evanki based on their interdependent relations with spirits, the woman and mother nature. The study subscribes to the theoretical postulates of eco-cultural feminism as theorized by Merchant (2005) and Starhawk (1990). The relationship between woman and nature got destroyed when the world of Evenki shrunk under the spill of postmodern race and evaded by greed for money. The technological advancement and the resultant tempering in nature is a suppression for both women and nature.