Shamanic Culture and Humanities: Shen Congwen and the Wu Chu Culture

Author: Zhou Renzheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: This book employs literary and cultural studies methods to delve into the relationship between Wu Chu culture and Shen Congwen's creative works. It argues that as a form of primitive fetishism, Wu Chu culture profoundly influenced Shen Congwen's creative philosophy and cultural concepts by advocating for harmony between humans and nature, revering natural human life forms and their emotional essence. This imbued Shen's works with the ideological characteristics of natural fetishism. This is the modern aesthetic idealism of literature and practice that respects nature, admires emotions, opposes utilitarianism, and pursues purity and transcendence. The introduction provides a historical analysis of the relationship between Wu Chu culture and Shen Congwen's creative works, while chapters 1 to 5 meticulously dissect the cultural and philosophical implications of his thoughts and creations from various perspectives, including nature, "gods," humans, history, humanities, and modern society. The conclusion offers a fundamental summary of Shen Congwen's historical contributions and contemporary significance.