香港故事與家國想像：劉以鬯、西西、也斯小說的文化身份敘事

Abstract

Since the 1980s and 1990s, two main discourses that form a confrontational stance have emerged around the issue of cultural identity for Hong Kong people: one is the discourse of “re-Sinicization” advocating Hong Kong’s reunification with China, and the other is the counter-discourse that rejects the grand narrative of Chinese nationalism. In response to the current dilemma of the discourse on Hong Kong’s “cultural identity” under a binary oppositional perspective, this paper focuses on the cultural identity narratives in the novels of renowned Hong Kong writers Liu Yichang, Xi Xi, and Ye Si. It aims to establish a multi-dimensional perspective for observing the relationship between local and Chinese culture within the interactive context of “Novel Hong Kong-China.” All three writers, Liu Yichang, Xi Xi, and Ye Si, migrated to Hong Kong around the 1950s, each with unique life stages: Liu Yichang arrived in middle age, Xi Xi at the age of twelve during her childhood, and Ye Si as an infant, accompanied by his family. These different ages at migration not only signify variations in their “experience/memory” of “Mainland China/Hong Kong” but also shape their distinct perceptions or imaginations of China and Hong Kong. This paper endeavors, on the one hand, to delve into the discourse negotiations with “Chineseness” that lie beneath the texts, as Hong Kong writers imagine, identify with, or construct Hong Kong, aiming to reflect the diverse portrayals of “China” as it enters Hong Kong’s cultural narratives. On the other hand, it seeks to interpret the writers’ ever-evolving national sentiments and local identities, which fluctuate between historical memories, cultural traditions, and contemporary situations.

The first chapter of the thesis is the introduction, the second to fourth chapters constitute the main body of the thesis, and the fifth chapter is the conclusion. Chapter 2 focuses on Liu Yichang’s modernist literary practice spanning Shanghai and Hong Kong, sorting out his modern intellectual spirit, nationalist stance, and imagination of colonial Hong Kong. It analyzes the deep emotional structure manifested in his novels where Hong Kong is subdued and Shanghai is exalted. This chapter also delves into his memory-laden writings about urban transformations to contemplate the complex sentiments of the “Southbound Generation” towards Hong Kong – a mix of alienation and assimilation. Chapter 3 Traces Xi Xi’s Migration Memories from Mainland China to Hong Kong and Elucidating Her Sense of Belonging to Hong Kong, Followed by a Re-examination of the Relationship Between Her “National Identity” and “Sense of My City”. Furthermore, this chapter analyzes the complex imaginings regarding the relationship between the local and China, as manifested in Xi Xi’s novels’ reflections on the “1997 handover.” Ultimately, it examines how Xi Xi reconstructs the history and local identity of Hong Kong from two perspectives – “folk” and “everyday life” – that transcend the traditional “grand narrative of the great nation.” Chapter 4 concentrates on Ye Si’s understanding of ethnic cultural traditions and his construction of a local cultural identity. It begins by contemplating Ye Si’s discourse negotiation between Chinese and Western cultures within a cross-cultural context. Subsequently, it delves into Ye Si’s reflections on the “differences” between the local and Chinese cultures, drawing upon the unique cultural traits of Hong Kong. Finally, it elucidates how Ye Si employs the concept of “hybridity” as a means to transform Hong Kong into a post-colonial cultural subject, thereby engaging in a dialogue with nationalist discourses.

Date of Award	23 Sept 2024
Original language	Chinese (Traditional)
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Hok Yin CHAN (Supervisor)