Journal of Jishou University(Social Sciences)

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The Spirituality of Border Town and Shen Congwen's Childlike Innocence

CHEN Guoen   

  1. (1.College of Humanities,Zhejiang Normal University,Jinhua 321004,Zhejiang China;2.College of Liberal Arts,Wuhan University,Wuhan 430072,China)
  • Online:2020-03-01 Published:2020-04-13

Abstract: Spirituality is found in Border Town.This is because Shen Congwen looked at the world with childlike innocence,integrated his own experience with Cuicui's perspective,and wrote about its purity.Shen Congwen regards childlike innocence as a yardstick of faith and value,which is emphasized through the group characters with Cuicui as the core in the book,showing a miracle created by childlike innocence.However,the beauty of "Border Town" implies the impermanence of life.Shen Congwen feels that the pace of modernity is entering the ancient Xiangxi and that the existence of God should depend on the environment of pastoral songs,which is difficult to be guaranteed in modern society.Therefore,he cannot help but sigh that "beauty always makes people sad"."Border Town" is not only a love song sung to Cuicui by the two brothers,but also a vivid teaching material for people to explore human nature and think about society.

Key words: Shen Congwen, Border Town, childlike innocence, belief, sadness

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