Classical Chinese Poetry in Singapore

Witnesses to Social and Cultural Transformations in the Chinese Community

Bing Wang

As the essence of Chinese traditional culture, classical Chinese poetry in Singapore played a very important role in the social and cultural development of Singapore’s Chinese community. Numerous poems depicted the unique scenery of tropical rainforest and the customs with a Nanyang flavor, recorded the various historical events from the colonial era, the World War II to the independent nation, and reflected the poets’ multiple feelings. This book sketches out the brief history of classical Chinese poetry in Singapore over a hundred years, and focuses on the complex identity of poets from different generations, the function of literary societies in the construction of cultural space and the influence of modern media on the development of classical Chinese poetry based on the text interpretation. In addition, the author attempts to define different types of poetry writing using diaspora literature and Sinophone literature. The discussion of these topics will not only expand the research horizon of Chinese literature, but also provide a meaningful reference to the studies of the worldwide Chinese overseas, especially in Southeast Asia.

Lexington Books

Pages: 202 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜

978-1-4985-3515-1 • Hardback • November 2017 • $111.00 • (£85.00)

978-1-4985-3516-8 • eBook • November 2017 • $105.50 • (£82.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / Asian / Chinese, Literary Criticism / Modern / 19th Century, Social Science / World / Asia

Classical Chinese Poetry in Singapore

Witnesses to Social and Cultural Transformations in the Chinese Community

Hardback

eBook

Summary

As the essence of Chinese traditional culture, classical Chinese poetry in Singapore played a very important role in the social and cultural development of Singapore’s Chinese community. Numerous poems depicted the unique scenery of tropical rainforest and the customs with a Nanyang flavor, recorded the various historical events from the colonial era, the World War II to the independent nation, and reflected the poets’ multiple feelings. This book sketches out the brief history of classical Chinese poetry in Singapore over a hundred years, and focuses on the complex identity of poets from different generations, the function of literary societies in the construction of cultural space and the influence of modern media on the development of classical Chinese poetry based on the text interpretation. In addition, the author attempts to define different types of poetry writing using diaspora literature and Sinophone literature. The discussion of these topics will not only expand the research horizon of Chinese literature, but also provide a meaningful reference to the studies of the worldwide Chinese overseas, especially in Southeast Asia.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 202 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜

978-1-4985-3515-1 • Hardback • November 2017 • $111.00 • (£85.00)

978-1-4985-3516-8 • eBook • November 2017 • $105.50 • (£82.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / Asian / Chinese, Literary Criticism / Modern / 19th Century, Social Science / World / Asia

Author

Bing Wang is assistant professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Forgotten Classical Chinese Poetry in Singapore
Chapter 2 Identity: Whose Nanyang Is It?
Chapter 3 Community: How to Shape Cultural Space?
Chapter 4 Medium: What Are the Influences on Classical Poetry?
Chapter 5 Conclusion: Literary Value and Classification