Recognition of nanfeng and masculinity in Yichun xxiangzhi and Bian'er chai = 儒生的遊戲 : 對《宜春香質》《弁而釵》兩部小說中的男風活動的再認識

Abstract

Written in the late Ming dynasty, Yichun Xxiangzhi and Bian’er Chai are two novels mainly depicting Nanfeng relation (literally meaning man-wind). For researchers aftertime, they are of great significance in terms of gender concept, views of sexual love, as well as social value and development of masculinity then. By studying the participants of Nanfeng activities in these two novels, this thesis attempts to combine close reading and cultural study as methodology, in order to have an in-depth discussion on the influence of identities when engaging in such relations. Moreover, scrutinizing the Nanfeng activities as entry point, the thesis endeavors to reveal the formation of ideal masculinity in the novels. This thesis mainly consists of 5 chapters: Chapter 1: Literature Review. Systematically summing up existing papers and monographs studying Yichun Xxiangzhi and Bian’er Chai, Chinese and foreign. These two novels appear in current Chinese homosexual (literature) history mostly in forms of summary, neglecting large sum of textual contents, while the available case studies concentrate on analyzing the difference between male/female and Nanfeng /homosexual, there is a lack of examination within the male group portrayed by the two novels. This thesis sets about to fill in the blank. Chapter 2: Overview on Nanfeng activities mentioned in Yichun Xxiangzhi and Bian’er Chai. Sorted by participants, the Nanfeng activities will be categorized in this chapter. The narrative mode and the authors’ attitude revealed by such categorization on different social strata within male group will be summarized accordingly. Chapter 3: Rewrite of real life in Nanfeng novels The simplification of complicated social life, the idealization of positive characters, the popularization of Buddhism and Taoism are ways of transformation of reality in the novels, so as to shape out the ideal Nanfeng relation and the social condition necessary for it. By examining the options and transformation made by the author, we are further informed about the criteria of masculinity in the novels. Chapter 4: Marriage and family in Nanfeng novels Starting out from the protagonist’s personal life, this chapter analyzes the value of the participants on marriage and family, then proceeds to clarify the role of Nanfeng activity in the personal life of male. Chapter 5: The “Ugly Boy” and the same-sex union in Nanfeng activity A close reading of the “Ugly Boy” Niu Jun story, combining with the conclusion from previous three chapters, this section reveals the ideal Nanfeng activity and model male in the author’s mind. Thus reaching the most concept of the thesis: the ideal Nanfeng activity itself should be a same-sex union based on interest relation, bonding by sexual relation. Nanfeng activity as a recreation and consumption in real life must be elevated to such union before it gains recognition. This process of legalization also allows us to peek into the ideal masculinity criteria then, in which the social power played a far more important role than personal sexual charm. This too is one of the characteristics of Chinese masculinity.