Regional Cultural Memory of Bashu in Li Jieren’s “River Novels”
School of Foreign Languages, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
| Abstract: | Li Jieren’s “River Novels” - Ripples Across Stagnant Water, Before the Storm, The Great Wave - recreate the social transformations in Sichuan from the late Qing to the early Republican period through a grand narrative structure and meticulous detail, embodying the profound cultural depth of the Bashu region. This paper adopts the method of text analysis to systematically sort out the the representation of natural landscapes, folk customs, major historical events and the construction of Bashu character traits in these works, and further explores their significance for regional culture transmission and national memory. The study finds that Li Jieren imbues natural scenary with symbolic meaning that resonates with characters’ destinies and social upheavals; his descriptions of folk customs highlight the continuity and transformation of traditional culture amid historical change; the integration of major historical events positions the novels as literary witness of social change in modern China; and the portrayal of the characters vividly reflects the spiritual qualities of the Bashu people. In general, the “River Novels” not only construct a historical grounded narrative with strong regional characteristics, but also occupy a significant place in the history of modern Chinese literature. The study deepens our understanding of Li Jieren’s works and provides new perspectives for the preservation, transmission and cross-cultural dissemination of Bashu culture. |
| Keywords: | Li Jieren; River Novels; Bashu Regional Culture; Historical Narrative; Cultural Transmission; Cross-Cultural Dissemination |
| DOI: | 10.57237/j.cll.2025.05.001 |
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Received: 5 August 2025
Accepted: 20 September 2025
Published Online: 27 October 2025
Funding
| 1. | 四川省哲学社会科学重点研究基地文化产业研究中心“巴蜀地域文化的文学记忆与译介传播：以李劼人的‘大河小说’英译为中心”(立项编号: WHCY2024B34) |
| 2. | 四川省巴蜀文化国际传播研究中心：李劼人“大河小说”的巴蜀地域文化记忆与译介传播 (立项编号: 2024YB02) |
| 3. | 四川省认知语言学会：巴蜀小说《死水微澜》在英语世界的传播与接受研究 (立项编号: SCRY2024GJ02) |
| 4. | 四川省哲学社会科学规划项目巴蜀文化对外传播研究专项课题：李劼人法国文学汉译对其巴蜀文化记忆书写的影响研究 (立项编号: SC25BS032) |
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