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Title |
New Village Lost and Found: Friendship among Yang Kui, Yasuo Tanaka, Haruhiko Nyuta and their Literary Thoughts and Practices |
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Author |
Chen, Shu-Jung |
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Postdoctoral Fellow, Graduate Institute of Taiwanese Literature, National Tsing Hua University |
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Abstract |
This article studies Yang Kui’s design and creation of Shouyang Farm. This project, this article argues, had intellectual connection with Saneatsu Mushanokoji “Atarashiki mura” (new village) movement. Beginning with the discussion of Saneatsu Mushanokoji’s “The Five Short Pieces of Writing” published on “Taiwan Shimbun” (Taiwan News) during Japanese colonialism, this article examines Yang Kui’s novel “Newspaper Boy”, and, especially, its circulation. Astounded by the story of Yasuo Tanaka, a leftist and editor in Taiwan News, and his friend Haruhiko Nyuta, a follower of Saneatsu Mushanokoji who was known for his “Atarashiki mura” campaign in prewar continent Japan, sought and established rapport with the author. Both causes emphasized mutual help and work/study in the farm. During the War, Yang Kui held on to his belief and ideal by practicing in Shouyang Farm while Saneatsu Mushanokoji abandoned his anti-war initiative and Haruhiko Nyuta committed suicide to let death keep his self. However, as the War further escalated, the practice and discourse of Shouyang Farm fell prey to the war propaganda for production and mobilization. Yang Kui closed the farm in 1944. After the War, Yang Kui rebuilt Yiyang Farm Donghai Garden to continue his prewar spirit of social involvement through farm life. His desire for an ideal life of work/study in the farm as body practice never disappeared throughout his lifetime. |
