류칭(柳靑) 『창업사(創業史)』의 평가와 그 문학성

Abstract

Liu Qing's Builders of a New Life has a clear theme when it is compared with other works based on the 17 years' mutual cooperative movement. It is written on the thematic consciousness to show “why the socialist revolution is occurring in the Chinese rural and how this revolution is progressing”, it shows “the change of behaviors, ideas, and emotions of characters during the movement”. Due to this clear thematic consciousness, this work received high praise from critics at the time of its presentation. However, after the reform and opening up, for that very reason, it was located in the center of controversy, because this work was tied to the Mao literary thought and agricultural policy. However, there is a problem in evaluating this work as a whole with that of Mao. There are three reasons for this. First, because it is not right to evaluate Mao as a whole, second, because the work has the specificity of literature, and third, even though under the social control of the Mao period it is necessary to consider that there are differences among people who lived in the Mao period. Liu Qing was one of the first generation writers of liberated area. Following Mao's speech in Yan'an literature and art conference, he moved to rural areas with the whole family and lived with farmers ― it is the so-called ‘the 14 years in Hwangfu', and he participated directly in the movement with farmers. Builders of a New Life was based on that experience. Originally planned as a four-part work, the work was delayed amid political changes in China and ended unfinished due to Liu Qing's death. This fact symbolizes the complex fate of this work. Due to the clear political consciousness revealed in the work, the controversy may continue over the evaluation of this work according to the conditions, political positions, and tastes each reader has. However, the work successfully created the figures of characters, and they make every reader think and feel according to their respective circumstances, and I think that is the literary achievement achieved by Builders of a New Life. This work is an excellent work that shows how the rural communities and farmers had the hope for a happy future dreamed through Mao. I think it will be evaluated as an important novel in modern Chinese literature.