Literature of Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Hong Kong literature is 20th century and subsequent writings from or about Hong Kong or by writers from Hong Kong, primarily in the poetry
, performance
, and fiction
media. Hong Kong literature reflects the area's unique history during the 20th century as a fusion of British colonial, Chinese, and sea-trading culture.
and performance
(including Cantonese opera
, television
, plays
, and film
) are many and varied, though only a few film and theatrical works were widely known internationally until the late 20th and early 21st century. Hong Kong's wuxia
martial arts fiction is one of Hong Kong's most famous exports, and provided many internationally recognized films and televisions programmes during the latter half of the 20th century, almost single-handedly bringing Hong Kong literature out of relative obscurity towards a global audience.
. A significant number of Chinese intellectuals and artists moved to Hong Kong between 1927 to 1937. Many of these people viewed themselves as outsiders in the Hong Kong community, and often wrote of the "barbaric" and "strange" practices of the southern Chinese people (a view evident even in the Tang Dynasty
). A second wave of writers came to Hong Kong in 1949 after the Communist Party of China
's victory in the Chinese Civil War. While some in this second wave expressed the intention to "Northernize" Hong Kong, many of them began to recognize the valuable traditions that existed in local Hong Kong culture, and their efforts to preserve these traditions helped shape Hong Kong's literary landscape.
Because Hong Kong was a British colony for nearly all of the 20th century, it was spared the harsh censorship
that the People's Republic of China
and Taiwan
endured at the hands of their political leaders. Hong Kong's literature and arts developed quite freely throughout the 20th century. After 1950, two general literary trends took form: the first, dubbed the "Greenback
Culture" sought to make itself appealing to contemporary American culture and consumers; the second, called the "Left Wing" , opposed the "Greenback" style. Hong Kong literature flourished domestically under these two different styles.
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
, and fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
media. Hong Kong literature reflects the area's unique history during the 20th century as a fusion of British colonial, Chinese, and sea-trading culture.
Genres
Hong Kong fictionFiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
and performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
(including Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Cantonese culture. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia. Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing,...
, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
, and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
) are many and varied, though only a few film and theatrical works were widely known internationally until the late 20th and early 21st century. Hong Kong's wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
martial arts fiction is one of Hong Kong's most famous exports, and provided many internationally recognized films and televisions programmes during the latter half of the 20th century, almost single-handedly bringing Hong Kong literature out of relative obscurity towards a global audience.
Development
Many modern Chinese-language publications in Hong Kong have their origins in Chinese writers who fled from Communist and Nationalist fighting during the Chinese Civil WarChinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. A significant number of Chinese intellectuals and artists moved to Hong Kong between 1927 to 1937. Many of these people viewed themselves as outsiders in the Hong Kong community, and often wrote of the "barbaric" and "strange" practices of the southern Chinese people (a view evident even in the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
). A second wave of writers came to Hong Kong in 1949 after the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
's victory in the Chinese Civil War. While some in this second wave expressed the intention to "Northernize" Hong Kong, many of them began to recognize the valuable traditions that existed in local Hong Kong culture, and their efforts to preserve these traditions helped shape Hong Kong's literary landscape.
Because Hong Kong was a British colony for nearly all of the 20th century, it was spared the harsh censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
that the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
endured at the hands of their political leaders. Hong Kong's literature and arts developed quite freely throughout the 20th century. After 1950, two general literary trends took form: the first, dubbed the "Greenback
Greenback
Greenback may refer to:In currency:* Greenback , a fiat currency issued during the American Civil War**United States Note**Demand Note, issued in 1861–62* A modern United States Federal Reserve Note...
Culture" sought to make itself appealing to contemporary American culture and consumers; the second, called the "Left Wing" , opposed the "Greenback" style. Hong Kong literature flourished domestically under these two different styles.
Mainland Chinese writers
Until 1950, modern literature in Hong Kong was dominated by writers who had fled fighting in northern China, and vestiges of their influence were still present in Hong Kong literature until around 1970. These writers fell into three main categories:- Newspaper and periodical editors: Maa Long, who edited "New Tides of Literature and Art" , Huang Sicheng, who edited "Everyone's Humanities" , and others, all were able to bring hitherto unknown information on Western literature to a Hong Kong Chinese audience, as well as providing a medium for local writers to publish their works.
- Professors and teachers: teachers of literature encouraged research among their students and were often writers themselves. Author Xu DishanXu DishanXu Dishan is a Chinese author, translator and folklorist. He is best known for his chinese novels that focuses on the people of the southern provinces of China and Southeast Asia....
, who taught at Hong Kong University, is the most famous of these. - Younger, radical writers: the works of Eileen ChangEileen ChangEileen Chang was a Chinese writer. Her most famous works include Lust, Caution and Love in a Fallen City....
and Lau Yee CheungLiu YichangLiu Yichang , in Cantonese Lau Yee Cheung, a notable writer and novelist in Hong Kong. One of his most notable stream of consciousness novellas Tête-bêche inspires Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love.- References :...
challenged traditional structures in Hong Kong literature and showed aspects of Hong Kong life and society that were often either not treated or even taboo.
Related
- Cha: An Asian Literary JournalCha: An Asian Literary JournalCha: An Asian Literary Journal is the first Hong Kong-based online English literary journal. It was founded in 2007, a decade after the handover, by and . The editorial team also includes Reviews Editor ....
- List of Hong Kong poets
- List of Hong Kong authors