Published Paper Details:

Tensions between modernity and tradition are key themes in global literature, especially in areas experiencing rapid changes that raise questions about reality. An individual's view is shaped by societal acceptance and personal choice. By looking at Natsume Soseki's I Am a Cat (1905) and Botchan (1906) alongside Gao Xingjian's Soul Mountain (1990), we can explore the limits of human understanding. Many works from Chinese and Japanese literature critique Confucian values, pointing out the flaws in hierarchical and moral beliefs when applied to real life. Zen Buddhism is important in Japanese literature, emphasizing perception and "emptiness" regarding assumptions. Meanwhile, Taoist philosophy in Chinese literature reflects doubt toward strict knowledge forms and investigates how accepting ambiguity can lead to harmony. Franz Kafka's works have influenced East Asian writers like Abe and Murakami as they address existential and knowledge-related themes. Michel Foucault's ideas about knowledge and power, especially in The Order of Things, inform postmodern literary methods. Ludwig Wittgenstein's studies about language limitations also prompt writers to question how knowledge is expressed and understood. Soul Mountain was written in Beijing and Paris between 1982 and 1989 and published in Chinese in Taipei in 1990. It is reflective and semi-autobiographical, inspired by Gao's journey along the Yangtze River. The story follows an intellectual figure misdiagnosed with cancer, who struggles spiritually between life and death and searches remote rural areas of Southwest China for self-discovery, cultural roots, and identity. The narrative shifts between first, second, and third-person perspectives, challenging the idea of a single identity and aligning with postmodern theories about language and truth. It examines how external systems like government and language impose assumptions. Gao Xingjian's experiences with political persecution during China's Cultural Revolution shape his investigation of knowledge and power. His writing explores how individuals perceive reality and often blurs the line between objective truth and subjective experience. The narrative interweaves folktales and myths with real events, highlighting that knowledge is formed through diverse cultural and personal lenses. I Am A Cat and Botchan both express that knowledge is subjective, based on personal experiences and social influences. They suggest that knowledge is dynamic, changing with societal and personal perspectives. In I Am A Cat, the cat narrator offers a sarcastic, detached view of human nature, revealing the inconsistencies between traditional Japanese values and Western ideas. This perspective illustrates the fluidity of truth, which is shaped by characters' limited understanding and conformity to societal norms. In Botchan, a young man navigates the tension between modern beliefs and strict rural customs while attending a provincial school. His modern outlook is tested against the old-fashioned mindset represented by school authorities. Botchan struggles with his self-awareness and the expectations around him. He initially believes he is a rational, modern individual, but encounters at school challenge this view, indicating that modern values are inadequate for understanding rural social dynamics. Like the cat in I Am A Cat, Botchan realizes the gap between his understanding and societal expectations. The cat's satirical tone critiques unreliable societal beliefs amidst Japan's Westernization, while Botchan's belief in his ability to navigate the rural school proves misguided, demonstrating that modern ideals cannot easily overcome entrenched traditions.