A Poison and A Cure: The Writing of Nanyang Nostalgia in Xiao Cun’s Prose

Abstract

Abstract
Xiao Cun (萧村), born in Singapore, is a prolific returned overseas Chinese writer. After returning to China in 1950, he resided in Liaoning for an extended period. Against the stark contrast between the north and south, Nanyang (the South Seas/Southeast Asia) remained a recurring scene in his literary works. Based on this, nostalgia, as a contradictory entity with both “poison” and “cure” characteristics, became the core perspective for analysis. This paper takes Xiao Cun’s three essay collections rich in nostalgic emotions—Haunting the Nanyang (《魂萦南洋》), Malay Love Song (《马来 恋歌》), and Sentiments of Singapore (《新加坡情思》)—as the main research objects, combined with the emotional atmosphere of Chinese society in the post-Cold War era, to explore what unique writing patterns were fostered by Xiao Cun’s repeated transregional experiences between Nanyang and China. Specifically, it focuses on analyzing Nanyang nostalgia and its evolution as revealed in Xiao’s prose texts, deeply pondering how this emotion is presented and why it is presented in such a manner. From the perspective of emotional presentation, the Nanyang nostalgia in Xiao Cun’s prose is not a simple onedimensional expression. In Xiao Cun’s literary oeuvre, elements such as Nanyang’s streets, markets, and folk customs are endowed with vibrant vitality, becoming carriers of emotional attachment. From the perspective of emotional evolution, as time passed and life experiences grew richer, Xiao Cun’s nostalgia for Nanyang quietly changed. In short, the nostalgia for Nanyang and its evolution in Xiao Cun’s essays are the result of multiple factors working together. It reflects both the emotional atmosphere of Chinese society during a specific historical period and Xiao Cun’s rich and unique life experiences. Through an in-depth analysis of this emotional theme, we can not only better understand Xiao Cun’s creative style and artistic characteristics but also feel the powerful force of cultural exchange and integration, as well as the significant role of nostalgia in the spiritual life of returned overseas Chinese writers.