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@article{ART001324199},
author={Wall, Barbara},
title={A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature},
journal={JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES},
issn={1229-3806},
year={2008},
number={24},
pages={171-194},
doi={10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009}

TY - JOUR
AU - Wall, Barbara
TI - A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature
JO - JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES
PY - 2008
VL - null
IS - 24
PB - CHINESE STUDIES INSTITUTE
SP - 171
EP - 194
SN - 1229-3806
AB - The literary motif of the exposed child can be frequently found in Western literature, e.g. Moses, Romulus, Remus, Oedipus. But are there also counterparts in East Asian literature? Or is the exposed child a literary motif that is limited to the Western world? The deplorable state of research on motifs in East Asian literature spurred me to start gathering all possible sources relevant to the research on motifs in Chinese, Japanese and Korean literature. In general the exposed child in East Asian literature develops into a “hero” similar to exposed children in Western literature. But in contrast to the occidental tradition where the child is usually exposed only once or very rarely twice East Asian literature presents some children who are exposed three or even more times. One explanation for the phenomenon of repeated exposure could be the great value that is attached to the ability of endurance(忍) in East Asian philosophy and society. The method of forming a “hero” by exposing is common in both Western and East Asian literature. But according to different cultural backgrounds the hopes placed in the “hero” varies. In this aspect, repeated exposure seems to provide the East Asian “hero” with the ability of endurance. The literary motif of the exposed child is only one piece of a great mosaic of motifs in East Asian literature still unknown to the Western world. Research on these motifs, as phenomenons of the human mind, will be of great value for successful cultural communication.
KW - exposed child;hero;endurance;literary motif;phenomenons of the human mind
DO - 10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009
ER -

Wall, Barbara. (2008). A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature. JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES, 24, 171-194.

Wall, Barbara. 2008, "A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature", JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES, no.24, pp.171-194. Available from: doi:10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009

Wall, Barbara "A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature" JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES 24 pp.171-194 (2008) : 171.

Wall, Barbara. A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature. 2008; 24 : 171-194. Available from: doi:10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009

Wall, Barbara. "A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature" JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES no.24(2008) : 171-194.doi: 10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009

Wall, Barbara. A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature. JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES, 24, 171-194. doi: 10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009

Wall, Barbara. A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature. JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES. 2008; 24 171-194. doi: 10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009

Wall, Barbara. A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature. 2008; 24 : 171-194. Available from: doi:10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009

Wall, Barbara. "A Study on Literary Motif of the Exposed Child in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Literature" JOURNAL OF CHINESE STUDIES no.24(2008) : 171-194.doi: 10.26585/chlab.2008..24.009