earticle

영어

This paper focuses on Ry?nosuke Akutagawa’s depiction of his meeting with Zheng Xiaoxu in his travelogue *Shanghai Y?ki*, and explores Akutagawa’s perceptions of modern Chinese politics and culture. It begins by analyzing the majestic appearance of Zheng’s residence and its refined gardens, as portrayed by Akutagawa, to highlight the discrepancy between Zheng’s idealized image as a “humble remnant official of the Qing dynasty” and the opulent reality. This contrast reveals Akutagawa’s critical stance toward the contradictions between rhetoric and lived experience. The study then turns to Zheng’s remarks expressing a “theory of heroism,” which envisioned the restoration of monarchy through the support of the Xuantong Emperor and Japan. Akutagawa’s reaction to such a nostalgic and pro-Japanese ideology is examined, particularly in terms of the escapism and cultural dislocation underlying these ideas. By doing so, the paper reveals Akutagawa’s nuanced understanding of China’s political regression and its yearning for a lost imperial order. Furthermore, attention is given to Akutagawa’s classical Chinese literacy and his exchanges with other Chinese intellectuals, through which he attempted a calm and rational observation of the gap between China’s ideals and its reality. Torn between his admiration for Chinese cultural heritage and confusion over its political chaos, Akutagawa maintained a literary detachment. He portrayed Chinese society through a multifaceted and subtly ironic lens, balancing empathy and critique. Through this examination, the study argues that *Shanghai Y?ki* should not be regarded merely as a travel narrative, but rather as a significant cultural text that reflects Akutagawa’s layered engagement with China. It demonstrates the work’s importance in fostering mutual understanding between Japan and China during a complex historical period.