Comparison and Inspiration of the Theme of Relationship between Human Beings and Nature in the Field of Literature between China and the West

Ren Jiong

(School of Foreign Languages Northwestern Polytechnical University，Xi’an Shaanxi710072)

Ⅰ．Introduction

Literary expression，expressing thoughts and ideas are embodied in the characterization of deep thinking based on the relationship between human beings and nature，showing opinions of environment and nature at different times．“Human development of literature and art is based on the relationship between man and nature as the central axis．The specific space-time always shows the relationship between human beings and nature in a proper way．”〔1〕As differences in national identity，culture and behavior patterns result in large differences in the literary expression of the relationship between human beings and nature，analysis of these differences helps us understand its inner meaning of thinking values and practice pattern of behavior．

Ⅱ．Expression of literature on the themes of the relationship between human beings and nature

There are a large number of literary works of the relationship between man and nature．On the one hand，analyzing the relationship between man and nature is a kernel issue in the process of knowing and changing the objective world．On the other hand，the most direct reference help researchers to analyze its literary values in the relationship between man and nature．Western researchers were able to fully compare literary works of artistic expression and the personalities，inner spirit and natural beliefs in different groups．

1．Conflict of economic development in ecological harmony:modern discourse of Chinese literature

(1)Thinking values of the relationship between man and nature in ecological harmony

Pursuit of sustainable development is a mainstream value in China from ancient times to present，in ancient Chinese literature demonstrating integration of man and nature，aimed at careful presentation and integration of nature as a whole in the search for spiritual sublimation and isolate themselves from worldly bustle，and free of the influence of the external world．This ancient simple and natural value is the ancient faith and the awareness of back to nature;such value leads this kind of thinking that pursues sustainable development．Modern literature is also trying to express a kind of harmonious ecological concept about human being and nature，through bringing criticism and beautiful future to express expectations．Harmonious relationship between man and nature as the main proposition in modern literature illustrates a super conscious faith in nature，sounding like firm and simple beliefs．For this reasons，pursuit of harmony between human beings and nature is the significant clue in ancient and modern literature in Chinese，an unlimited yearning and pursuit for a better living，hoping to achieve fusion and harmony between man and nature，integration of natural value and self-worth and realization of a sustainable living．

(2)In economic growth the pain of ecology express in literary way

Modernization has led to a variety of ecological and environmental problems，relations between man and nature showing unprecedented crisis．Literature has become an important carrier of ecological changes in the current environment．In China’s modernization process，the contradiction between economic development and ecological environment continues to increase，further modernization of writers to reflect on the difficulties of modern life，to use a literary expression to show anger to the one-sided development．

(3)Expression of deification in ecological nature

Works show the relationship between man and nature in Chinese literature，highlighting the deification of a natural piety．On the one hand，personal natural values was blended in completed theology system to voice natural mystery and noble nature，declare authoritative and insurmountable natural power，call on protection of nature，and get along well with nature．On the other hand，the nature’s magic mix into a specific and measurable expression rebuilds natural belief value system，and forms a solid and inherited culture model，becoming consciously thinking value orientation and ethics practice system．“The people themselves powerless in the face of powerful natural forces，their subconsciousness treating nature as a super power，literature is a kind of expression of apotheosis in nature”．〔2〕

2．Elated to conquer nature:expression about nature in Western literature

(1)View on conquering nature of individual heroism

In many Western literature works，Westerners always act as a superman who is brave fearless and aggressive，and these points often show in fight and change nature，thinking personal value as highly achievements．In western literature，heroes are always remembered with their wonderful stories，displaying a powerful image that heroes fight with nature，highly show the capabilities and values of individual heroism．

(2)Mechanism of nature express in literature

Mechanistic view of nature has gradually been considered a fundamental value to conquer nature since the Renaissance，especially after Newton’s classical mechanics recognized by more and more people．People began to isolate the things and processes in nature，only paying attention to stability and stationary and becoming eternal things，with mechanistic concepts as values to guide thinking and understand them．This will inevitably lead to the consciousness toward nature，ignoring ecological environmental protection．This one-sided view of nature has become a basic value orientation of Western society in the age of industrialization．In Western literature，a lot of literature gives exploitation of natural high accolades and praise，but many more are led to reflection on human and nature．

Ⅲ．Views on the relations between human beings and nature in the development of Chinese and Western literature

Literature as a direct way shows relations between man and nature．Different history and ecological culture lead to different value systems．We can see the distinctions in literature，which also provides an important clue to study differences between China and the West．

1．Different points on the relations between human beings and nature in the development of Chinese and Western literature

(1)Natural views on collectivism and individualism

View on collectivism and individualism is the understanding of most significant distinction between China and the West，and this understanding has also deep influence on dealing with the relationship between man and nature．

(2)The sentimental and romantic forms

Prominent in the literary expression，perception and romanticism are different personality traits in the West and China．Both ancient and modern Chinese writers inject themselves in the description of natural environment with emotional expres sion and emotional value，“be moved by what one sees”and “express emotions through describing concrete objects”are to put his emotions into natural things and become a kind of emotional sustenance．Such expressions are also used in modern age．

2．Identical points on the relations of human beings and nature in the development of Chinese and Western literature

(1)Focus on the relations between human beings and nature in literature

Relationship between man and nature is the major theme of literature．Writers are involved in the literary description of man and nature everywhere，so the relationship between man and nature is very close to life．Specific feelings towards nature inevitably show up in the literature in order to reflect the important status of the relations between man and nature in our daily life．

(2)Value proposition of the harmonious relationship between man and nature

Expression in both Western and Chinese literature are emphasized getting along with nature in harmony．Value demand of Western shows a harmony of nature．“Chinese culture’s emphasis on the harmony between man and nature”〔3〕is mainly shown in this feature．

(3)Ecological criticism forms

Many Western and Chinese literary works are informed by ecological criticisms to reflect the current deterioration of the environment．Eco-criticism calls for ecological protection．“Chinese ecological criticism was established with the development of modern industry”．〔4〕The use of literary expression to reflect on the problems is brought about by the deterioration of the environment in the process of modernization，to express frustration and expectations．

Ⅳ．The relationship between man and nature in the development of Western literature enlightenment on Chinese literature

1．From ecological criticism to ecological protection in Western post-industrial age

Western society has developed through industrial age，through environmental degradation to reflect the defects of the developing model．Therefore，Western literature has gone from criticism to ecological protection of ecology．Chinese literature is“from the ecological criticism view to better highlight value of the text of ecological doctrine”，〔5〕strengthening ecological protection awareness，avoiding taking the old road with West，taking the scientific and ecological development．

2．Paying attention to humanistic care，emphasizing on people’s active role in ecological protection

In Western literature individual often plays a strong role in society and nature，despite its negative effects，but emphasizes people’s creativity，a powerful role in the environmental change．Emphasis on human values reflects a kind of humanism．So，Chinese literature expressions take in more humanistic care elements，〔6〕reflecting initiative and enthusiasm of people，stressing the power of individual in ecological protection．

3．Change from avoiding path breakthrough

Chinese literature is showing itself to the description of the phenomena and expresses frustration and anticipation．Western literary works can be found in some ways．Bold assumptions in literature in the post-industrial age and reasoning in the post-industrial age have some basis in reality and can even become reality．In this way，expression of the relationship between man and nature in Chinese literature can also learn from bold and innovative thinking，getting innovative breakthroughs．

4．Expression of ecological-environmental protection closer to life

Chinese literature can learn from literary expressions in Western literature of realism，starting from the basic present situation of people’s lives．Literary expression should return to life，look at details of life，and pay more attention to ordinary people’s living conditions and nature，and get more recognition and resonance in promoting the awareness of ecological protection．Works of literature should be closer to life，less esoteric and obscure，making people able to recognize the ecological environmental situation，and lay a solid social foundation for ecological protection．

〔1〕Wang Jianjiang， Evolution of the Relationship between Man and Nature’s Influence on Literary Development， Academic Journal，2005(6)，pp．11-14．

〔2〕Cheng Yansheng，State of Literary Creation — from the Perspective of the Evolution of Relationship between Man and Nature in Literature， Jixi University Journal，2014(12)，pp．93-95．

〔3〕Nian Cheng Yishan， Chinese Culture and Cultural Debates，Beijing:China Renmin University Press，1990，p．51．

〔4〕Wang Xiaohua，Relationship between Man and Nature:as important Clues for the Development of Chinese and Western Literature， Pipe Journal，2007(4)，pp．99-102．

〔5〕Zhao Wei，The Wolf Totem in Ecological Criticism， Jianghan University Journal(Humanities)，2005(3)，pp．47-50．

〔6〕Zhao Yunlin，To Humanities Care of Sustainable Development-Assessment Sustainable Development of Humanities Ecological， Hunan City College Journal，2013(6)．