A Study of Hong Kong Literature under Japanese Occupation: “Peace Literature”, Dai Wangshu, Ye Lingfeng and Other Authors

Through collecting and reorganising Hong Kong literature published during the Japanese Occupation, including literary works and critiques on newspapers and magazines, such as Huaqiao ribao, Xiangdao ribao, Xianggang ribao, South China Daily News, New Asia and Da Tong Hua Bao, this study examines works of Dai Wangshu (戴望舒, 1905–1950) and Ye Lingfeng (葉靈鳳, 1904–1975) that were written during that time period, and the contention that revolves around “Peace Literature”.

This study aims to give a systematic presentation of literary documents of the period of Japanese Occupation — a topic that has long been neglected, and analyse their literary values; it is also a study of the theory and works related to “Peace Literature”. This research mainly focuses on Dai Wangshu and Ye Lingfeng, though other writers, including Chen Junbao (陳君葆, 1898–1982), Huang Lu (黃魯), will also be discussed. We will explore how writers at that time implicitly expressed their resistance, through the use of metaphors, enigmatic language, and symbols.

Source of Funding: RGC General Research Fund

Chief Investigator: Dr. CHAN, Chi Tak [FHM, RCCLLC]