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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]

Compendium of Hong Kong literature

Using the idea and form of “literary compendium”, this project aims to systematically present Hong Kong literature by publishing Compendium of Hong Kong Literature, an academic anthology which collects Hong Kong literary works of different periods in a well-organized way and explain their significance with introductory essays. The first phase of the work has been duly completed. The research data collection and other preparation work started in August 2010. The twelve volumes came out during the years 2014-2016.

The editorial committee is made up of experts of Hong Kong literature. The consultant board includes a number of internationally renowned scholars. Editors are all academics well-versed in the field of literature and/or culture.

Source of Funding: Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Personal Donation

Chief Investigator: Prof CHAN, Kwok Kou Leonard [FHM, RCCLLC]

Research on Newspaper Supplements for Children in Hong Kong during the Civil War

This is a research on ‘Children’s Weekly and Students’ Weekly in “Wah Kiu Yat Pao” and ‘Children’s Wonderland’ and ‘Students’ Forum’ in “Singtao Daily.” Through detailed textual analysis, we look into the founding principles and editorial directions of these supplements, and examine their educational and literary contents. We aim to outline the development history and characteristics of early children’s supplements, children’s literature as well as education, from the following perspectives: post-war political situation in Hong Kong; the papers’ principles and business strategies; editorial points of view and directions; and government policies.

Source of Funding: RGC General Research Fund

Chief Investigator: Dr. FOK, Yuk Ying [FHM, RCCLLC]

Anthologizing Heterophonies: A Critical Study of Anthologies of Tang Poetry in the Late Ming Period

The project aims at developing an innovative and critical approach to the secular poetics in the late Ming period through a study of the pastiche anthologies of Tang poetry of the time. The focus is on pastiche anthologies 1) which contain different and/or contradictory opinions, and 2) which assemble commentaries of different critics and/or rival schools into single compilations. This is to reveal 1) how pastiche anthologies combine and complicate unrelated or contradictory opinions, 2) how literary history and the canon were imparted from the upper to the lower class, and 3) how pastiches anthologies cultivate the secularized aesthetics.

Source of Funding: RGC General Research Fund

Chief Investigator: Prof CHAN, Kwok Kou Leonard [FHM, RCCLLC]